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Successful A level grade challenges up by 11%

Successful A level grade challenges up by 11%

Ofqual data reveals the proportion of A level grades successfully challenged rose from 2018, and malpractice across all exams up

13th December 2019, 11:27am

Catherine Lough

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New data released today by exams regulator Ofqual reveals that the proportion of A level grades that were changed after being challenged rose by 11 per cent.

In 2018, 11,150 grades were changed at A level, representing 1.5 per cent of all certifications. This year, that number rose to 12,375 - 1.7 per cent of all certifications - and an 11 per cent increase on the previous year.

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At GCSE, the proportion of grades that were changed remained stable, with 1.1 per cent of all grades changed in both 2018 and 2019.

In total, 56,680 GCSE grades were changed this year, compared with 57,100 in 2019. The most common GCSE grades to be challenged were grade 3, representing the importance of attaining a standard pass at grade 4, and grade 3-4 in the combined grading for GCSE sciences, reflecting the importance of securing a 4-4 pass.

At A level, the most common grade to be challenged was a grade B, followed by a grade C.

Ofqual also released data relating to malpractice across all exams, which showed that 3,040 penalties were given to students over this issue, an increase of 11 per cent on the previous year.

Almost half - 46 per cent - of all penalties were given to students over the use of mobile phones and other electronic devices, with the most common penalty being the loss of marks.

Mike Buchanan, executive director of The Headmasters’ & Headmistresses’ Conference, said: “These figures do not reveal the true picture. Ofqual’s own data tells us that on average, one in four GCSE and A Level grades are unreliable, yet nowhere near this number are challenged by schools.

“This means there could be an estimated 100,000 pupils this year alone, who are unaware that they have been awarded too low grade. In a high stakes exam system, this is likely to result in the wrong GCSE students having to retake and the wrong A Level students missing out on university places.

“HMC has been asking for some years for a rethink of grading to ensure all children are treated fairly. We would urge Ofqual and the exam boards to work with us ensure pupils, parents, higher education and employers can better rely on the exam system.”