Controlled Assessments

My dd in yr 10 had CA for Pride & Prejudice a few weeks ago, started book in September but hadn't finished reading it before CA! They were given question a week or so before to prepare. They're allowed to take in a very brief plan but nothing else, and given a clean book for the test. She wrote it in rough at home then tried to memorise - no feedback yet so I've no idea how it went.

The new exam specs are very flexible (and very, very complicated) so there really isn't a lot of point comparing what different schools are doing. the course is modular, so they can study the units in whatever order they see fit, and there are different 'routes' through - so child A may be studying a Shakespeare play in preparation for an exam, whilst child B studies it in preparation for a controlled assessment.

Schools are given task 'headings' or themes, but schools can come up with their own questions according to the needs of the students. And CA is worth far more than 25% now - although interestingly, although teachers now have to do the lion's share of the marking, the exam entries still cost the same.

My Year 10 DD has just done her first Controlled Assessment on Purple Hibiscus. She started reading the book in September with the CA taking place in Term 1. I did question with the English teacher whether students would be adequately prepared for the CA's and was assured that they would be OK. However on research I found that some schools have been teaching the method of writing up CA's in Year 9, albeit presumably with a different book. These students, when they get to Year 10 will already have had a distinct advantage over those who have not been given that opportunity as they will have been taught exactly what is expected and over a period of 1 school year, not just 6 weeks. I believe I am right in saying that the CA's for Combined Eng. Lang and Lit are 25% of the mark. What do others think?

DS confirmed they are using The Others for practise and their own film for the real thing. DS is using Back To The Future.

So, isn't it now just like having a lot of internal exams throughout the two years?

I can understand why there was a move from coursework from the angle of it being the childs work - although actually writing and re-drafting something better is a real life skill. It is what happens in reality! Surely they would have been better keeping coursework as it was but less of a % credit or just going back to the old system of testing everyone in a couple of papers at the end (when you have had the full amount of time to study, write essays - possibly dire - and be put right on them? )

Sounds to me like a money making exercise on behalf of the exam boards - more to mark/moderate therefore more ££££$$$$££££

thought

That'll be so they can mark one beforehand. You're not allowed to mark a draft of the actual CA, but you are allowed to mark a draft of a very similar task. (Wide open for rule-bending, that, IMO, but that's a whole different discussion ).

I understand why his school have done that actually. English teachers are used to taking in a first draft and giving loads of suggestions about how to improve it. First drafts are generally DIRE and the throught of having to submit them is terrifying so they're going to want to give the kids the best chance possible of doing well. They're probably also hoping that choosing a film will mean the students will actually know what they're talking about!

PS Make sure your DS knows to write the film title in inverted commas EVERY time!

Spoken to DS again aqnd it has changed again. Apparently the english department keep changing their minds.

DS has now been told that he can use a film of his choice to write about, but they will still be studying The Others in class

English AQA.

Bruffin What subject is your DS watching The Others for? I only ask because that film gave DD nightmares.

We had MacBeth, a set of modern short stories and History of Mr Polly for our O level literature 30 years ago. And I got a U :(

Managed an A in Language though - that was back when language was just language : precis, comprehension from a piece first seen in the exam, imaginative writing and formal writing.

And, yes, I did read the books and attend lessons and write in literature for 3 hours (or whatever it was).

I know IHeart but there are plenty of other "classics" out there and probably others that have been elevated to classics in the last 30 odd years, it seems strange that they are still using the same books, not that TKAMB and OMAM are not worthy.

DS says he has a CA coming up on the film of The Others

My son is complaining as he has been studying Macbeth since year 5. When he's finished with it for his controlled assessment he will be relieved. But at least he knows the plot.

CAs are still so new; everyone's trying their best but I do really feel for the current Year 10s (and their parents!).

If you're worried, please contact the English Department. Some of these worries do sound like Departments planning badly but some of them sound like they could easily be misunderstandings. Better to check.

Erm, bruffin, they're classics?

Just had a word with DD about the upcoming controlled assessment. She said they would have to demonstrate how the novel showed the powerlessness of the characters. Don't know if that helps.

I did OMAM and TKAMB as well as Romeo and Juliet for my English Lit O'level. I can't believe 30 years later they are still doing the same books.

My year 10 daughter has been studying of Mice and Men since September and has had quite a few long in depth essays and spot tests on the book since then.

Thanks Docbunches, I am not that worried, Ds's school do really well when it comes to english. He has been watching The Others in english and writing about that.

bruffin, if it helps any, my DS who is in Y11 and at the same school as my DD, was given TKAMB to study in Y10. I'm pretty sure it was towards the middle/end of the year as well. Also, I don't think he has finished reading it yet and he has a mock next week! (he doesn't like reading much).

Dd and her cousin (same school same year) were debating at the weekend whether it's best to take dd's line, and read the whole book anyway because you really want to know what happens, or her cousin's, and read along with the rest of the class because it would be even more crashingly boring if you did know what happens!

I really want to know why DS hasn't even started To Kill a Mocking Bird yet