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Everything you need for summer 2022 - two female students and female teacher

Hi Colleague

With the main exam series beginning next week, we'd like to say good luck to your students and a big thank you for all your hard work preparing them for their first exams. It's been a challenging few years and everyone has worked so hard to get to where we are now. Many of your students are now on the verge of sitting their first exams and will be understandably nervous. Likewise, many of you might be feeling anxious.

We've got lots of support for students to support them in the lead up to their exams, but also to help them on exam day. You'll find a wealth of wellbeing and mental health support and resources too - you might have seen us sharing some for Mental Health Awareness Week.

If you need any further support, take a look at our supporting you webpages. You can also get in touch with our Customer Support Centre or your Subject Team who are on hand to answer any queries you may have.

Recent updates: 

In this week's roundup:

  • 📅 important deadlines - a reminder!
  • a recap of the latest exam guidance from JCQ
  • some guidance and tips for your students on exam day
  • the Department for Education (DfE) and Ofqual have confirmed the adaptations in place for 2022 that will be removed next academic year.

Finally, from everyone here at OCR, we'd like to wish you all the best for the upcoming exams!

Best wishes

OCR

01223 553998 | support@ocr.org.uk | Twitter | View past issues of the weekly roundup

OCR-Newsletter-Box-shaddow
Upcoming deadlines: 15 May 2022
Female student using post it notes on desk

Mark submission

The mark submission deadline for all qualifications (except AS, A Level and GCSE PE* and AS/A Level Art and Design) is 15 May 2022.

* AS, A Level and GCSE PE submission deadline was 31 March 2022 and AS and A Level Art and Design is 31 May 2022.

More information on the process of what is required and when can be found in our previous roundup.

Read previous roundup

 

GCSE (9-1) Computer Science programming skills

For GCSE Computer Science, you must complete a practical programming statement for all examination series in which candidates are entered.

The statement must be completed by your Head of Centre or Head of Department and submitted to us by 15 May 2022.

For more information see the Computer Science page.

Computer Science page

Reduction in assessment: Cambridge Nationals and Cambridge Technicals 

Our new ‘reduction in assessment’ area of Interchange is available until 15 May 2022 for you to: 

  • tell us the Cambridge Nationals and/or Cambridge Technicals moderated units from 2021/22 you are using for reduction in assessment  
  • upload your Head of Centre declaration. 

We’ll continue to assess knowledge and understanding in the examined units for which there is no option to reduce the assessment. The reduction in the number of assessments for moderated units can only be used for units planned to be assessed in 2021/22. 

If you have any questions about this, please contact us.

step-by-step guide for using the reduction in assessment area is available on our website. We have also provided an FAQ which includes links to video guides. A quick reference guide to the process for requesting a reduction in assessment can be found in our infographics below: 

Read FAQ

JCQ: summer 2022 exams and assessments

In case you missed it, here's some of the latest exams guidance JCQ has published:

Male student in grey uniform smiling

Senior Leadership Team's guide

Guidance and tips for exam day
Don't take a phone or smartwatch into an exam

Our 'Student Guide' provides students with some handy information for exam day, including exam guidelines and tips for during the exam.

They can also check out our student support pages for revision tips and wellbeing support.

Keep an eye on our social channels as we'll be posting do's and don'ts, hints and tips and more support over the next few weeks.

Some levels of stress at exam time are normal and manageable. If your students are feeling worried or anxious, it can really help to talk to someone they trust. If they don’t want to talk to somebody face-to-face, here are some organisations which can provide support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Please do share these with parents: 

We've also created a webpage full of support and resources for Mental Health Awareness Week that you and your students might find helpful. 

Explore our mental health awareness webpage

Qualification adaptations 2023

The DfE and Ofqual have confirmed that the 2022 adaptations for AS, A Levels and GCSEs will not be taken forward for the next academic year given that public health restrictions are no longer in place.  

The DfE and Ofqual will continue to evaluate other 2022 arrangements such as exam aids and advance information, the approach to grading and the exam timetable before finalising what's in place for 2023.

Computing students on computers in the classroom

Read our summary on our Policy page.

Read our summary