The number of grades raised after GCSE appeals has leapt by 50 percent compared with 2016 figures, according to the Guardian.

 

There was also an increase in the number of appeals that resulted in rises by two or more grades, from 401 in 2016 to almost 2,000 in 2017.

 

While this may spell success for students, the Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation, or Ofqual, find this trend concerning.

 

They recently changed their appeals process so that instead of detailed re-marking, marks would only be changed if a procedural error was found. With the old method, tiny differences in opinion between markers often led to improved marks. 

 

 

Ofqual said of the situation, "It seems efforts to embed the revised rules for reviews have varied by exam board and subject and that some reviewers changed marks where there was no error with original marking."

 

In total, there were 74,000 appeal entries that received improved grades this year.

 

“We are very concerned about the massive muddle that has emerged,” Suzanne O'Farrell, an assessment specialist at the Association of School and College Leaders, told the Guardian

 

"Grades have been changed, most notably in English language and literature. Now we are told that in some cases this should not have happened and that this is at least partially responsible for an increase in the proportion of re-graded GCSEs.

 

 

“Ofqual has said that these results will stand. However, the confusion that this situation has created is deeply unsatisfactory for students and schools."

 

Suzanne noted that schools made these appeals based on the Ofqual's new rules that exam boards should review marking methods rather than engage in detailed re-marking.

 

This news has been especially frustrating to independent schools, who have long had grievances about unfair marking.

 

Sally Coller, head Ofqual regulator, stated, "It appears that some of the exam boards have not done enough to change old practices and meet our new rules around reviews of marking."

 

 

"We expect all exam boards to comply with our rules at all times. We are currently looking at where more could and should be done and will consider what form of regulatory action may be appropriate."

 

Ofqual applauded the Pearson exam board for best implementing the new practices, while the AQA was the least successful at adopting them.

 

This 'muddle' comes after exam watchdog had to deal with the scandal of exam breaches at two high-profile private schools this summer. 

 

However, Ofqual noted that there are very few situations in which teacher or examiner behaviour jeopardizes the integrity of exams.

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