Marks and sparks
Article Abstract:
It is common practice for the pass marks for examinations taken by school children in the UK to be adjusted year by year. This approach makes it possible for the marks to reflect the difficulty of the paper. Other ways of ensuring fairness and consistency from year to year are also used. These include having several thousand children sitting draft tests for the following year, thus allowing officials to assess whether these tests will be harder or easier than those of previous years. Against this background, it is wrong to claim that the government is adjusting pass marks merely to meet political targets.
Publication Name: The Independent
Subject: Retail industry
ISSN: 0951-9467
Year: 1999
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Farewell to St Trinian's, goodbye to the GCSE
Article Abstract:
The GCSE examination for 16-year-olds, which was created in 1988 to replace the old O-level and CSE examinations, was intended to create a more uniform standard, avoiding dividing children into those who are academically able and those who are not. However, the changes which have been made to GCSE examinations over recent years have meant a return to an elitist system. Pupils are now entered for a distinct tier of the examination, and only the top tier is really valued by the media and potential employers.
Publication Name: The Independent
Subject: Retail industry
ISSN: 0951-9467
Year: 1996
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And you thought it was a simple as ABC
Article Abstract:
The marking of GCSE and other examinations has been widely criticised over recent years, with some observers claiming that standards are lower than in the past. Examination boards are defending themselves by pointing out that they use long and careful procedures and that there is now a standardised code of practice. The examiners first judge a sample of the year's scripts, and then consider statistics which indicate the proportion of candidates awarded each grade.
Publication Name: The Independent
Subject: Retail industry
ISSN: 0951-9467
Year: 1995
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