Ofqual has raised concerns over how the introduction of post-qualifications university admissions could impact the quality of A-level marking. 

But the regulator also said that the introduction of online exams in the future could make it easier to introduce a post-qualifications system, in its response to a government consultation.

News: A levels could be taken earlier in the year in PQA shake-up

Background: DfE plans ‘radical change’ to university admissions

Viewpoint: Could Covid help us to rethink university applications?

The Department for Education is proposing moving to a “PQA” - post-qualification admissions - system, in which applicants receive university places based on their actual exam results rather than predicated grades.

This would be achieved either through submitting applications after results’ day, or applying before results but only receiving offers once they get their grades.

The consultation suggested A-level exams could take place earlier in the year as part of the move to PQA.

Universities minister Michelle Donelan said in January that it was important to “level the playing field”, adding, “We know the current system of using predicted grades for university admissions can let down pupils from the most disadvantaged backgrounds and limit aspirations”.

But today Ofqual said that both models of PQA - either applications and offers being made after the issue of results, or with applications being submitted before results and offers made after results - would rely on A-level results and results for other level 3 qualifications being issued two or three weeks’ earlier, at the end of July or in early August.

A-level results ‘would need to be issued earlier for post-qualifications university admissions’

The regulator said it recognised the benefits of PQA, and that “having considered the proposals and discussed them with awarding organisations, we believe a small reduction in the marking window could be explored”.

But it said this would need to be part of wider changes to the system, and that “if the pressure put on marking by PQA is too great then a number of issues and risks to delivery arise”.

Marking quality

Ofqual said that it required exam boards to deliver high-quality marking and that “research suggests that overall the quality of marking of GCSEs, AS and A levels in England is good, and compares favourably to other examination systems internationally”.

“It is a priority for us that the current quality of marking is not compromised by a reduction in the time available for both marking and quality assurance,” the regulator added.

Examiner capacity

Ofqual also said reduced time for marking could leave exam boards without enough examiners, especially as it is hard to predict where shortfalls will arise year-on-year.

“We could not be certain that there would be sufficient examiner capacity. We require exam boards to issue results on time; insufficient examiner capacity could lead to late results, in turn leading to delayed university admissions decisions,” the regulator said.

It added that all AS- and A-level results are issued on the same day, and that “if some results were to be issued on time and others late, this would create unfairness in access to university places, disadvantaging those whose results are delayed”.

Ofqual said the current marking arrangements allowed for contingency time if marking in a subject was proceeding more slowly than expected, and that this would be lost if marking time was reduced.

Online exams could help to deliver PQA

It said that if exams were to “be taken on-screen then there would be no requirement for collecting and scanning scripts and therefore time would be saved.

“However, delivering this sort of large-scale change would require time, investment and extensive testing to ensure assessments could be safely delivered in this way.

“The experience of the pandemic is leading many to investigate the potential of technology in assessment both to give further resilience to the exams system and potentially to streamline it. Further down the line we anticipate that this could support PQA,” it added.

Ofqual also recommended that other arrangements be considered, such as bringing forward A-level start dates by a week to the start of May, or giving AS- and A-level exams early slots in the exams timetable to enable marking to start earlier.

The regulator also suggested that PQA would negate the need for universities to have results before students, which would again free up time in the process.

It said that any new approach would need to be piloted.

Considering appeals

“The implications for reviews of marking, moderation and appeals, process and timescales, should also be carefully considered,” Ofqual said.

“In a typical year when exams take place, around 60,000 AS- and A-level grades might be challenged, with around 13,000 resulting in a change of grade. A student’s final results will only be confirmed once any reviews of marking or appeals have been concluded.”

The Association of School and College Leaders has backed the shake-up of admissions.

Geoff Barton, ASCL general secretary, said: “On balance, we think that a reform of the university admissions system is needed in order to end what has become something of a pantomime around university offers and admissions. It was a marginal call, because there’s a good argument for sticking with the existing system and trying to sort out the problems, but we’re not confident that this will actually happen, so we’re backing change.

“The challenges of this change should not be underestimated though, and we’re particularly conscious that students would need more support after results day under this new system because they would be juggling more options than is currently the case. Additional funding would be needed to employ dedicated advisers or pay overtime to teaching staff.

“This reform would also address some of the issues around predicted grades and particularly the concern that students from disadvantaged backgrounds may sometimes be under-predicted. But it’s important to note that schools and colleges would still need to give students a good idea of their likely grades when they are applying for university to help guide their choices.

“It is a crying shame that the government decoupled AS levels from A levels, as this system provided a very good way of providing accurate predictions.”