The upcoming reforms to A-levels

Original post by L1QUOR

Let's just copy U.S.A's education system

how's that copying USA's education system?

Reply 8

username5050312

Original post by summerbirdreads

how's that copying USA's education system?

They never said it was.

Reply 9

username5706823

Original post by cleveranimal56

They never said it was.

oh ok my bad lol i interpreted that wrong
but even then let's not copy American education system

Reply 10

username5050312

Original post by summerbirdreads

oh ok my bad lol i interpreted that wrong
but even then let's not copy American education system

I don't think you'd need a 1 grade, (there is no F or G at A-level so it'd represent a sub-E standard, probably meaning everyone passes) or an extra grade around the C. (the reason this was done is quite specific to GCSE I think) 1-7 would probably work fine. (with the extra grades for B+/A+ and A*+) But I wouldn't be surprised if they just went for 1-9 so there's less confusion. (then offers like 988 would probably be just around the corner for the very top courses)

I would speculate the main reason this is done is a) to make deflation easier and less disruptive (not 100% sure it'll work out this way though) and b) they were probably planning to do it eventually when they made GCSEs 9-1. (just like the GCSE was the first to get the A* grade)

Actually thinking about it, isn't IB already 1-7?

(edited 2 years ago)

Reply 12

CatInTheCorner

19

Original post by Reality Check

I appreciate that, but GCSEs are taken by (practically) everyone and thus the grading system needs to accommodate a very wide range of attainment. It's generally accepted that things become 'funnelled' as you go up through academic levels, and thus the descriptors for attainment (grades) don't need to be so wide. For instance, there are only four 'grades' for Level 6 (batchelors): I, II(1), II(2) and III. At Level 7, Masters, there are only 3: Pass, Merit and Distinction, and practically only 3 at Level 8 (Ph.D): outright pass, major corrections and minor corrections.

It would be odd for A levels to buck this trend, primarily because there is no need for them to so do.

True, and I definitely see your point, but with the average A-level grade being a C ( hence the very nature of a C ) I feel like they're still too general. Plenty of people do A-levels, plenty do average but are given a C due to a percentage point off a B. Numbers are more accurate, maybe 7 or so :smile:

Reply 13

OP

Original post by Reality Check

I don't think we need 9 grades at A level - I can't see the need for that granularity. 1-5 or 1-6 would be fine.

I would rather remove E grade in A-level and expand F to include that because E standard imo is too low for a pass. For Advanced Highers in Scotland they have D-A, and Scottish Adv Higher A is equal to A level A*.

I mean 98% of people passing is a boatload of passes even at A-level. Should be down to 90%.

Original post by justlearning1469

I would rather remove E grade in A-level and expand F to include that because E standard imo is too low for a pass. For Advanced Highers in Scotland they have D-A, and Scottish Adv Higher A is equal to A level A*.

I mean 98% of people passing is a boatload of passes even at A-level. Should be down to 90%.

there's no F at A-level, do you mean a U? I think the E is an important benchmark in terms of setting grade boundaries and writing papers to the correct level too.

I think Us should be avoided at any cost, there's nothing to distinguish a high U from 0, it really should be an uncreditable level of performance.

(edited 2 years ago)

Reply 15

OP

Original post by _gcx

there's no F at A-level, do you mean a U? I think the E is an important benchmark in terms of setting grade boundaries and writing papers to the correct level too.

I think Us should be avoided at any cost, there's nothing to distinguish a high U from 0, it really should be an uncreditable level of performance.

I mean 40% marks in my opinion is too low for a pass, E should be renamed to F and it should become a fail grade, in addition to A-levels being slightly harder.

The pass rate for A-levels should be around 90% imo, to weed out the really poor performers.

Reply 16

username5801834

17

Original post by justlearning1469

I mean 40% marks in my opinion is too low for a pass, E should be renamed to F and it should become a fail grade, in addition to A-levels being slightly harder.

The pass rate for A-levels should be around 90% imo, to weed out the really poor performers.

Why would changing E to F weed out the poor performers? Why do A-Levels need to be made slightly harder?

Original post by justlearning1469

I mean 40% marks in my opinion is too low for a pass, E should be renamed to F and it should become a fail grade, in addition to A-levels being slightly harder.

The pass rate for A-levels should be around 90% imo, to weed out the really poor performers.

A-levels are already fairly hard (or at least the population finds it hard) which is why the grade boundaries are so low. In a pipe dream I'd like to see A-level maths bridge the gap between school and university more, but I don't think that'll ever happen.

Seeing as a U is a completely worthless qualification, (which is equated to having not written anything at all) I think we need a grade to recognise a very minimal display of competence, even if said grade isn't worth a great amount. It lets some people go to university, etc.

Reply 18

OP

Original post by CatInTheCorner

that's essentially what we have with letters though, just now with numbers

1-6 or A* to E is same number of grades. 1-9 allowed me to really show off my love of my subjects at GCSE, 5 or 6 isn't enough to separate high achievers, and a B is such a huge A-level grade that a 6 or a 5 really helps to separate up.

I agree with this.

Though there should be a 10 grade, higher than a high A* old, higher than 9. This grade would be approximately top 2%.
https://analytics.ofqual.gov.uk/apps/GCSE/Outcomes/

Top 2% is the critical percent because within 1 SD, capability is average and the class is suited for those people.
For 1-2 SD above/below the mean, high/low achievers respectively, they'd need differentiation but it'll be enough.

“Gifted and talented children” means those persons between the ages of four and twenty-one whose abilities, talents, and potential for accomplishment are so exceptional or developmentally advanced that they require special provisions to meet their educational programing needs.
Source: https://www.d11.org/Page/2545
The cutoff is usually two or more standard deviations above the mean (top 2.28%), because in statistics 2 SD variation is considered exceptional.
That is why top 2% is crucial, they do need significant provisions, not merely class differentiation.

Reply 19

OP