Comments on: Unfinished business – an update http://comment.ofqual.gov.uk/chief-regulators-report-dec-2009/section-1-unfinished-business/unfinished-business-an-update/ This second report reviews what we have done so far and outlines our thinking on current issues in assessment. Mon, 16 Aug 2010 20:50:53 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Rachel Shaw http://comment.ofqual.gov.uk/chief-regulators-report-dec-2009/section-1-unfinished-business/unfinished-business-an-update/comment-page-1/#comment-226 Rachel Shaw Wed, 09 Jun 2010 13:13:10 +0000 http://comment.ofqual.gov.uk/chief-regulators-report-dec-2009/?p=58#comment-226 One fundamental issue that is not being addressed is the fact that exam boards are effectively incentivised by the current system not to admit mistakes or improve standards and accuracy of marking. This is for two reasons. 1) There is no 'appeal board' separate to the exam board itself. In other words, when appealing against the marks awarded by an exam board, one has to appeal to the exam board. This is nothing short of ridiculous, since it is obviously in the exam board's interest to deny that anything untoward has occurred. 2) Not only is it in the interests of the reputation of the exam board to deny poor marking, but it is actually in their financial interests. In fact exam boards actually make a profit out of their poor marking as they charge upwards of £40 to students who wish to challenge their marks - even when, as is now the case, the approval of the relevant teacher must be sought to do so (hence reducing spurious enquiries). They only refund the £40 when the students marks go up by a whole grade. As the grade boundaries can be 10-15 marks apart, this means that even when the board acknowledges a 10% inaccuracy in marks, they still profit from the student's enquiry. For some students, a difference of 2 or 3 marks on a module may mean they do or don't achieve the university place they have been offered. Of course, this is assuming a student has tens - or even hundreds of pounds to lay out in the first place (each A level has, up till now, consisted of up to 6 modules with marks awarded separately for each module). Out of pocket on all fronts one might say. So why is it like this? Well, one reason is that the government allows exam boards to be profit making organisations. Profit making organisations need to hold down wages to their average worker, resulting in low rewards for script marking being offered - resulting in shortages of appropriately experienced teacher-markers being available (fact). This then results in inaccurate script marking, which results in students needing to challenge their marks, which results ..............oh yes...............in exam boards making a profit! One fundamental issue that is not being addressed is the fact that exam boards are effectively incentivised by the current system not to admit mistakes or improve standards and accuracy of marking. This is for two reasons.
1) There is no ‘appeal board’ separate to the exam board itself. In other words, when appealing against the marks awarded by an exam board, one has to appeal to the exam board. This is nothing short of ridiculous, since it is obviously in the exam board’s interest to deny that anything untoward has occurred.

2) Not only is it in the interests of the reputation of the exam board to deny poor marking, but it is actually in their financial interests. In fact exam boards actually make a profit out of their poor marking as they charge upwards of £40 to students who wish to challenge their marks – even when, as is now the case, the approval of the relevant teacher must be sought to do so (hence reducing spurious enquiries). They only refund the £40 when the students marks go up by a whole grade. As the grade boundaries can be 10-15 marks apart, this means that even when the board acknowledges a 10% inaccuracy in marks, they still profit from the student’s enquiry. For some students, a difference of 2 or 3 marks on a module may mean they do or don’t achieve the university place they have been offered. Of course, this is assuming a student has tens – or even hundreds of pounds to lay out in the first place (each A level has, up till now, consisted of up to 6 modules with marks awarded separately for each module). Out of pocket on all fronts one might say.

So why is it like this? Well, one reason is that the government allows exam boards to be profit making organisations. Profit making organisations need to hold down wages to their average worker, resulting in low rewards for script marking being offered – resulting in shortages of appropriately experienced teacher-markers being available (fact). This then results in inaccurate script marking, which results in students needing to challenge their marks, which results …………..oh yes……………in exam boards making a profit!

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]]> By: Joan Knott CEA http://comment.ofqual.gov.uk/chief-regulators-report-dec-2009/section-1-unfinished-business/unfinished-business-an-update/comment-page-1/#comment-149 Joan Knott CEA Fri, 05 Mar 2010 12:03:25 +0000 http://comment.ofqual.gov.uk/chief-regulators-report-dec-2009/?p=58#comment-149 The new Functional Skills Tests are far more difficult than the Key Skills and ALAN tests they are to replace. The degree of problem solving and interpretation will make them very difficult for learners to achieve. Pass marks will be low which will demotivate adult returners and Neets students. Whilst it will be simpler for employers to have just 1 set of qualifications it will not help in remotivating reluctant learners if they have been struggling to pass the same exam since they were 14. The new Functional Skills Tests are far more difficult than the Key Skills and ALAN tests they are to replace.
The degree of problem solving and interpretation will make them very difficult for learners to achieve.
Pass marks will be low which will demotivate adult returners and Neets students.
Whilst it will be simpler for employers to have just 1 set of qualifications it will not help in remotivating reluctant learners if they have been struggling to pass the same exam since they were 14.

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