The Live Wire

About us

We are the regulator of qualifications, exams and tests in England. Our work will ensure that learners get the results they deserve and that the qualifications they receive count, both now and in the future.

We want to make a difference, ensuring that the whole qualifications system has integrity.

We will do this by:

  • ensuring that the awarding organisations that offer and deliver qualifications have good systems in place, and that they are held to account for their performance
  • making sure that all qualifications offered by awarding organisations are fair and are comparable with other qualifications
  • monitoring standards in qualifications, exams and tests, and reporting on our findings
  • ensuring that there is fair access to qualifications for all candidates
  • ensuring the quality of marking of exams, tests and other assessments to make sure that learners get the results their work deserves
  • making sure that the qualifications market provides value for money and meets the needs of learners and employers
  • encouraging debate about important topics, such as standards of exams and qualifications.

As a regulator, we step in and exercise our regulatory authority where there is a risk to the integrity of the system or to a learner. We aim to be consistent in our decision-making and to make our decisions clear and understandable.

Ofqual began its interim work on April 8 2008. The government will be bringing in legislation to establish Ofqual as the regulator of qualifications. Until this legislation is passed, we will operate as part of the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority. Afterwards, the regulator will be accountable to parliament rather than to government ministers.

Ofqual

Ofqual

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