Ofqual reassures on A level changes

28 May 2010

With major changes to A levels this summer, Ofqual has briefed teachers' associations on work to maintain standards.

Each year, approximately 500,000 candidates take A level exams. Ofqual and its regulatory partners (DCELLS in Wales and CCEA in Northern Ireland) have a responsibility to ensure that standards are consistent across time and across awarding organisations in the interest of candidates.

Information discussed at the briefing included:

How the awarding process works
The role of the regulators
Specific work to safeguard standards through the changes
How the A* will be awarded
Modelling of A* awards based on last year's results.

The new A level specifications comprise four units rather than six in most subjects. The examinations introduce more ‘stretch and challenge', which means that a broader range of question types and more questions requiring extended answers. This summer will also see the introduction of the new A* grade at A level.

Kathleen Tattersall, chair of Ofqual, said: "This is a period of significant change to A levels. We believe that it is important to set out clearly what is being done to ensure that standards are maintained.

"Ofqual and its fellow regulators have been working for four years with the awarding bodies to make sure that the grades awarded this summer, including the new A* grade, are consistent and fair.

"This work has included detailed scrutiny of the individual specifications, agreeing the principles to be followed during the awarding process and ensuring consistency of approach across the awarding organisations.

"During the summer we will be monitoring the awarding process and the results in order to ensure that the grades candidates achieve are fair to them and are in line with those awarded in previous years.

"Work undertaken has so far included modelling A* outcomes from 2009, had the grade been awarded then. The modelling shows that there will be differences between the proportion of candidates who achieve an A* grade in different subjects.

"There are differences in the A and E grades awarded in different subjects each year and this is to be expected," said Kathleen. "It does not mean that some subjects are easier or harder than others, rather it highlights differences in the cohorts taking those subjects."