The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Concern over lack of practice papers
There is concern among pupils that a lack of past papers to practice with could affect their exam prospects, leading to more appeals, which now cost money… PUPILS ARE not fully prepared for new National 5 exams because only one “practice paper” is available for each subject, it has been claimed.
Scotland’s largest teaching union has called on the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) to release additional resources. General Secretary of the EIS Larry Flanagan said: “In every subject area there should be three practice papers, because the young people will sit their exams in two months’ time.
“Although there is skills focus as part of Curriculum for Excellence, young people still need to be good at exam practice; they need to know how to cope with an exam paper. One way they can do that is by doing practice papers. These don’t exist; schools are trying to develop them.”
The union leader warns the resource is essential to ensure S4 pupils are properly prepared for the new qualif ications brought in this year as part of an overhaul of the way youngsters learn, known as Curriculum for Excellence.
Mr Flanagan said: “If any members have had a relative go through qualifications, they will know that most young people discover a new spirit of endeavour in the run-up to exams and demand a set of past papers that will allow them to practise before the exams. That practice material is not available for young people. Getting it is our priority.”
His comments were seized on by the committee’s deputy convenor, Scottish Labour MSP Neil Bibby, who said: “Teachers urgently want three practice papers in each subject, but they are to receive only one. The minister has said this is adequate, but teachers do not think it is, and I believe parents and pupils will agree.
“It is not good enough for the minister to say he is listening; he needs to act, and with only six teaching weeks left before the new exams he needs to act urgently.”
Minister for Learning Dr Alasdair Allan said: “By the end of March the SQA will also have produced guidance that will capture still-relevant questions from past papers from the previous three years.
“I will be happy to ensure that that additional work is made available, because it will provide a rich pool of questions for learners to draw on as they prepare for their new National 5s.”
Scottish Conservative education spokeswoman Liz Smith MS P commented: “The proof of the pudding will be when the results come out in the summer. The pupils who are sitting National 5s are a test case.”