The majority of the British public feels that school examinations have ‘got easier in recent years’, and the most widely believed reason for this is that qualifications are focusing more on coursework than final exams, our poll has found.
Among annual consternation that formal exams are becoming easier, 52% felt that school examinations have ‘become easier over recent years’ compared to 21% who thought they hadn’t got easier.
When asked about the main reason for steadily increasing year-on-year pass rates, 33% of the public felt that emphasis on coursework over formal tests was the main reason for increased pass rates, compared to only 25% who thought the formal exams themselves were becoming easier. 17% thought teaching methods that place more emphasis on exams were the reason. And while a mere eight percent think that ‘improved teaching standards or resources’ were the main source of increased success, spare a thought for the young candidates themselves: just five percent of the population feel that children ‘working harder or becoming cleverer’ explains the yearly improving pass rates.
Bright young stars
Incidentally, this year was the first in which students were able to receive an A* grade, which was introduced with the aim of making it easier for universities to distinguish between high-achieving students and correct the perception that exams have been ‘dumbing down’.
The new grade has divided educators: Martin Stephen, the high master of St Paul's School in west London, called the A* an ‘outrage and a disgrace’, while John Dunford, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, believes that there was ‘no question’ the exams were rightly harder this year because of it.
And it seems the move is popular among the public, with 52% of the public supporting the recent introduction of an A* grade at A-level, compared to 19% who oppose the change. Eight percent of papers were awarded the top grade this year, amid concerns that students from independent schools took a disproportionate amount of the grades given, and that striving for such high percentages will stifle creativity.
A-levels results came out last week on Thursday 19th, while GCSE results come out today.
