Proposed changes to the assessment of mathematics, physics and combined science GCSEs in 2023
Applies to England
Download the full outcome
Detail of outcome
Ofqual and the Department for Education (DfE) confirmed in September that GCSE, AS and A level exams in England will largely return to pre-pandemic arrangements next summer as young people continue to recover from the pandemic.
DfE has also announced that, in 2023, students are not required to memorise formulae for GCSE mathematics and equations for GCSE physics and combined science. This reflects their responsibility for GCSE subject content, and was a change that was also made for exams that took place in 2022.
A consultation was published seeking views on the proposal to carry forward to 2023 the arrangements in place in 2022, which required the provision of formulae and revised equation sheets in exams in GCSE mathematics, physics and combined science.
The consultation ran from Thursday 29 September to Thursday 20 October 2022 and received 8,189 responses. A full summary and analysis of the responses has been published at the same time as this decision document.
Feedback received
Detail of feedback received
Ofqual and the Department for Education (DfE) confirmed in September that GCSE, AS, and A level exams in England will largely return to pre-pandemic arrangements next summer as young people continue to recover from the pandemic.
DfE has also announced that, in 2023, students are not required to memorise formulae for GCSE mathematics and equations for GCSE physics and combined science. This reflects their responsibility for GCSE subject content and was a change that was also made for exams that took place in 2022.
Ofqual conducted a consultation on the proposal to carry forward from summer 2022 the provision of support materials, in the form of formulae and revised equation sheets, in the exams for 2023 only in GCSE mathematics, physics and combined science.
Original consultation
Consultation description
Ofqual invites your views on proposed adaptations to the assessment of GCSEs in mathematics, physics and combined science for students in England taking exams in 2023.
The Department for Education (DfE) has confirmed that in view of the disruption caused by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, it is not necessary for students to memorise formulae for GCSE mathematics and equations for GCSE physics and combined science, as they must in a normal year. Therefore, we propose carrying forward from summer 2022 the provision of support materials, in the form of formulae and revised equation sheets, in the exams for GCSE mathematics, physics and combined science.
Documents
Last updated 30 November 2022 + show all updates
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Adding analysis and decisions documents.
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First published.