Making the Grade: Protecting standards in examinations

Kathleen TattersallOctober 6 2009

Making the grade: an introduction to Ofqual

Ofqual – the new regulator of exams, tests and assessments

Ofqual is set to be fully independent in 2010

Ofqual will maintain confidence in qualifications

Ofqual will promote awareness of benefits of qualifications

Ofqual will make sure qualifications are efficient and effective.

AS 2009

March 2009: Ofqual described how awarding bodies will approach grading of AS levels

Efforts made to ensure that all parties act with parity and on the same basis

No direction from Ofqual to set higher hurdle

GCE AS outcomes 2008/2009

2008 2009 Difference

A 18.7 per cent 19.5 per cent Up 0.8 perc pts

A-C 58.5 per cent 58.7 per cent Up 0.2 perc pts

A-E 88.2 per cent 88.1 per cent Down 0.1 perc pts

Making the leap: new ways of maintaining standards

A* grade at A level to be awarded for the first time in 2010

A* rewards exceptional candidates

A* given to candidates who achieve A grades and 90 per cent of UMS of A2 units

A* introduced to help universities select the most suitable candidates.

Making a difference: what will Ofqual do?

Make recommendations – such as piloting new qualifications

Review subjects, e.g GCSE physics

Defend standards, e.g GCSE science.

Making headway: what has Ofqual done?

Asked QCA for a review of GCSE science criteria

Asked for greater conformity

Asked for challenging questions and tasks in assessments

Asked awarding bodies to take into account relevant information in setting grade boundaries.

Making waves? The reliability of results

Humans mark exam papers – and humans are fallible

Ofqual’s Reliability Programme looks at factors affecting consistency of results

Researchers working on first projects now and will report back at the end of the year

Results are taken from school to university to the workplace – learners must rely on them

Making connections: working with stakeholders

Ofqual’s stakeholders include universities

Ofqual has no remit for universities but will work with them

University places are filled while exam appeals take place

Ofqual will raise this issue with universities to protect learners

A flexible qualification system is required.

Thank you.

Any questions?