Exam results II
With GCSE results coming out I thought I'd compare the average points per exam (10 for an A, 8 for a B, etc) in GSCE and A-Levels. The results are quite striking, and probably explain why there is less controversy over GCSE results. The raw data suggests that since 1992 the average A-Level has risen by 2 points, i.e. a whole grade. Whereas the average GCSE had (excluding this year) only risen by about a point, i..e one grade. For those who like this sort of thing, annual "inflation" for the A-Level has been 2.5%, the GCSE only 1.3% (allowing for the A* GSCE, say by giving it 12 points makes only a 0.07 difference in 1994 to a 0.1 difference in 2004).On the face of it this would support claims the A-level is getting easier, given pupils aren't doing that much better at GSCE then much better at A-levels. There might of course be reasons for this, ranging from the actual (is more money spent on A-level tuition) or probably most likely, there is some statistical quirk I haven't adjusted for (such as fewer pupils being entered, or non-A-level qualifications etc).
posted by Matthew @ 8/21/2005 01:04:00 PM
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