Summer 2022 assessment adaptations research

We've published qualitative research conducted by Opinion Research Services on teacher and learner experiences of adapted assessments during the summer of 2022.

Qualifications Wales has published qualitative research conducted by Opinion Research Services on teacher and learner experiences of adapted GCSE, AS and A level assessments during the summer of 2022.  

The adaptations were made with the aim of supporting learners by making the assessments more accessible due to the ongoing disruption caused to education by the pandemic. Many different types of adaptations were made across subjects. Specific examples are available in our report and summary report. 

Here are some highlights of the research findings: 

• adapting assessments was a necessary step in the circumstances 
• adaptations had some benefits - for example, where an assessment was removed, some teachers felt they could focus on teaching what remained in more depth  
• learners said they had been aware of the adaptations – while some knew what to expect from the assessments, others reported feeling some uncertainty 
• where learners felt uncertain, sometimes they continued to revise content that had been adapted out of the assessments 
• many highlighted that adapting assessments had knock -on effects with variation in whether content removed from assessments was taught and learnt 
• some teachers thought that learners’ readiness for further study was impacted – but it was acknowledged that this was also because learners were less ready for further study in general due to the disruption to education 

The project followed on from research with teachers on the centre determined grading approach used for the same qualifications in the summer of 2021. The findings help us to develop our understanding of what can happen, from the perspective of those using the qualifications, when qualifications are changed.