GCSEs and A levels Summer 2011
GCSE reforms
Earlier this year the Secretary of State asked Ofqual to consider how best to reform GCSEs so that exams are typically taken only at the end of the course and to advise on how mark schemes could take greater account of the importance of spelling, punctuation and grammar.
These changes are outlined in an exchange of letters between Glenys Stacey, Chief Executive of Ofqual, and the Secretary of State which can be found here:
Letter from Glenys Stacey to Michael Gove MP on GCSE spelling, punctuation and grammar (SPaG)
Letter from Glenys Stacey to Michael Gove MP on GCSE unitisation
Letter from Michael Gove MP to Glenys Stacey on GCSE reform
Enquiries About Results and Appeals
Below you can download more information about enquiries about results and a flow chart that visually explains the process.
Information on exam paper errors
Resources from the MPs briefing event
Below you can find resources associated with the MPs briefing event on 16th May 2011:
- Maintaining standards in GCSEs and A levels in summer 2011
- The New GCE A Level Examinations - Findings from the Monitoring of the New Qualifications in 2010
- Ofqual’s Summer Qualification Awarding Season Parliamentary Briefing - Agenda
- Transcript of the opening speech by Glenys Stacey
- Transcript of the speech by Jim Cunningham MP
- Transcript of the speech by Sandra Burslem
- Transcript of the speech by Dennis Opposs
- Ofqual Business Plan 2011/12
- Open letter to secondary schools and colleges about the summer 2011 awards of new unitised GCSEs
- Explaining the use of prediction data
Changes to the rules on ‘cashing-in’ AS levels
Changes to the Government’s rules regarding the use of uncashed qualifications outcomes in success rates (which are used to determine post 16 funding), take effect this summer. This primarily affects AS levels. The changes are likely to result in the reporting of higher numbers of AS results and within that a larger proportion of higher AS level grades than in previous years.
Centres can choose whether or not to ‘cash-in’ candidates’ AS level unit results at the end of Year 12 – this means they can choose whether or not to claim an overall grade and certificate for that qualification. Either way, the results from the AS units count towards their A level results.
The changes (and the resulting impact on funding) make it more likely that maintained centres in England will choose to "cash-in" AS level results at the end of Year 12. Ofqual and the awarding organisations have been looking into the possible impact of this change. Evidence suggests that candidates whose AS results were not cashed in previously, and who were therefore not counted in the national results, tended to be among the higher performers. If results for similar candidates are now ‘cashed in’, this is likely to mean a greater proportion of candidates will be reported as achieving the higher grades.
As in previous years, Ofqual’s regulatory work will include monitoring the awarding process to check that standards are consistent with the previous year and across the different awarding organisations. The changes to the way the results are counted will not affect this work.
The Government changes do not apply to centres in Wales, Northern Ireland or independent schools in England.
Presentation from the MPs briefing event
The presentation from the MPs briefing event is available below:
Coverage of the changes to A levels in Summer 2010 is also available on our website.
