EBC scrapped from the Independent

Key Stage 3 English

Consultation open on these until 16th April 2013.

Some reading content implications for KS4 English….

“Strong pressure on schools to achieve GCSE English at grade C

Over-marking of controlled assessments in some schools”

1.” The complexity and poor design of GCSE English exams, along with too much emphasis on school-based controlled assessment, led to some schools in England experiencing grade variations this summer, the exams regulator Ofqual has concluded.

Combined with pressure created by performance measures that provide incentives to ensure as many students as possible achieve a C grade, this led to significant over-marking of controlled assessments to meet grade boundary targets.

The report by Ofqual sets out in detail the data, analysis and other evidence that Ofqual has considered over the last two months to help it understand why there was unexpected variability in GCSE English results in some schools. It follows an initial report in August.

The report also reviews in depth the issues covered by the August report. It confirms the conclusion in the initial report that grades for GCSE English were set at the right standard in June 2012, and provides the evidence to show this.”

2. “Controlled assessment boundaries for the internally-marked controlled assessments were set differently in June, when four out of five of all units were submitted and examiners saw over-marking. This meant that the average mark for a piece of work of a particular standard was higher in June than in January, and examiners judging the standard of work set the grade boundaries to reflect that.

For the exams, the report explains the difficulties of setting grade boundaries in January, and why we conclude the June boundaries were set properly. The evidence does not support the suggestion that June boundaries were unnecessarily tough.

The report explains why Ofqual had to intervene in summer 2012 awarding with two exam boards. Had it not done so, standards would have been set at the wrong level. There would not have been consistency between exam boards.”

3. “From September 2013, GCSE English qualifications will no longer be modular in England. Ofqual is taking regulatory action to prevent a repeat of the problems experienced this year.

To protect standards of GCSEs in 2013, all January 2013 assessments (whether examination or controlled assessment) will be marked, but not graded, to reduce the risk of marking to meet the expected requirement for a given grade. This will enable the grades for January and June to be set at the same time.

Marking moderation tolerance will be tightened, reducing it from the current 6 per cent.

Exam boards will be required to improve their communications with schools.

Ofqual will consider if any further exam design changes are needed to protect standards.”