What you need to know:

●  Teacher assessments can include a range of evidence, not just mock exams. Teachers can also utilise course work, in class essays or previous test results. This means students need to do their best at every piece of work they are set for the rest of the year. The teacher can only give them a certain grade if they have the evidence to prove the student has met the grade requirements.

●  It is important to mention that students will only be assessed on the work they have completed. Around the country, different schools have completed different modules – this is why flexibility in teacher assessment is so important. What one school may have taught, another school may not have.

●  Exam boards will provide questions however, teachers do not have to use them. They are being provided as a guide, some schools will want to utilise them whereas others will assess based on their own set work.

●  Teachers cannot tell their students the grades they have been given before results day. So, if you were considering a small bribe or call to a teacher, the answer is “no”, they cannot tell you the grade!

●  Teachers have until 18th June to submit their student’s grades. Will this mean an early finish to the year for students? This hasn’t been confirmed but if we were to take a guess, we would say it would be at the school’s discretion.

●  Grades may be available earlier than usual. It was originally announced that grades would be available from July, this has now been pushed back to 12th August, still a week earlier than usual. This is, of course, subject to change.

●  If a student wants to appeal their grade, they need to go to the school first. If required, it will then be escalated to the exam board. Students may also be offered to sit an exam in the Autumn term of 2021 if they would like to improve their grade, however, this has not been formally announced yet.

The good news

There is no algorithm in place. The algorithm put in place in 2020 by the Government came up against much criticism after accusations that the system was biased against students from poorer backgrounds.

We can’t confirm or deny this but, we definitely feel that teacher assessment based on what students have learnt is the fairest way to get an accurate grade for each individual student. As long as students are willing to work hard for the rest of this year and produce the work they need to meet their target grade, they will be rewarded accordingly.

We would recommend students speak to their teachers if there are any aspects of the subject they do not understand. Their teachers want them to do well and are there to help them, but students do not ask, they risk not getting the level of support they need.

Students should treat every piece of work they have been set as if it were a GCSE exam because, really, in the sense that the work will be dictating their GCSE grade, it is like their exam!

Learning apps can also play a large part in ensuring students are prepared, SaigolEd has learning resources for the full UK curriculum in every major GCSE subject. We combine interactive learning, the best teachers and immersive video/AI technology to give your child the best chance of acing their GCSEs in 2021. Click here to learn more about what SaigolEd can offer.