With students in England, Northern Ireland and Wales receiving their GCSE and vocational technical qualification results, which includes Level 2 BTec and Cambridge Nationals, it was revealed that they have fallen for a second year running in an effort to return grades to pre-pandemic levels.
In England, GCSEs are now graded using a numerical system, from 9-1 rather than A-E. Students need a 4 for a "standard pass" and 5 for a "strong pass", whilst in Wales and Northern Ireland, GCSEs are graded using letters, unless an exam taken in those nations comes under an English exam board.
For anyone who are unhappy with your grade, they have been advised to talk to their school or college. In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, schools will contact the exam board and ask for the marks to be reviewed.
If necessary, further to a review, students can ask their school or college to appeal. Further still, they can request a review from Ofqual. In Scotland, SQA results (based on National 5s and National 4s) were published on 8 August, with pass rates down from last year but higher than they were before Covid.
For students with concerns about their final grade, they can appeal directly to the SQA for free, but are advised to speak to their school or college first. If the appeal is accepted, the exam board will look at the marks received.
The charity YoungMinds have pointed out that results are not the only measure of success - and if things do not turn out how it was hoped, and there are lots of other ways to help achieve their goals.
Students can resit any GCSE or National 5 exam the following year. GCSE Maths and English exams take place in November. In 2020 and 2021, there was a spike in top results, after exams were cancelled because of Covid and grades assessed by teachers.
As with A-level results, the plan in England, Wales and Northern Ireland this year was to bring down that grade inflation. This year's grade boundaries for exam papers have been released, although vary across the UK.
Because of the disruption caused by Covid, exam boards in England were a little more lenient than before the pandemic when deciding grade boundaries. Students had some additional support in the exams themselves, such as formulae and equation sheets in maths, physics and combined-science - and exams in the same subject were more spaced out than usual.
Results have fallen back in line with pre-pandemic levels this year, after three years of higher grades. In Wales, grades were awarded more generously than before the pandemic.
Students were given some advance information for Welsh Joint Education Committee (WJEC) papers to help pupils revise. There was no advance information for any other papers taken in Wales.
The exam board which covers most pupils in Northern Ireland (Council for the Curriculum, Examinations & Assessment) provided advance information for most subjects, and examiners took Covid disruption into account. The Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) said its grading was sensitive because of the continuing impact of the pandemic. It took similar steps last year to help students, such as removing or reducing exams or elements of coursework but plans for exams to go fully back to normal next year.
Many pupils go on to study A-levels in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, or Advanced Highers in Scotland. International Baccalaureate (IB) is also an option, as are vocational courses such as National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs), BTec Level 3s, TechBacs, Cambridge Technicals and (in England only) T-levels.
There’s also the option of an apprenticeship as they spend most of the time in the workplace while being trained - and getting paid a salary. Other options include a traineeship or combining work with part-time education.
