August 2023 Teaching Science update
Welcome to the August Teaching Science update for UK and International Science qualifications at KS4 and KS5. In this update teachers can find information and guidance for the Summer 2023 results period.
We want to take this opportunity to thank everyone in schools and colleges for all your hard work in supporting your learners and helping to make sure they achieve the grades they deserve this summer.
Results dates
Summer 2023 student results dates can be found in the tables below. If any of your students have not received a result and they are expecting one, you should contact us immediately through the Pearson support portal or on 0344 463 2535.
| Qualification | Date results are issued to students |
|---|---|
| GCSE & International GCSE | Thursday 24 August |
| A level & IAL | Thursday 17 August |
Availability of Summer 2023 Examiner Reports
The Summer 2023 examiner reports will be available on our website for secure download on the dates shown in the table below. Mark schemes and question papers have already been uploaded on our website and can be accessed from the qualification pages.
| Qualification | Date examiner reports will be available on the website |
|---|---|
| A level/AS & IAL | Tuesday 22 August |
| GCSE & International GCSE | Tuesday 29 August |
Examiners’ reports can also be obtained earlier on student results days using our analysis tool ResultsPlus. Below are the steps to follow in Results Plus to obtain examiner reports.
- Log into ResultsPlus using your Edexcel Online details
- Once you are logged in under your centre, select 'ResultsPlus Analysis.
- Then select 'Whole cohort results' followed by 'Cohort paper analysis'.
- Select the relevant qualification and series e.g. 'GCE' and 'June 2023', followed by the relevant subject and 'View paper analysis'.
- Select 'Exam docs' and you will find the Examiners' Report for that component/paper.
Edexcel Online and Multi-factor Authentication (MFA)
Hopefully most Edexcel Online (EOL) users have successfully gone through the MFA process over June and July. If you have not, and are experiencing problems using our EOL related systems, then please refer to the update below where you can find guidance and troubleshooting steps to help you resolve any issues.
Results support and guidance
Following the release of results to your students, if you need information to do with post-results services, access to scripts, location of grade boundaries, or other information related to results, then please refer to the links below where guidance can be found:
Grade Boundaries
You can access Summer 2023 grade boundaries on our website from results day. In addition to the official grade boundaries that are produced at subject level, we also provide notional grade boundaries at paper level. These can help you mark and assess future mocks.
For 2023, the approach all exam boards have taken to grading was to return to pre-pandemic grading, while giving students protection against any impact of disruption. Results this summer are therefore far more in line with summer exams that were sat in 2019, but lower than in 2022, when grades awarded were based on a mid-point between 2019 and 2021 outcomes. This is explained in our guidance documents below.
Ofqual blog on Exam results in 2023
You may also find the Ofqual blog below useful in helping you to understand how grades were awarded this summer.
View Ofqual blog on Exam results 2023: 10 things to know about GCSE, AS and A level grades
Grade Statistics
If you would like to view the percentage of students achieving each grade, please refer to our provisional grade statistics document. This is available on our website from results day.
A level Summer 2023 feedback events
In the Autumn term we will be provide pre-recorded feedback events on the 2023 A level Science exams. Please keep an eye out for these on our training page.
GCSE Summer 2023 feedback events
We will be providing Summer 2023 feedback events for Pearson Edexcel GCSE teachers that will be live and free to attend. In these events teachers will look at how students performed in the Summer 2023 exams.
GCSE Combined Science Biology: Summer 2023 feedback |
03 October 2023 at 16:00 - 17:30 GMT Free |
GCSE Combined Science Chemistry: Summer 2023 feedback |
04 October 2023 at 16:00 - 17:30 GMT Free |
GCSE Combined Science Physics: Summer 2023 feedback |
05 October 2023 at 16:00 - 17:30 GMT Free |
2023 post-exam survey
It is still possible to provide feedback on this Summer's exams to enable us to improve the experience for teachers and students sitting exams for our qualifications. We will be sharing feedback with our senior examiners and across teams to ensure we continue to make improvements to our papers where appropriate so we can make sure your students have the best exam experience.
Pearson Edexcel parents and carers newsletter
Information you need to support your learners as they receive their results can be found in our recent newsletter.
International Qualifications Autumn 2023 Exam Series
The Autumn 2023 exam series for IAL will be running as normal this year. The entry deadline for this exam series is 28 August.
International GCSE has a new series in November 2023. The entry deadline for this exam series is 15 September.
BTEC August update
The Teaching Science update for teachers delivering BTEC Science qualifications can be viewed on the link below. It contains information and guidance for the summer 2023 results period.
Subject advisor
Irine Muhiuddin
Science
