A-level students in England and Wales have said they are “expecting the worst” as they have voiced concerns about fairness ahead of results day this week.

After exams were cancelled because of the coronavirus, on Thursday students will be given results based on teacher-assessed grades, ranks orders and statistical modelling combining prior attainment with schools’ historical data.

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Exam boards have moderated the grades to ensure this year’s results are not significantly higher than previous years.

A similar system in Scotland resulted in first minister Nicola Sturgeon apologising today after students were downgraded from teacher-assessed marks, with those living in the most deprived areas reduced by 15.2 per cent compared with 6.9 per cent in the most affluent parts of the country.

A-level results 2020: Students fear they won’t get fair grades

“A postcode shouldn’t be used to stereotype how someone will do,” an 18-year-old student from the Vale of Glamorgan in South Wales said.

“It’s quite annoying, actually, not being able to sit the exams because you can’t put into practice the improvements you’ve made.

“It’s weird to think we could be the only ones for a generation (to receive results like this) and perhaps one day it would be taught in the schools we went to.”

Cheyenne Williams, from Barnhill Community High School, in north-west London, said she feels her school year has been a “guinea pig”.

“I’m expecting the worst scenario possible at this point... I have doubts that grades will be allocated on a fair basis,” the 18-year-old said.

“Throughout my academic life, my year group has always been treated like ‘guinea pigs’ when it comes to academic changes such as the introduction of the 9-1 [GCSE grading system].

“I’m partially relieved that no one else will have to deal with the stress of being given grades like this... if an event like this happens again in the future, I can only hope that things would improve.”

She added that due to the pandemic she will be celebrating receiving her results at home with her immediate family members.

A 19-year-old student from Durham, who wished to remain anonymous, said she has been studying A levels for three years after long-term illness prolonged her studying.

She said her diagnosis left her with “mediocre” GCSE results and she has spent the past two years with an online private school.

Despite As in her mock exams in January, she worries a low A grade average in her school will ultimately cost her.

“I’m honestly not confident at all that my grades will be kept as they were,” she said.

“With what has been said about [the Scottish exam results] and how they relied heavily on a school’s past performance, I don’t have much hope.”

Schools in England will be able to appeal their students’ GCSE and A-level results if they can show grades are lower than expected because previous cohorts are not “representative” of this year’s students.

Individual students will not be allowed to challenge grades themselves - schools and colleges will need to appeal on their behalf.