The two reports are part of Ofqual's scrutiny programme, an in-depth study of the assessments used in a range of qualifications offered by AQA, Edexcel and OCR.

One report looks at principal learning qualifications, which form part of the Diploma. The qualifications monitored were; engineering, offered by AQA-City & Guilds; society health and development, offered by Edexcel; and creative and media offered by OCR, all level 2.

The other report looks at six new GCE AS levels in 2009. These were; English literature and geography from AQA; physics and Spanish from Edexcel; and design and technology and history for OCR.

Kathleen Tattersall, chair of Ofqual, said: "These reports are an important part of our work to safeguard standards in these new qualifications.

"We shall be carefully reviewing all the findings, including those of the principal learning qualification where it was found that some question papers did not provide sufficient opportunities for the more able candidates to demonstrate the extent of their knowledge, understanding and skills.

"We will continue our monitoring of these new qualifications and will continue to work with awarding organisations and other stakeholders to ensure that they are fit for purpose and valued by learners, teachers, parents and employers."

Download 'The new principal learning qualifications. Interim findings from the monitoring of teh new level 2 qualifications in 2009'

Download 'The new GCE AS level examinations. Findings from the monitoring of the new qualifications in 2009'

Notes to editors:

1. The reports can be downloaded on Friday 5th March from www.ofqual.gov.uk.
2. These scrutiny reports form part of a two-year programme that will publish final reports in 2011.
3. The Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Act, which gained Royal Assent on Thursday, November 12, 2009, included the provision for Ofqual to be established as an independent statutory body with responsibilities for the regulation of general and vocational qualifications in England and vocational qualifications in Northern Ireland.
4. For more information contact the Ofqual press office on 0300 303 3342 or 07798 924552 out of hours