Ofqual report on communicating about reliability

The report entitled 'No news is good news?' looks at issues around communicating the concept of reliability in the examinations, tests and assessments system, including the difficulties and benefits of talking publicly about the subject.

Ofqual is currently undertaking a two-year study into consistency of assessments and factors that may affect variability of results, called the Reliability Programme. This is due to be finished in December 2010, after which a report will be published into the findings. Reports into projects commissioned as part of the programme will be published on the website as they become available.

The Ofqual website has also been updated with an animation created to explain the concept of the Reliability Programme to stakeholders such as learners, parents, teachers and employers.

The animation uses the analogy of the boiling point of a kettle, widely known to be 100 degrees centigrade. However, this is only true if boiled at sea level. If boiled on top of Mount Everest, external pressure would mean it boiled at 71 degrees centigrade. In this case external factors have affected the final result – just as external factors such as the time and place of an assessment can affect the results of an exam.

Details of discussions with members of the UK Youth Parliament about their views on the reliability of exams and qualifications can also now be found on the website.

Notes to editors

1. The 35th International Association for Educational Assessment (IAEA) Annual Conference took place in Brisbane, Australia, from 13 – 18 September. It is recognised as a major event in assessment, bringing together leading educational certification agencies, educational assessment experts, and examination providers from 40 countries.
2. Ofqual in its interim form is part of the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA). On 2 April 2008, the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, announced that the government intended to legislate to make Ofqual a separate statutory authority reporting directly to Parliament.
3. For further information journalists should contact the Ofqual press office on 0300 303 3342, or 07798 924552 outside office hours. Members of the public should call the Ofqual helpline on 0300 303 3346.