Exam questions about theatres and skiing are ‘middle-class bias’

EXAM papers must be stripped of middle-class bias, Ofqual indicated yesterday, following criticism over questions involving theatre trips and skiing holidays.

Regulators published new guidance for exam boards which states GCSES and A Level tests must refrain from “complex” language and show clearer layouts amid concerns some pupils are disadvantaged.

The watchdog insisted the measures were not intended to make exams easier but to “break down barriers” for pupils so they can reach their “true potential”.

The reforms follow a consultation launched in November to make assessments in subjects including English and maths more accessible to young people.

Previously, some exam boards have been accused of bias towards middleclass pupils through questions that reference theatre trips and skiing holidays.

In a 2017 Edexcel GCSE maths paper, candidates were asked about a theatre where “each person had a seat in the circle or had a seat in the stalls”.

To answer correctly they would have needed to understand that the circle and stalls are different areas of the theatre.

An examiners’ report from a 2019 German GCSE paper from exam board AQA said “some students struggled to state advantages and/or disadvantages of a skiing holiday”. An AQA spokesman said at the time: “To suggest one question out of five questions on one task creates a cultural bias across an entire exam is false and misleading.”

A 2020 National Association of Language Advisers report found that pupils who had to “make up” answers to language questions rather than draw on experience were put at a disadvantage.

Jo Saxton, Ofqual’s chief regulator, said it was “crucial” for exams in all subjects to be “accessible to give all students a fair opportunity to demonstrate what they know and can do, and to achieve results which reflect this”.

She said exams “must remain rigorous” but equally should not “unfairly disadvantage any student because of poor design or presentation”.

Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said exam questions should not rely on pupils’ “cultural capital, nor should they be overly wordy, but should test the knowledge or skill that is being assessed”.

A Pearson spokesman said: “Since our own internal review in 2017/18 we’ve worked with teachers, parents and students to make the language in our exam papers more accessible and ensure that any contexts used are simple, representative and age appropriate.

“We have processes in place … to check that scenarios used have no barriers for students.”