Preparing for the summer 2026 exam series
As learners across Wales prepare to sit exams this summer, schools and colleges are busy supporting them through the final stages of their courses. With the first GCSE exams beginning in May, Kerry Davies, Head of General Qualifications Monitoring and Standards outlines Qualifications Wales’ approach to standards for summer 2026, shares key reminders for centres, and highlights where support is available for learners.
The summer exams begin next week. It’s an exciting chance for learners to show what they know and can do after a year of hard work (though we recognise most don’t see it like that at this point in time). We know this is a busy period for schools and colleges as they support learners to complete their courses and encourage revision.
We have been sharing updates on the approach to standard setting for the Wave 1 GCSEs this summer but, of course, we have not lost focus on the approach to maintaining standards in A levels, AS levels and the current GCSEs (which will begin to be referred to as legacy GCSEs in summer 2027). We wanted to give those involved in education an outline of the approach to standard setting this year and share some reminders and support that is available for centres and learners.
Our approach to standards in summer 2026
The standard of work needed to achieve each grade will be the same as the standard required before the pandemic. This means that learners’ grades will reflect the level of knowledge, skills, and understanding shown in their work, consistent with established arrangements.
Grade boundaries are set separately for each exam series and for each assessment. While exam papers are designed to be of a consistent level of demand year on year, this is difficult to achieve, so small changes in grade boundaries can occur to ensure that standards are maintained.
WJEC’s awarding committees will continue to use a range of evidence when setting grade boundaries. This includes expert judgement from subject specialists, alongside qualitative and statistical information, to make sure that standards are applied fairly across subjects and qualifications. We monitor WJEC’s awarding processes to gain assurance that standards have been set appropriately.
Maintaining established approaches to awarding is an important part of upholding confidence in qualifications in Wales and ensuring that learners’ results are understood and valued by employers and education providers.
Supporting fairness and consistency
A lot of careful work sits behind summer exam results. A huge number of scripts are marked by awarding bodies – last year, WJEC marked over 1.1 million exam scripts. Awarding bodies also carry out extensive quality assurance processes, before awarding committees look at ‘live’ samples of learner work to help them make judgements about standards.
This approach – sometimes described as attainment referencing – helps ensure that grades are based on what learners have demonstrated, rather than on fixed quotas or predetermined outcomes.
Reminders for schools and colleges
As schools and colleges prepare for the start of the exam series, we remind centres to keep the following key points in mind:
With many year 10 learners taking Wave 1 GCSE unit exams this summer, there will be more exam paper packages than usual in most centres, and lots of the same subject. WJEC has implemented systems to make this as easy as possible to manage, such as having different packaging colours. Schools and colleges must follow the rules for opening exam packages, so that errors are not made in opening packs ahead of each exam. Centres must follow awarding body guidance to protect the integrity of assessments, including managing access to materials and addressing any suspected malpractice promptly. Guidance on preventing and reporting malpractice is available on the WJEC website. There is also helpful guidance on cyber security available on the Cyber Resilience Centre for Wales website.
Although learners taking exams this summer will have already completed any non-examination assessments (NEA) linked to this series, learners may still be completing NEA for other subjects, or later series. Learners must only use AI tools where this is permitted by the specification and their teacher. Work submitted for assessment must be the learner’s own. JCQ’s Guidance on AI use in assessments is a helpful resource for teachers and assessors.
If an event or situation occurs that affects a learner at the time of an exam, or assessment, centres can make an application for special consideration to the awarding body. Applications should be made as early as possible and in line with awarding body requirements.
Centres should have plans in place to manage disruption, including technical or cyber-related incidents, and should follow our guidance to help minimise risks.
Support for learners
Exam and assessment periods can be stressful for learners. Schools and colleges play a vital role in helping learners feel confident and supported. There is also information available for learners and their parents or carers explaining what to expect during the summer exam series and on results day, and the options for afterwards:
Revision guides, top tips for staying motivated and wellbeing support are available via Welsh Government’s Power Up Hub.
We also provide support on exams and assessments and a learner guide to exams and assessments.
After the summer exams
As exams are completed, awarding bodies will ensure that scripts are marked, and carry out their awarding processes ahead of results days in August. We will continue to monitor processes and outcomes closely to make sure standards have been applied appropriately across qualifications.
We want to thank schools, colleges, teachers and support staff for the work they do every year to support learners through the exam series, and we wish all learners the very best as they complete their assessments this summer.