Guidance

Ofqual: rolling update

Recent updates regarding regulated qualifications.

Applies to England

VTQ information hub 2023 to 2024: key dates and deadlines

Ofqual has worked with awarding organisations to compile information on key dates and deadlines for vocational and technical qualifications (VTQ) in 2024.

The VTQ Information Hub is most relevant to school and college staff working in the administration or delivery of Level 3, Level 1/2 and Level 2 vocational and technical qualifications used for progression. It will help you prepare for the awarding organisation key dates and deadlines ahead of awarding in summer 2024.

Information is arranged by awarding organisation and then by qualification. You can download the combined data for all awarding organisations, or for each individual organisation.

Ofqual student guide 2024

Ofqual has published a detailed guide for students due to be taking exams in 2024.

The guide is for students taking any of the following Ofqual-regulated qualifications in the academic year 2023 to 2024, and GCSEs in November 2024:

  • GCSEs 
  • AS or A levels 
  • other general qualifications, including International Baccalaureate, core mathematics and Pre-U 
  • Technical Qualifications within a T Level (the Core Assessment and Occupational Specialism) 
  • Vocational and Technical Qualifications taken alongside GCSEs and A levels in subjects such as engineering, health & social care and digital media

It also explains what support is in place when taking exams and assessments.

Ofqual guide for schools and colleges 2024

Ofqual has published guidance for schools, colleges and other exam or assessment centres on qualifications arrangements for 2024.

This guide is for schools, colleges and other exam or assessment centres and explains what they can expect from awarding organisations regulated by Ofqual. It also explains how qualifications will be regulated in 2023 to 2024.

This guide covers qualifications typically taken in an academic year, including GCSEs, AS and A levels, Technical Qualifications within a T Level and vocational and technical qualifications (VTQs).

Delivery of vocational and technical qualification results for 2024 and beyond

Ofqual has announced arrangements to ensure the timely delivery of results for students taking vocational and technical qualifications in 2024 and beyond.

Dr Jo Saxton, Chief Regulator, has also written to all schools and colleges in England to explain the arrangements in more detail, and how they differ from those implemented in 2023.

GCSE, Level 1, Level 1/2 and Level 2 vocational and technical qualifications results, summer 2023

Ofqual has published 2 guides to today’s (24 August 2023) exam results:

These guides summarise the headline figures across England and reflect Ofqual’s decision to return to pre-pandemic grading this summer.

You can explore the results in more depth – including breakdowns by centre type, subject and region – using Ofqual’s interactive visualisations.

Ofqual has also summarised the key data in infographics for GCSE and Level 1, Level 1/2 and Level 2 VTQ.

AS, A level and Level 3 vocational and technical qualifications results, summer 2023

Ofqual has published 2 guides to today’s (17 August 2023) exam results:

These guides summarise the headline figures across England and reflect Ofqual’s decision to return to pre-pandemic grading this summer.

You can explore the results in more depth – including breakdowns by centre type, subject and region – using Ofqual’s interactive visualisations.

Ofqual has also summarised the key data in infographics for AS and A level and Level 3 VTQ.

Industrial action

The Department for Education has issued guidance that recommends that schools should prioritise the running of examinations and assessments on any strike days, and should review their contingency plans to enable this to happen.

Schools, colleges and other exam centres should speak to the relevant awarding organisations if they are expecting any disruption that might affect the sitting of exams and assessments.

Replacement certificates

Ofqual does not hold copies of your certificates – we can’t tell you your grade or provide replacements. Certificates are held by the exam board you sat your qualification with. If you don’t know which exam board you took your qualification with, ask your school. If your school don’t know you will need to ask each exam board to do a search for you – they will charge you for this.

Contact your exam board to get a replacement certificate. If your exam board no longer exists, your certificates will have moved to an existing board. Find out who now holds your certificates.

Contact your exam board

Published 8 July 2021
Last updated 25 January 2024 + show all updates
  1. Added details of Ofqual's VTQ information hub 2023 to 2024: key dates and deadlines

  2. Information has been added about the 2024 guides for students and for schools and colleges.

  3. Section added pointing users to new information about arrangements for vocational and technical qualification results delivery from 2024 onwards.

  4. Updated to remove information predating summer 2023 results.

  5. New section highlighting publication of guides and infographics about summer 2023 GCSE and Level 1, Level 1/2 and Level 2 VTQ results.

  6. Information added about summer 2023 Level 3 results day.

  7. Updated to provide information on joint communications principles published by the Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ) and Federation of Awarding Bodies (FAB). Removed section on review of Level 2 and Level 3 results delays, as this has been superseded by another update.

  8. Section added describing the new VTQ information hub for use by schools and colleges.

  9. Update added drawing attention to the publication of Ofqual's statement announcing new deadlines and other measures intended to ensure that awarding organisations issue complete and correct level 3 vocational and technical qualifications (VTQ) results to students in summer 2023.

  10. Updated to include guidance on industrial action

  11. Updated to include outcomes of consultations regarding MFL, formulae and equation sheets and resilience.

  12. Added information on 2023 grading and exam arrangements and updated information on 2022 Level 2 and Level 3 results. Removed information no longer immediately relevant to the rolling update including signposting to appeals information, guidance on producing accessible assessments.

  13. Information about the 2022 summer exam series has been removed as it is no longer relevant. Details about assessment arrangements for GCSE, A level and AS levels in 2023 have been added to the "Subject content and assessment arrangements: 2022 to 2023" section.

  14. Updated information regarding Level 3 BTEC and Cambridge Technicals results and Level 1/2 and Level 2 vocational and technical qualification results.

  15. Updated information regarding Level 1/2 and Level 2 vocational and technical qualification results & BTEC and Cambridge Technicals results.

  16. An updated statement on delayed BTEC and Cambridge Technicals results.

  17. Details regarding the delayed BTEC and Cambridge Technical results have been added, along with contact details for the relevant awarding organisations.

  18. Added information abour A level and GCSE results weeks in 2022.

  19. Removal of content related to exams and contingency arrangements, now that the 2022 exam summer series has been completed.

  20. Added update: "Checking exam papers"

  21. Added an advice note for students on fake exam papers offered on social media.

  22. Added information on plans for subject content and assessment arrangements next academic year, and on new guidance for awarding organisations on making their assessments accessible.

  23. Updated with additional information for teachers on collecting evidence for use in contingency arrangements.

  24. Added in links to this year's student guide to exams and assessments.

  25. Taking out information regarding the autumn series results days for GCSEs and A levels, which have now passed.

  26. Added information about the support measures available to students taking GCSEs, AS and A levels this year.

  27. Added information on special consideration for Applied Generals, Tech Awards, Tech Certs and Tech Levels in England.

  28. Update to the private candidate section which states that the Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ) has published a list of schools, colleges and other exam centres that will accept private candidate entries for GCSEs, AS and A levels in summer 2022.

  29. Updated reference to autumn GCSE exams, which have finished.

  30. Added information about January assessments for vocational and technical qualifications.

  31. Updated to include a link through to our guidance for schools, colleges and training providers on awarding vocational and technical qualifications in the academic year 2021 to 2022.

  32. Updated to include information on contingency measures should exams and assessments not go ahead in 2022.

  33. Removing guidance on submitting appeals for GCSEs and A levels as the appeal deadline has passed.

  34. Removed the table advising the dates of results days.

  35. Added note about legal advice being unnecessary when appealing qualification results.

  36. Added links to additional guides about appealing GCSE, AS and A level results and added information about consultations on arrangements for qualifications awarded in 2022.

  37. Added details of 2 consultations for how exams should take place for the next academic year (2021 to 2022).

  38. First published.