Exams

The 2026 National Reference Test: rising attainment in maths and what this means for grades

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: A levels and GCSEs, Exams, Grading, Marking, National Reference Test, Qualifications, Results
Young person sitting at a small desk using a pencil to write on a notepad, with a window behind them.

The 2026 National Reference Test results are out. They show a long-term trend of slightly improved attainment in GCSE maths, but not in English language. To ensure standards are maintained, we told exam boards to take the NRT results into account when setting some GCSE maths grade boundaries. Here we explain what that means.

GCSE, level 1 and 2 results 2026 at a glance: key trends and context for teachers

More than 5.7 million GCSE results have been issued to students in England today, along with more than 374,000 results for level 1 and 2 vocational and technical qualifications. This year’s GCSE results are stable overall in comparison with those in 2025. Small variations are normal from year to year and from subject to subject.

A Level and level 3 results 2026 at a glance: key trends and context for teachers 

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: A levels and GCSEs, Assessments, Exams, Results, Vocational and technical qualifications

More than 880,000 A and AS Level results have been issued today to students in England, with another 221,000 results for vocational and technical qualifications. These results open doors for students to move on to the next stage in their lives and recognise the effort and quality of work they have displayed.

Protecting students through smart regulation: introducing the Chief Regulator's Rebuke

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Exams, Qualifications, Regulation

We have issued the first Chief Regulator's Rebuke – a new enforcement tool introduced last October as part of a significant update to Ofqual's Supporting Compliance and Taking Regulatory Action policy. The rebuke has been issued to WJEC, following serious failings involving 4 of its Eduqas GCSE, AS and A level qualifications between 2019 and 2025.

Using AI in marking: why technical capability, fairness, and transparency all matter

Posted by: and , Posted on: - Categories: A levels and GCSEs, Artificial intelligence, Exams, Marking, Results

Ofqual has published new research exploring artificial intelligence’s potential role in marking, as well as its current capabilities and constraints. Rather than providing definitive answers, the published working paper offers an overview of the topic, shares our current thinking, highlights …

What teachers need to know about our on-screen assessment proposals

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: A levels and GCSEs, Exams, On-screen assessment, Regulation
Students using computers

As teachers, you know better than anyone that GCSEs, AS and A levels are high-stakes qualifications that shape young people's futures. Every decision about how these exams are delivered must start with one question: is this fair for students? That's …

GCSE and level 1 and 2 results 2025 at a glance 

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: A levels and GCSEs, Exams, Grading, Results, Vocational and technical qualifications
Students hugging each other after receiving exam results

More than 5.6 million GCSE results have been issued to students in England today, along with more than 368,000 results for level 1 and 2 vocational and technical qualifications taken alongside them.  These results enable young people to progress to …

Level 3 results analysis 2025: Key trends and context for teachers

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: A levels and GCSEs, Exams, Grading, Results, Vocational and technical qualifications
A female student reading her exam results while sitting on a sofa

More than 850,000 A and AS level results have been issued to students in England today, along with just over 250,000 results for vocational and technical performance-table qualifications taken alongside them. These are results that enable young people to progress …