Exam appeals to rise as scripts put online
Exam board enables schools to download marked A-level and GCSE papers on results day
APPEALS are expected to rise this summer after one of the major examination boards made it possible for schools to download all A-level and GCSE scripts.
On results day, pupils who are unhappy with their grade will be able to log on to the Edexcel website and download a copy of their examination paper to see where they were marked down.
The move comes as sweeping changes to public exams take effect for the first time this summer. Pupils receiving their A-level results on Thursday completed the first set of the new “linear” syllabuses, which involve less coursework and a move away from modular exams.
Meanwhile, students will collect their marks for GCSES later this month under the new system of numerical grades. English literature, English language and Maths will be graded from one to nine, but other subjects will continue to be marked using the old A* to G grades.
School leaders said that a rise in appeals is likely, given the ease with which students will be able to see their marked papers, combined with the changes to grading systems. Chris Keates, general secretary of the NASUWT teaching union, said he predicted a surge in appeals from schools this summer.
“These changes have potentially huge implications for young people, but also for schools due to the high-stakes nature of the school accountability regime,” he said. “This could well lead to a spike in the number of appeals.”
Anne Heavey, education policy adviser at the Association of Teachers and Lecturers, said she would be “hugely surprised” if there was no increase.
“Teachers will want to make sure their students are getting the grades they deserve,” she said.
“It is really positive that Pearson are increasing the transparency of their marking process, so teachers can make an informed judgment whether to appeal very quickly.”
Barnaby Lenon, chairman of the Independent Schools Council and an Ofqual board member, said that the scripts yield “vital” information for schools that wish to appeal against the marking. He told the Times Education Supplement: “It is going to be very important for schools this year to call back scripts at key grades. This will be vital information for them.”
However, William Richardson, general secretary of the Headmasters’ and Headmistresses’ Conference, said that some state schools will remain constrained by the cost of appealing against the grades awarded.
“In an ideal world all schools would request mark reviews or make an appeal if they doubt the fairness of a result, but how many can currently afford to do so?” he said. A spokesman for Pearson, which owns the Edexcel exam board, said: “With this summer seeing the first results under the reformed exams, we are supporting schools by offering two new services.
“Firstly, we are offering full, free online access to all exam scripts to all schools and colleges. Secondly, we are trialling a paid-for marking commentary service for GCSE and GCE English Language and Literature.
“This service will help teachers understand decisions in these subjects where marking is by its nature more subjective.”
♦ Too many foreign students are achieving easy A grades by taking exams in their own language, Ofqual has said. It announced a fresh set of changes designed to help non-native speakers.
Exam boards have been asked to increase the proportion of students expected to achieve a grade A and above by one percentage point for French, German and Spanish A-levels.
The change means that the number of top grades awarded in modern foreign language A-levels is likely to increase this summer.