Welsh GCSE and A-levels to be marked more generously...
Discussion
...than their English equivalents in 2023.
As we go into the New Year, which will GCSE and A-levels for many, how can this be fair?!
Specifically, Welsh students are to be given advance indication i.e. "an indication of the topics, themes, texts or other content that they can expect in their exams. Its main aim is to help learners focus their revision to support their preparation for exams and assessments." and the intention is that Wales' 2023 results will "fall broadly midway between the 2019 and 2022 results.".
https://www.qualificationswales.org/english/news/q...
Meanwhile for students in England will specifically not get "advance information of exam content, as was the case last year." and "Ofqual has confirmed a return to pre-pandemic grading in 2023." for students in England.
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/exams-head-back...
So overall, students in England will be at a material disadvantage compared to their Welsh peers.
How on earth can anyone think this is fair?! It's particularly cruel for the A-level cohort, as it would seem that it will be proportionally easier for students in Wales to get AAA (or whatever) than it will be for their counterparts in England, thus making them more likely to get into their university course of choice.
I sincerely hope that Nick Gibb and/or Gillian Keegan will step in to level the playing field, but have little faith that they will
As we go into the New Year, which will GCSE and A-levels for many, how can this be fair?!
Specifically, Welsh students are to be given advance indication i.e. "an indication of the topics, themes, texts or other content that they can expect in their exams. Its main aim is to help learners focus their revision to support their preparation for exams and assessments." and the intention is that Wales' 2023 results will "fall broadly midway between the 2019 and 2022 results.".
https://www.qualificationswales.org/english/news/q...
Meanwhile for students in England will specifically not get "advance information of exam content, as was the case last year." and "Ofqual has confirmed a return to pre-pandemic grading in 2023." for students in England.
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/exams-head-back...
So overall, students in England will be at a material disadvantage compared to their Welsh peers.
How on earth can anyone think this is fair?! It's particularly cruel for the A-level cohort, as it would seem that it will be proportionally easier for students in Wales to get AAA (or whatever) than it will be for their counterparts in England, thus making them more likely to get into their university course of choice.
I sincerely hope that Nick Gibb and/or Gillian Keegan will step in to level the playing field, but have little faith that they will
Evanivitch said:
Higher education institutes will just tailor their offers based on where the applicant took their exams.
Like they do already.
Apparently not…Like they do already.
“the chief executive of Qualification Wales, Philip Blaker, has sought to reassure Welsh students that there is “no evidence” they will be treated any differently when it comes to university admissions“
https://www.tes.com/magazine/news/secondary/more-g...
There was no need for the patronising cartoon by the way. What a sad little individual you are.
chemistry said:
Apparently not…
“the chief executive of Qualification Wales, Philip Blaker, has sought to reassure Welsh students that there is “no evidence” they will be treated any differently when it comes to university admissions“
He can say what he likes, but he has no influence or power over university admission policies.“the chief executive of Qualification Wales, Philip Blaker, has sought to reassure Welsh students that there is “no evidence” they will be treated any differently when it comes to university admissions“
chemistry said:
...than their English equivalents in 2023.ent/news/exams-head-back-to-normality-in-2023
So overall, students in England will be at a material disadvantage compared to their Welsh peers.
Universities aren’t stupid they will be all over this. Wait for the headlines next year the English get lower grade offers than Wales! It’s a labour Tory play nothing else and could backfire big time.So overall, students in England will be at a material disadvantage compared to their Welsh peers.
chemistry said:
Apparently not…
“the chief executive of Qualification Wales, Philip Blaker, has sought to reassure Welsh students that there is “no evidence” they will be treated any differently when it comes to university admissions“
https://www.tes.com/magazine/news/secondary/more-g...
There was no need for the patronising cartoon by the way. What a sad little individual you are.
And yet here you are crying for attention about a non-issue.“the chief executive of Qualification Wales, Philip Blaker, has sought to reassure Welsh students that there is “no evidence” they will be treated any differently when it comes to university admissions“
https://www.tes.com/magazine/news/secondary/more-g...
There was no need for the patronising cartoon by the way. What a sad little individual you are.
They won't be disadvantaged by this, the admissions will simply take it into account with their weighting, like they do every year.
My concern has nothing to do with the students, and everything to do with how Welsh government will use this to claim improved Welsh grades closing the gap with England.
deckster said:
chemistry said:
Apparently not…
“the chief executive of Qualification Wales, Philip Blaker, has sought to reassure Welsh students that there is “no evidence” they will be treated any differently when it comes to university admissions“
He can say what he likes, but he has no influence or power over university admission policies.“the chief executive of Qualification Wales, Philip Blaker, has sought to reassure Welsh students that there is “no evidence” they will be treated any differently when it comes to university admissions“
1) Wales indicates they will give previewing of papers ago
2) England says otherwise
3) qualification authority in wales says no impact
4) *you* say there will be an impact and authorities will assess accordingly.
Based on what exactly?
Of course it’s unfair, but no one in wales will care, little Johnny will bump up a couple of grades and the teachers and education chiefs can pat themselves on the back for what a great job they’ve done.
There’s f
k all any English students can do except get their heads down and study their proverbial off.
Kids doing their exams this year will have had as much impact on their education as anyone from Covid, and will be the first to get no or very little help with the exams. It sucks, but it was entirely foreseeable as authorities want to just move on from covid.
There’s f
k all any English students can do except get their heads down and study their proverbial off. Kids doing their exams this year will have had as much impact on their education as anyone from Covid, and will be the first to get no or very little help with the exams. It sucks, but it was entirely foreseeable as authorities want to just move on from covid.
Ridgemont said:
deckster said:
chemistry said:
Apparently not…
“the chief executive of Qualification Wales, Philip Blaker, has sought to reassure Welsh students that there is “no evidence” they will be treated any differently when it comes to university admissions“
He can say what he likes, but he has no influence or power over university admission policies.“the chief executive of Qualification Wales, Philip Blaker, has sought to reassure Welsh students that there is “no evidence” they will be treated any differently when it comes to university admissions“
1) Wales indicates they will give previewing of papers ago
2) England says otherwise
3) qualification authority in wales says no impact
4) *you* say there will be an impact and authorities will assess accordingly.
Based on what exactly?
I “suffered” this in my 98 a level geog vs 03 maybe… that year they were told each of the phys and human topics that’d be in the exams. It struck out about 2/3rd of the revision material… it was bonkers.
I recall helping said degree geology student with their rivers work using my a level rivers knowledge… something they hadn’t bothered being taught/revising because it wasn’t going to be on their exam.
And universities know this… and they want the best students.
So what are they going to do?
Take on the lot with limited knowledge, or the lot with broad subject knowledge?
voyds9 said:
I just assumed it was due to the extra time required to clear the phlegm before speaking a 'proper' language.
To be fair, schoolchildren in Wales are placed at a disadvantage by being required to learn Welsh for 11 years when they could be something more productive instead.FFS….
In other news, the Welsh football team will start all international matches with a 1-0 lead and Glamorgan CC will start all their innings on 100-0.
The constant drip of humiliating stories about Wales (<10% of civil servants attending work, 20mph limits everywhere, crazy lockdown rules etc etc) is telling us that something is very wrong in Welsh government and public service.
I am Welsh btw, with teenage children sitting public exams this summer. Although we are living in England where they won’t get to see the exam papers in advance.
In other news, the Welsh football team will start all international matches with a 1-0 lead and Glamorgan CC will start all their innings on 100-0.
The constant drip of humiliating stories about Wales (<10% of civil servants attending work, 20mph limits everywhere, crazy lockdown rules etc etc) is telling us that something is very wrong in Welsh government and public service.
I am Welsh btw, with teenage children sitting public exams this summer. Although we are living in England where they won’t get to see the exam papers in advance.
I have nothing to do with undergrads any more, but it used to be fairly standard to tailor the offers based on the exam boards setting the papers. The obvious example being that 'General Studies' was allowed to count as a grade from some exam boards and was completely disregarded from others.
Is anyone able to help me understand why making a test/exam easier is beneficial to anyone other than whoever is responsible for setting the test /exam > the only benefit I can see is that whoever that is can claim false success and therefore a bigger pay rise/bonus/promotion/ In the long run how does it benefit the students ?
Biggy Stardust said:
They should publish the questions in advance- this will probably improve exam grades.
In fairness it would probably make examination more closely related to how problems are approached in the workplace. If this were used to move to more open book problem solving questions then it may make them a lot more useful than remember 500 bits of info and resurface as much of the examination system is. Gassing Station | News, Politics & Economics | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff