GCSEs and A-Level exams are arguably the most important exams students have to take before stepping into the “real world”. Years of learning crammed into a few months of stress, endless revision, and sleepless nights. Since the coronavirus pandemic, it has been three years since real exams have actually taken place; after two years of teacher-predicted grades, how do students feel about being the first to sit a “proper” exam since 2019?

 

Maitri P. in year eleven speaks for herself as well as many of her peers as she says:

 

“Being one of the first students to sit real, proper standardised assessments in two years after having many interruptions in our learning in all subjects, I feel quite anxious and unsure of what the outcome will be. I have put in as much effort as I possibly could and will continue doing so for the last and final push until exam season begins but I do feel we have been left to fend for ourselves after exam boards and the department of education have not been as lenient as we, all collectively, have liked them to have been. However, I will stay optimistic and I will happily accept any result I get after all my hard work” 

 

GCSE and A-Level students of 2022 have a lot of stress to deal with, and most students feel like the exam boards are not being as considerate of the impacts of covid on these year 11 and 13 students, even after two years. However, it is no doubt that everyone will put all of their efforts into achieving the grades they deserve!