A level Physics, 2001-2007 & GCSE Physics, 2002-2007
The typical standards review considers two issues: the maintenance of examination standards over time; together with the consistency of standards across awarding bodies in the current year. Each review aims to investigate the demand of syllabuses and their assessment instruments (for example question papers, mark schemes) and the level of performance required of candidates at key grade boundaries.
Reviewers found that the overall demands of the GCE A level examinations in physics had not changed significantly between 2001 and 2007. In both years the demands were considered appropriate. There were some changes that increased demand in 2007 and others that reduced it, but their overall impact was considered to be neutral.
The structural differences between the 2001 A level and the new AS/A2 package made it very hard to compare standards between 2001 and 2007. Between 2001 and 2007 reviewers found that there was some evidence of a decline in standards of performance at grade A. In 2007 there was variation across the awarding bodies in the standards of performance at AS grades A and E.
With regard to GCSE physics, reviewers judged that syllabus content was more demanding at foundation tier in 2007 because it included topics covered previously only at higher tier. However, this was balanced by an increase in questions requiring shorter answers. Reviewers concluded that the overall demands of the GCSE Physics examinations at foundation tier had not changed between 2002 and 2007.
Between 2002 and 2007 there was an overall decline in the standards of performance in GCSE physics at each grade boundary, although this was not the case for CCEA at grades A and C foundation tier and for WJEC at grade C higher tier and grade F. In some cases, the decline in the standards of performance was very marked.
In 2007 there were variations in the standards of performance across the awarding bodies at each grade boundary.
These findings in both A level and GCSE physics are a cause for concern. The GCSE specifications that were reviewed in this report have now been replaced. Our standards reviews this year will concentrate on other GCSE science subjects including biology and chemistry. The results of this review of physics and our review into other GCSE sciences over the next year will feed into the revised GCSE science criteria. With regard to A level physics, Ofqual will be working with the awarding bodies to ensure that appropriate standards are carried through to the new qualifications, that inter-board discrepancies are resolved and to ensure that the standards set for the new A level qualifications are appropriate.