AQA to bring in exam-only GCSEs
- Oct. 7, 2010
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Keywords:
- aqa
- exam-only
- gcses
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The largest exam board in England, AQA, has said it will offer GCSEs in which all assessment will be done through examinations at the end of the course
AQA chief, Andrew Hall, has said that controlled assessments done within the classroom had been introduced because “public confidence was lost” in GCSE coursework, due to concerns over parents giving their children too much help.
Some teachers, however, have complained that the assessments took up too much time that could otherwise be used for teaching.
Mr Hall has also called for a limit of one resit per exam entry, claiming that at A-level resits distort results. For the limit to come into effect, a government policy decision and agreement from OCR and Edexcel would be required.
Mr Gove has called for a return to traditional A-levels, assessed by a single exam at the end of the two year course, which would revive “the art of deep thought.”
Mr Hall has said this was not in line with what universities and employers wanted.
The exam-only option would be available in Maths, English Literature, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Geography and History from September 2012, with some subjects possibly ready by 2011.
Mr Hall has stressed that schools must be given greater freedom to offer the qualifications employers and universities demand, and that properly prepares pupils for life, work and further study.
