GCSE and A level exams are cancelled, so here’s what you can do next as a student who’s staying at home for a little while.
For those of you who have been revising hard for the last months, exams getting cancelled might be something you’ve secretly thought about a couple of times.
With the news of this year’s GCSE and A level exams being cancelled, you are probably feeling a lot of things; scared, worried, excited – and most likely frustrated because you want to make sure the work you have put in will get its time to shine.
The latest Government update says that GCSE, A and AS students will be awarded a grade that fairly reflects the work put in, and you will get an option to sit an exam early next academic year if you wish to. Universities are expected to be flexible and fully support students. We will do our best to keep you updated as the news rolls in.
We know that this might have come as a shock, and the news can feel overwhelming sometimes. But try to keep calm – things will become much clearer in the coming days and we are working hard to make sure that all your needs are considered.
You have grown your knowledge and skills in lots of ways over the last few years. Those will stay with you and help you with your next steps. What you have learnt isn’t lost or a waste, there is a big exciting future for you to use it in.
We can’t change what has happened, but there are still some things you can do.
Some things you can do when exams are cancelled
- Find out your school’s plan. Let them know if you will struggle to get online to do lessons.
- Make sure you and your school have each other’s details. When you say goodbye to friends and teachers, make sure you have the details for those you want to stay in touch with. Check you know your school email log ins and double check your school has the right contact details for you (especially if you’ve moved house or your parents/carer have changed their number recently).
- Keep your work. For now you should keep your coursework, books and revision notes. The work you have put in is likely to be a part of how your grades are marked, so keep these handy for now.
- Set some new challenges. There are lots of companies giving free access to language courses, exercise classes, free calligraphy print outs and museum tours too. Think of something you haven’t been able to learn yet. Now is your time.
- Help out your family. Things will be ok but for now the people in your home might need a bit of extra support to keep things organised. Set up a new rota and don’t forget to offer to make the tea once in a while
- Help you your local community. If you are well enough you can help out in your local community too, you can offer to deliver newspapers or food to those in isolation. Or you can write a letter to one of your neighbours too, they have probably got some great stories to share. IMPORTANT: Stay safe and make sure your parents or carer know what you are doing.
We have a wide range of skills and careers resources for you to explore as part of our website too. Signing up as a young professional and registering for our newsletter will mean you get skills challenges and the latest information every week. Give it a go here.
