Latest updates from Ofqual
Source: gov.uk (2025-12-11)

Recent news and key messages from Ofqual on regulated qualifications, examinations and assessments.

Regulating on-screen assessment

We have opened a consultation (https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/regulating-on-screen-assessment) on proposals for how on-screen assessment should be regulated in GCSEs, AS and A levels in England.

You can find out more about the opportunities, benefits, risks, and challenges of on-screen assessment a series of research reports (https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/research-on-on-screen-assessment) published by Ofqual.

Our blog post (https://ofqual.blog.gov.uk/2025/12/11/what-teachers-need-to-know-about-our-on-screen-assessment-proposals/) provides information for teachers about our on-screen assessment proposals.

Ofqual delivery report 2025

Our 2025 delivery report (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ofqual-delivery-report-2025) covers general, vocational and technical, and apprenticeship end-point assessments regulated by Ofqual.

Rules for GCSE qualifications in British Sign Language

We have published the public feedback and decisions for the Rules for GCSE qualifications in British Sign Language (https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/rules-for-gcse-qualifications-in-british-sign-language) consultation. We have also provided subject-level conditions and requirements (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/gcse-9-to-1-subject-level-conditions-and-requirements-for-british-sign-language) and subject-level guidance (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/gcse-9-to-1-subject-level-guidance-for-british-sign-language) for GCSE British Sign Language.

VTQ information hub 2025 to 2026: key dates and deadlines

You can find information for Level 3, Level 1/2 and Level 2 vocational and technical qualifications used for progression and taken alongside or in place of A-levels and GCSEs on the VTQ information hub (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/vtq-information-hub-2025-to-2026-key-dates-and-deadlines).

GCSE and level 1 and 2 results 2025 at a glance

More than 5.6 million GCSE results have been issued to students in England, along with more than 368,000 results for level 1 and 2 vocational and technical qualifications taken alongside them.

This blog (https://ofqual.blog.gov.uk/2025/08/21/gcse-and-level-1-and-2-results-2025-at-a-glance/?utm_source=Latest_updates_GCSEResults&utm_medium=Latest_updates_GCSEResults&utm_campaign=L1_2GCSEResults2025) highlights some key facts and figures from this year’s GCSE and level 1 and 2 results.

Qualification results in England: summer 2025

We have updated our statistical release detailing results issued this summer (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/infographics-level-12-and-gcse-results-2025?utm_source=Latest_updates_GCSEResults&utm_medium=Latest_updates_GCSEResults&utm_campaign=L1_2GCSEResults2025), to include data for GCSE and level 1 and 2 results. It also shows data for AS and A levels, vocational and technical qualifications included in performance tables (applied generals, tech levels, technical awards and technical certificates), and the technical qualification (TQ) components of T Level qualifications.

Infographics: Level 1/2 and GCSE results 2025

We have published infographics summarising the key trends (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/infographics-level-12-and-gcse-results-2025?utm_source=Latest_updates_GCSEResults&utm_medium=Latest_updates_GCSEResults&utm_campaign=L1_2GCSEResults2025) from GCSE and level 1 and 2 vocational and technical qualification results in summer 2025.

The National Reference Test in 2025

Since its introduction in 2017, National Foundation for Educational Research has been contracted by Ofqual to develop, deliver and analyse the results of the National Reference Test (NRT) in English and maths.

The NRT is administered annually and shows if student performance in English and maths at GCSE level has changed from year-to-year.

Find more information in the National Reference Test in 2025 (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-national-reference-test-in-2025?utm_source=Latest_updates_GCSEResults2025&utm_medium=Latest_updates_GCSEResults2025&utm_campaign=L1_2GCSEResults2025) results digest and the annual statement.

Level 3 results analysis: 2025 key trends and context for teachers

More than 850,000 A and AS level results have been issued to students in England today, along with just over 250,000 results for vocational and technical performance-table qualifications taken alongside them.

Find more on the 2025 context and key trends in our blog post (https://ofqual.blog.gov.uk/2025/08/14/level-3-results-analysis-2025-key-trends-and-context-for-teachers/?utm_source=Latest_updates_page_OfqualResults25&utm_medium=Latest_updates_page_OfqualResults25&utm_campaign=Results2025)

Infographics: Level 3 and A level results 2025

We have published infographics summarising the key trends (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/infographics-level-3-and-a-level-results-2025?utm_source=Latestupdates_webpage_OfqualResults25&utm_medium=Latestupdates_webpage_OfqualResults25&utm_campaign=Results2025) in A level and Level 3 vocational and technical qualification results in summer 2025.

Understanding grading: toolkit for schools and colleges

Our Understanding grading toolkit (https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/understanding-grading-toolkit-for-schools-and-colleges?utm_source=Latest_updates_page_Results2025&utm_medium=Latest_updates_pageResults2025&utm_campaign=Latest_updates_pageResults2025) is designed to explain how qualifications are graded. It has been produced with headteachers and teachers in mind but will help anyone with an interest in finding out more.

The toolkit answers some common questions about such topics as:
- how exam papers are marked
- how grade boundaries are set
- how the quality of a student’s work in their exams determines the grade they get
Replacement certificates

Ofqual does not hold copies of your certificates – we can’t tell you your grade or provide replacements. Certificates are held by the exam board you sat your qualification with. If you don’t know which exam board you took your qualification with, ask your school. If your school don’t know you will need to ask each exam board to do a search for you – they will charge you for this.

Contact your exam board to get a replacement certificate (https://www.gov.uk/replacement-exam-certificate/who-to-contact). If your exam board no longer exists, your certificates will have moved to an existing board. Find out who now holds your certificates (https://www.gov.uk/replacement-exam-certificate/if-your-old-exam-board-no-longer-exists).

Contact your exam board
- AQA (https://www.aqa.org.uk/)
- Pearson (https://qualifications.pearson.com/en/home.html)
- OCR (https://www.ocr.org.uk/)
- WJEC Eduqas (https://www.eduqas.co.uk/)
Ofqual’s find a regulated awarding organisation (https://www.gov.uk/check-awarding-body-recognised) service contains information and website links for all regulated awarding organisations.