Exam Results 2022 – Students React Poorly Amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic

Exam Results 2022 – Students React Poorly Amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic

There has been a suspicion about the higher percentage of A* and A grades achieved in A level results this year, with some believing that these students have not had to work as hard for their success. This article will explore the A-level curriculum and how it has been adapted in light of the pandemic through the experiences of five A-level students who persevered through the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The A-level curriculum is designed to challenge and prepare students for university-level study. In a typical year, students would be expected to complete coursework and sit exams at the end of the two-year programme. However, many schools were forced to close their doors midway through the academic year due to the pandemic. This meant that many students were left without access to vital resources and support from their teachers.

Students are finding it difficult to cope with the A-level workload. One student, who wished to remain anonymous, said: “I was more than happy with the grades I got as they were even higher than expected,’ she says. “But I feel I didn’t do as much work as people who earned the same grades in previous years.

“It’s a shame I never got to sit an A-level paper, but I don’t think I would have got the same exam results under the circumstances as I could have otherwise. In some ways, it was less stressful. You didn’t have the stress at the end of the year of proving yourself in the exams. But you also didn’t have any fun stuff from a normal year of teaching, and there was the constant stress of not knowing what would happen next.”

This student is not alone in her experiences. A recent Sixth Form Colleges Association survey found that 42% of A-level students felt their school or college had not given them enough support during the pandemic. This lack of support has been cited as one of the main reasons why many students struggle to cope with the A-level workload.

Another student, who also wished to remain anonymous, said: “I feel like I’ve missed much support from my teachers. Regarding my work, I feel like I’ve had to do a lot more self-teaching and independent learning, which has been tough.

“There were times when I struggled to motivate myself to keep going. It was hard not having that support network around me, especially when things were getting tough.”

The unfairness of the A-level grading system has also been called into question this year. Many students believe the algorithm used to calculate grades last year was unfair and did not reflect their true abilities. This year, students were graded on their predicted grades, which many feel is a more accurate representation of their ability.

Duncan, 18, from Bristol, is going to Oxford University to study physics after achieving four A*s in physics, chemistry, maths and geography. He is relieved that this year’s students were not graded by the algorithm, as happened last year, provoking a crisis after questions were raised as to the accuracy and fairness of the exam results.

“It seems that as someone who attended a state school, there may have been a greater chance that an algorithm would downgrade my results.”

He also defended this year’s record results from accusations that teachers inflated their students’ grades. Duncan believes that the A-level curriculum is challenging enough without the need for extra pressure from exam results. “I don’t think the A-level exam results is getting any easier,” he says. “If anything, it’s getting harder as universities look for more specific subjects. There’s a lot of pressure on students to perform well.”

These experiences highlight the importance of teacher support in helping A-level students to succeed. Without this vital support, many students find it difficult to cope with the demands of the A-level curriculum.

If you are an A-level student struggling to cope with the workload, it is important to seek help from your teachers or other support networks. There are also many online resources available that can help you manage your workload and stay on track with your studies. More information about the results here