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Ofqual postcards: GCSE, AS and A level reforms

A series of 'postcards' outlining the work Ofqual is doing, with an emphasis on current reforms to qualifications in England.

• From: Ofqual
• Published: 11 September 2015
• Last updated: 22 February 2019
  Show all updates

  1. 22 February 2019

     Updates to the National Reference Test postcard.

  2. 23 March 2018

     Added a postcard on the new grading scale for GCSE combined science.

  3. 18 September 2017

     Updated postcard on the National Reference Test.

  4. 3 March 2017

     Updated postcard for grading the new GCSE

  5. 13 July 2016

     Updated content and new postcards.

  6. 30 October 2015

     Added Regulated Qualifications Framework postcard.

  7. 5 October 2015

     Added a PDF containing all the postcards

  8. 11 September 2015

     First published.

This publication was withdrawn on 26 June 2025

This page relates to understanding reforms that took place and have been embedded within the qualifications system.

Applies to England

Documents

The reforms

PDF, 555 KB, 2 pages

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Grading new GCSEs

PDF, 61.6 KB, 2 pages

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GCSE Combined Science: Double Award Grade Combinations

PDF, 114 KB, 2 pages

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New GCSE grade descriptors

PDF, 643 KB, 2 pages

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Awarding for new GCSE student cohorts

PDF, 543 KB, 2 pages

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National Reference Test

PDF, 198 KB, 2 pages

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Spoken language in new GCSE English language

PDF, 546 KB, 2 pages

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Improving science practicals

PDF, 555 KB, 2 pages

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New marking review and appeal arrangements

PDF, 578 KB, 2 pages

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Grading new AS and A levels

PDF, 550 KB, 2 pages

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Details

These postcards give an overview of the work Ofqual is doing. For more information on reforms to GCSEs see ‘New GCSE 9 to 1 grades are here’.