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Guide to Exams & Qualifications in England

SATs (Standard Assessment Tests) are national curriculum assessments taken by many pupils in England during primary education.

About this guide

SATs (Standard Assessment Tests) are national curriculum assessments taken by many pupils in England during primary education.

SATs

2026 KS2 position – England: Year 6 pupils took the statutory key stage 2 tests from 11 to 14 May 2026 in English grammar, punctuation and spelling, English reading and mathematics. English writing and science are reported through teacher assessment rather than separate end-of-KS2 tests.

What Are SATs?

SATs (Standard Assessment Tests) are national curriculum assessments taken by many pupils in England during primary education.

They are designed to assess progress in:

  • Reading
  • Grammar, punctuation and spelling
  • Mathematics

SATs are generally taken at the end of Key Stage 2 (Year 6).

Schools use SATs alongside teacher assessment to help understand pupil progress.

Useful links:

GCSEs

2026 Ofqual guidance: GCSE exams in England were held within the summer exam period from 7 May to 23 June 2026, with a national contingency day on 24 June. GCSE results were released on 20 August 2026.

What Are GCSEs?

General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) qualifications are normally taken by students aged 14–16.

Subjects commonly include:

  • English Language
  • English Literature
  • Mathematics
  • Sciences
  • History
  • Geography
  • Languages
  • Creative and technical subjects

GCSEs can help support progression to:

  • Sixth Form
  • College
  • Apprenticeships
  • T Levels
  • Employment pathways

Useful links:

A Levels

2026 results day – England: A level, AS and T Level results were released on 13 August 2026. Ofqual's 2026 student guide explains marking, results, reviews and appeals.

What Are A Levels?

A Levels are advanced qualifications typically studied between ages 16–18.

Students usually study:

  • Three or four subjects

A Levels are commonly used for:

  • University applications
  • Higher apprenticeships
  • Employment opportunities

Useful links:

T Levels

England: T Levels are 2-year post-GCSE technical courses, broadly equivalent in size to 3 A levels. They combine a Technical Qualification with an industry placement and are designed for progression to skilled employment, apprenticeships or further/higher technical study.

What Are T Levels?

T Levels are technical qualifications designed alongside employers.

They combine:

  • Classroom learning
  • Industry placements
  • Practical skills

T Levels aim to prepare learners for:

  • Skilled employment
  • Apprenticeships
  • Higher education

Useful links:

Functional Skills

Qualification regulation: Functional Skills are regulated qualifications with separate requirements set by Ofqual. They are often used in further education, adult learning and apprenticeships and can provide an alternative route to demonstrating practical English and maths skills.

What Are Functional Skills?

Functional Skills qualifications focus on practical skills needed for daily life, education and work.

Subjects include:

  • English
  • Mathematics
  • Digital skills (where available)

Functional Skills can support:

  • Employment
  • Apprenticeships
  • Further study

Useful links:

Exam Stress

Support early: if exam stress is affecting sleep, eating, attendance, panic, mood or mental health, speak to the school or college before the exam period where possible. This can also help identify whether reasonable adjustments, special consideration or other support may be relevant.

Understanding Exam Stress

Exam stress is common and can affect:

  • Sleep
  • Concentration
  • Mood
  • Appetite
  • Confidence
  • Attendance
  • Mental health

Parents and carers can help by:

  • Encouraging balanced routines
  • Supporting healthy sleep
  • Reducing unnecessary pressure
  • Focusing on effort rather than perfection
  • Encouraging breaks and exercise

Young people should remember:

  • Exams do not define personal worth
  • One result does not determine an entire future
  • Support is available

Useful links:

Revision Techniques

Different learners benefit from different approaches.

Useful techniques may include:

Retrieval Practice

Testing memory regularly.

Flashcards

Short questions and answers.

Past Papers

Practising real exam questions.

Mind Maps

Visual summaries of topics.

Spaced Repetition

Revisiting topics over time.

Teaching Others

Explaining concepts aloud.

Revision Timetables

Structured planning with breaks.

Useful resources:

Exam Access Arrangements

Reasonable adjustments – England: Ofqual's 2026 guide explains that the Equality Act 2010 requires awarding organisations to make reasonable adjustments for disabled students where they would otherwise be placed at a substantial disadvantage. The qualification must still assess the same knowledge, skills and understanding.

What Are Access Arrangements?

Access arrangements help ensure disabled learners and learners with additional needs are not unfairly disadvantaged in exams.

Possible arrangements may include:

  • Extra time
  • Rest breaks
  • Reader support
  • Scribe support
  • Modified papers
  • Assistive technology
  • Separate room arrangements
  • Practical adjustments

Access arrangements should be based on evidence and assessed need.

Useful links:

Results Day Support

2026 England results: Ofqual reported that 320,505 students in 2,835 schools and colleges received A level results and 1,047,750 students in 6,040 schools and colleges received GCSE results in summer 2026.

Results day can be exciting, disappointing or stressful.

Young people should remember:

  • There are often multiple pathways available
  • Support is available even if results are unexpected
  • Advice services can help explore options

Useful support:

National Careers Service

https://nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/

UCAS

https://www.ucas.com/

Apprenticeships

https://www.gov.uk/apply-apprenticeship

Parents and carers can support by:

  • Staying calm
  • Listening
  • Exploring options together
  • Seeking professional advice if needed

Appeals & Reviews

Reviews can change marks either way. A review of marking is not simply a request for extra marks. The review checks whether the marking scheme was applied correctly, so a mark or grade may stay the same, go up or go down. Most students must ask their school or college to request the review.

Challenging Exam Results

Where concerns exist, learners may be able to request:

Clerical Check

Checking marks were recorded correctly.

Review of Marking

Checking marking processes.

Appeals

Formal challenge procedures.

Deadlines are often short, so action should be taken promptly.

Useful links:

Students should speak with their school, college or exam centre as soon as possible.

Legal Rights

Different rights can overlap: exam and qualification issues may engage the Equality Act 2010, SEND duties, awarding-organisation regulations, data-protection rights and Ofqual's regulatory framework. The correct challenge route depends on whether the dispute concerns access arrangements, marking, malpractice, administration or discrimination.

Learners may have rights relating to:

Equality

Protection from discrimination.

Disability Rights

Reasonable adjustments and access arrangements.

SEND Rights

Appropriate support and assessment.

Data Rights

Access to personal information and records.

Fair Assessment

Assessment procedures should be lawful and transparent.

Useful links:

Evidence Standards

Access-arrangement evidence should be gathered early. The school, college or exam centre normally has to establish the student's need and normal way of working and meet the awarding body's application requirements. Do not wait until the exam has started to raise a long-standing need if it could have been addressed earlier.

Evidence is often important when requesting support, access arrangements or appealing decisions.

Useful evidence may include:

  • Educational psychologist reports
  • Medical evidence
  • SEND plans
  • EHCP documentation
  • School assessments
  • Attendance records
  • Previous access arrangements
  • Specialist reports
  • Teacher evidence

Keep copies of:

  • Emails
  • Letters
  • Meeting notes
  • Exam documentation
  • Results correspondence

A useful evidence record should show:

  • Need identified
  • Support requested
  • Evidence provided
  • Decision made
  • Impact on learning

Accountability & Escalation

Ofqual is the qualifications regulator, not the first-stage marking appeal body. Reviews and appeals normally start with the school/college and awarding organisation. Ofqual can review certain cases after those processes, including specified GCSE, AS, A level, EPQ and T Level Technical Qualification cases where the process is alleged not to have been followed properly.

If concerns arise regarding examinations or qualifications:

Step 1

Speak to:

  • Teacher
  • SENCO
  • Exams Officer
  • Head of Year

Step 2

Request written explanations.

Step 3

Use school or college procedures.

Step 4

Contact the examination centre.

Step 5

Follow exam board review or appeal processes.

Step 6

Seek specialist advice where required.

Useful organisations:

Quick Help Directory

SATs Information

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/national-curriculum-assessments-practice-materials

GCSE Information

https://www.gov.uk/what-different-qualification-levels-mean

A Levels & Higher Education

https://www.ucas.com/

T Levels

https://www.tlevels.gov.uk/

Functional Skills

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/functional-skills-qualifications-requirements

Revision Support

https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize https://www.thenational.academy/

Exam Stress Support

https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/children-and-young-adults/advice-for-parents/help-your-child-beat-exam-stress/ https://www.youngminds.org.uk/

Access Arrangements

https://www.jcq.org.uk/exams-office/access-arrangements-and-special-consideration/

Careers Advice

https://nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/

Apprenticeships

https://www.gov.uk/apply-apprenticeship

Ofqual

https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofqual

Equality Rights

https://www.equalityadvisoryservice.com/

Key Message

Qualifications can open doors to future opportunities, but they do not define a child's value, abilities or future success. Learners should receive fair access, reasonable adjustments where needed and appropriate support throughout the examination process. Understanding rights, maintaining evidence, seeking help early and knowing how to challenge decisions can help ensure that assessments are fair, inclusive and focused on enabling every learner to achieve their potential.

Current 2026 exam update

2026 Exams & Results – England

KS2 / SATs

The 2026 key stage 2 tests were held from 11 to 14 May 2026. Pupils took tests in grammar, punctuation and spelling, reading and maths. Schools could access results from 16 July 2026.

2026 KS2 Parent Information

A Levels, AS & T Levels

Results day was 13 August 2026. Ofqual reported 835,950 A level results and 48,835 AS results in England.

Official Summer 2026 Results

GCSEs

GCSE results day was 20 August 2026. Ofqual reported 5,720,045 GCSE results issued in England.

2026 GCSE Results

T Level Technical Qualifications

Ofqual reported that 19,860 students received results for the Technical Qualification within T Levels in summer 2026. The industry placement is a separate part of the overall T Level.

Official T Level Guide
Before the exam

Exam Entries, Timetables, Tiers & Private Candidates

Ofqual's 2026 student guide is the main official guide for students taking regulated qualifications in England. It covers exam entries, private candidates, exam dates, tiers, access arrangements, special consideration, results and appeals.

Check Your Entry & Timetable

Students should check their personal exam timetable and make sure they know the correct date, time, room and paper. GCSE, AS and A level summer exams in 2026 ran between 7 May and 23 June, with 24 June as the contingency day.

Foundation or Higher?

Some GCSE subjects use tiers. In England these include maths, combined science, separate sciences, statistics and modern foreign languages. Schools decide the tier of entry, so students should check this before the exam.

Private Candidates

Private candidates, including many home-educated students, need to register with a school, college or approved exam centre. Access arrangements should be discussed with the centre as early as possible.

2026 Formula Support

Students taking GCSE mathematics, physics and combined science in England in 2026 were provided with formulae/equation sheets rather than being required to memorise all the usual formulae.

Access arrangements

Reasonable Adjustments, Access Arrangements & Special Consideration

Access arrangements change how an assessment is taken without changing what the qualification is intended to assess. Examples can include extra time, supervised rest breaks, modified papers, a reader, scribe, word processor, Braille or other assistive arrangements where permitted and supported by need.

Equality Act position – England: reasonable adjustments are used where a disabled student would otherwise be placed at a substantial disadvantage in demonstrating their knowledge, skills and understanding. Awarding organisations must publish their arrangements for determining eligibility.
Temporary illness or unexpected events: special consideration can sometimes apply where illness, injury or another unforeseen event affects an exam or assessment. Tell the school, college or exam centre as soon as possible; eligibility and the remedy depend on the awarding organisation's rules.
Results & reviews

If You Think an Exam Result Is Wrong

Start by speaking to the school or college. For GCSE, AS and A levels, the centre can use Access to Scripts and may request a review of marking from the exam board. Most awarding organisations do not accept review requests directly from students.

1. Access to Scripts

The school or college can request a copy of the marked assessment or exam paper to help decide whether a marking review is appropriate.

2. Review of Marking

The exam board checks whether the mark scheme was applied correctly. The mark or grade can stay the same, increase or decrease.

3. Appeal

If concerns remain after the review, the school or college can challenge the review decision through the awarding organisation's appeal process. Private candidates can submit some appeals directly.

4. Ofqual Review

In specified regulated qualifications, where the centre believes the review or appeal process was not carried out properly, it may be able to ask Ofqual to review the case after the awarding-organisation process.

Act quickly: post-results service deadlines are set by awarding organisations and can be short, especially where a university, college, apprenticeship or employment offer depends on the grade.
AI & malpractice

AI, Mobile Phones, Leaked Papers & Exam Malpractice

Ofqual's 2026 student guidance makes clear that submitted assessment work must be the student's own. Sources, including AI tools where their use is permitted, must be acknowledged in line with qualification rules.

AI-generated coursework presented as the student's own work can be malpractice. Ofqual's March 2026 materials warn that consequences can include loss of marks, grades or potentially the qualification.
Mobile phones, watches and other unauthorised communication devices must not be taken into the exam room. Ofqual also warns students not to seek or use leaked exam material, including material that only claims to be a leaked paper.
UK nations

Qualifications Across the UK

Qualification systems are devolved. The detailed Ofqual, GCSE/A level, T Level and KS2 material above mainly describes England.

England

Ofqual regulates GCSEs, AS/A levels, T Level Technical Qualifications and many vocational qualifications in England.

Ofqual

Wales

Wales has its own qualifications regulator, Qualifications Wales, and qualifications including Made-for-Wales GCSEs and A levels. Learners should use Welsh qualification and awarding-body guidance for reviews, access arrangements and appeals.

Qualifications Wales

Scotland

Qualifications Scotland replaced SQA as the national awarding body on 1 February 2026. National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher results were issued on 4 August 2026, and the 2026 appeals service was free.

Qualifications Scotland Scotland Appeals

Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland has its own GCSE, AS and A level policy framework. The Department of Education announced major qualification reforms in March 2026, including a new modular A level structure for future delivery.

NI Qualifications Framework 2026
Official sources

Key Official Exams & Qualifications Sources

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