Ofqual has confirmed that GCSE students sitting maths, physics and combined science exams in 2024 will be provided with formulae and equation sheets by exam boards to take into account the Covid disruption they faced earlier in their education.
The exam watchdog this morning published the results of its consultation, launched last month, after the education secretary said the move was necessary to “ensure students have the opportunity to show what they know and can do, and, ultimately, meet their potential”.
As well as the move mitigating against the impact of Covid, respondents to the consultation cited industrial action by teachers, a shortage of specialist physics teachers in some schools and the impact of the identification of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) in schools as additional sources of disruption faced by pupils.
The move follows a return to pre-pandemic grading after the 2023 exams and comes after key stage 4 attainment data from these exams showed that the disadvantage gap at GCSE was at its highest point since 2011.
Outgoing Ofqual boss Dr Jo Saxton had previously told Tes that the return to pre-pandemic exams and grading was “done” after the 2023 exams.
In total, there were 21,181 responses to the consultation. The vast majority of respondents (95 per cent) - which included academy trusts, schools, exam boards and universities - agreed that a formulae sheet should be provided in the exam room for GCSE mathematics in 2024.
Many respondents noted that Covid lockdowns had affected students’ learning of maths in key stage 3.
And most respondents supported the proposal that a revised equation sheet covering all equations should be provided in the exam room for GCSE physics and combined science in 2024.
However, some respondents suggested that the presentation of the formulae sheets should be improved to provide more useful support to students in the 2024 cohort.
