Editing GCSE (section)

=== Cancellations ===
{{Main|2020 UK GCSE and A-Level grading controversy}}

In 2020 as a result of the [[COVID-19 pandemic]], GCSE examinations, along with all other May and June exams that year were cancelled. The government announced that GCSE and A-level grades would be awarded through teachers' assessments based on mock exams, coursework and other available evidence,<ref name="bbc">{{cite news |title=Coronavirus: Teachers to estimate grades after exams cancelled |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-51980831 |publisher=BBC News |date=19 March 2020}}</ref> moderated by a statistical standardisation model developed by [[Ofqual]].<ref>Ofqual, [https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/902736/Standardising_grades_in_summerx_2020_-_factsheet_-_20200721_1529.pdf Standardising grades in summer 2020], accessed 15 August 2020</ref> This is the first cancellation of GCSEs since they were introduced.

An algorithm for deciding grades was originally introduced by Ofqual, which got used for A-Level grades. However, this caused backlash,<ref>{{Cite news |date=2020-08-12 |title=A-levels: Anger over 'unfair' results this year |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/education-53759832 |access-date=2022-11-18}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.theguardian.com/education/2020/aug/19/ofqual-exam-results-algorithm-was-unlawful-says-labour|title=Ofqual exam results algorithm was unlawful, says Labour|date=19 August 2020|website=The Guardian}}</ref> causing the government to ultimately replace the algorithm with Center Assessed Grades for GCSEs on 17 August.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-08-17 |title=A-level and GCSE results in England to be based on teacher assessments in U-turn |url=http://www.theguardian.com/education/2020/aug/17/a-levels-gcse-results-england-based-teacher-assessments-government-u-turn |access-date=2022-11-18 |website=the Guardian |language=en}}</ref>

In 2021, GCSEs, along with A-level and AS exams, were cancelled again due to the pandemic and replaced with teacher assessed grades.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2020-11-10 |title=Covid: GCSE and A-levels in Wales cancelled for 2021 |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-54888376 |access-date=2022-11-18}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Schools: coronavirus |url=https://gov.wales/schools-coronavirus-0 |access-date=2022-11-18 |website=GOV.WALES |language=en}}</ref> The grades were decided based on previous mock exams, homework, classwork, and optional examinations set by Ofqual.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/uknews/gcse-and-a-level-students-in-england-will-not-be-asked-to-sit-exams-in-summer-2021/ar-BB1cv6lX|title=GCSE and A-level students in England will not be asked to sit exams in summer 2021|website=msn.com}}</ref>