DD's GSCE controlled assessments in English being scrapped...

DS2's school doesn't do Eng Lit at IGCSE level so I can't comment on that but does do Eng Lang they do do course work they submit a selection of their written work I believe but it's only worth 10% of the overall mark.
There was no course work for any of the other subject he did but I believe those doing geography submit a field report but even when I did geography O level a frighteningly long time ago this was the case.

happy I don't know the exact boundaries, but yes, they're around the 90% level.

For french oral last year it was 38/40 ...that is one tough boundary! And the listening paper last year was really hard. Much much harder than GCSE.

English is interesting as the teacher can choose to do coursework, but I don't know any private schools that opt for that. It kinda defeats the purpose.

The CAs in GCSE are a complete joke.

talkin has read this shizzle on MN and jumped on it as it confirms her personal paradigm ...

It doesn't have to be true in any way shape of form .

I have twins. One is taking IGCSE, one is taking GCSE. I have no paradigm to cleve to.

Like it or lump it, the higher grades are harder to achieve and can rely completely on terminal exams. Which is a touygher gig than those silly controlled assessments (and I say that as someone whose DD has got full marks in virually all CAs).

Talkin you just letting you prejudice cloud your judgement. I never mentioned amazing teaching although if as you say IGCSEs are so much easier then the teaching at Win Coll must be bloody amazing to enable over 50% to achieve an A* in the more rigours Pre U when they have been insufficiently prepared by being made to take the IGCSE .
word I'm interested to know the grade boundaries for an A is higher for IGCSE than GCSE do you or anyone else know what they are? We've been told 90%+ for an A in IGCSE.

So your DC has intimate knowledge of these syllabi? Or is parroting some comment passed on by someone else.

Edexel or Cambridge IGCSE? it was the edexel she snorted about

maybe the A* is harder to get
but the C is not

DD's (London private) school use IGCSEs in most subjects. Their reason for doing so is that they are better preparation for A Levels and Pre-U. They were high in the league tables before the switch and are still high after the switch. There would be absolutely no point in changing to 'easier' qualifications at GCSE level because this would have a detrimental effect on A Level/Pre U results which I suspect parents pay even greater regard to than the tables at GCSE, given that the vast majority of pupils stay on for sixth form.

If anything, I would have thought that schools with no sixth form are more prone to 'gaming the system' at GCSE level.

TalkinPeace you are talking rubbish. So DC was "insulted" by the A* questions on the IGCSE maths exam? They would have been even more insulted by the questions on GCSE then. IGCSE includes work on calculus, which is not usually encountered until AS level, and on functions as well as the harder topics from GCSE such as vectors.
It is not a lightweight exam, nor is it perceived to be so by those with an understanding of it. I teach maths.

You are indeed incorrect
www.education.gov.uk/cgi-bin/schools/performance/group.pl?qtype=GR&f=4bbXfLoVsN&superview=sec&view=&sort=l_schname&ord=asc
The tables include IGCSE etc because state schools do them

The super high grades are due to selective intake, not necessarily amazing teaching.

Schools that charge are judged by their results.
THey therefore have a clear incentive to take all appropriate steps to improve those results - including the well known approach of forcing kids to move schools who will not get the results the school wants.

IGCSE is used by state schools to get D grade students through a grade C who would not be able to do that with the GCSE.
Fact of life.

I would say though OP, I would be pissed off if your DC has done three controoled assessments and that's now scrapped. A lot of work for nowt!

And have they even covered the literature for IGCSE. It's not the same stuff ...

Just checked DFE league tables thing for Win Coll it say "NP" which I'm assuming means not published so the data is not available. The school also doesn't publish it's IGCSE results on its website only Pre U results so its clearly not gaming "the league tables the same as any other school" or trying to "hood winking" current or potential parents.

Wynken, the numerical grades won't be introduced until the students who are currently in year eight do their exams. This also means that IGCSE or anything else for that matter is just a stop gap to help us find a more level playing field until then ( god knows what we'll do afterwards. I for one am packing it all in). The new spec also includes the complete abolishing of controlled assessment or course work of any kind. It will all be terminal exam.

On a related note I think that many GCSE specs flatter to deceive- the questions are weighty, wordy and suitably confusing but the actual skills tested and the marking criteria isn't.

I know it is a worrying time with coursework but try to trust that teachers are working hard to get it right for their students. Even if it doesn't always seem that way.

Oh talkin always tries to say that the most selective private schools opt for IGCSEs because they are easier...

Just smile and nod....

Here's the reality.

It is easier to get a C at IGCSE. Perhaps. The questions are more straightforward. The boundaries can't be messed with by Mr Gove.

However, the grade boudaries are higher therefore it is harder to get an A*.

So non selective schools opting for IGCSE are attempting to ease the way for the lowish ability students on the D/C, but are sacrificing those students on the A/A* border.

Selective schools choose them to challenge their pupils and best prepare them for post 16 courses.

I though the dfe league tables don't include Pre U's or IGCSE's although of course I could be wrong.

But Talkin most of the super selectives have withdrawn from the league tables and the extraordinary A level/Pre U results achieved by some in particular the very high % of A*s achieve by the likes of Westminster Win Coll and SPS just don't correlate with them allowing their pupils to sit IGCSE because they are easier.
Olive I can only comment on the CIE math higher paper which DS2 recently sat when looked over by my DS1's math tutor/current math teacher he thought it was significantly harder than whatever board they use GCSE higher paper. I was frankly stunned by how basic the GCSE foundation level math paper was, this was a linear exam, the level was barely above primary. Although delighted DS1 passed it I don't think it indicates any comprehension or understanding of math in any shape or form.

I haven't checked that one TBH They withdrew from the media ones.

Ladysybil
is your son's data not on the dfe tables ?
I was not aware that educational institutions were allowed to opt out of the government stats

Some state schools have switched to the iGCSE because there is a Jan sitting in English Language. Contrary to Gove's opinion early entry is a huge success from the pupil's POV.

Dd is not a great mathematicians but I am a specialist maths teacher (primary) with a special interest in maths related learning difficulties. It was clear to me by mid year 10 that she was unlikely to get more than a grade D at gcse (ocr modular) as it was far too wordy with lots of problem solving that she would not be able to make sense even with serious support from me. I tried to get the school to switch her to linear which they were reluctant to do...so I looked at all the boards and papers myself to see which would suit her learning style best and plumped for foundation edexcel igcse (known as level 1/2 certificate in maths for state schools). I entered her for this exam privately at her school. Low and behold, as I anticipated (well hoped), she achieved a D on gcse and a C on the igcse. Maybe the igcse stretches higher attainers too, but in my limited experience, it is better for the C/D borderline (or in dds case a solid, with no borderline in sight, D grade student)

A lot of private schools have opted out of the league tables, TalkinPeace, I know ds's has. Compared to the school he was allocated by the LEA, his school does provide a better education. The choices of GCSE's are higher and they are not 'aiming for a 26% GCSE pass rate'. Not all children have access to good state schools.

I am not anti private schools. I just do not believe that they provide a better education. They are great at segregation and providing self confidence and connections but I firmly believe that they game the league tables the same as any other school.
Why on earth would they not, when their Sunday Times / Telegraph league table rankings are a matter of public record?

Talkin you haven't addressed my point. Why would the super selectives use IGCSE's if they were significantly less rigorous that GCSE's, it would be non sensical. To achieve the very highest grades in Pre U/A level/IN then they need their children to embark on this having had the best most rigorous possible preparation.
Talkin I know you are anti independent education and I fully respect your views but don't let this cloud your judgement on all that independent schools do. Not all are hood winking parents into thinking their DC has done better than he really has, many have as Summer says not only choose the most appropriate exam for their pupils but believe their purpose is to offer an education that is challenging broad and a good preparation for university.

Talkin I am sure that your DC are very lucky to have your support and will do extremely well. Certainly don't use your past experience of London private schools to base your views on how they are now, it would be completely outdated. Teaching in both private and state can be prescriptive and result focussed and exams used simply to generate the best results. Some of your local private secondary schools might be like that.
However ideally schools use the exams they judge allow them flexibility to teach what is appropriate for the level of student they have and therefore the GCSEs or IGCSE level only reflects a small part of what they have learnt.

Just clicked onto this thread as DD has changed to iGCSE midway through year 10. As I have a younger child as well, I'm keen to at least try and keep on top of the changes that are coming.

Could anyone explain to me whether the change to numerical grading system that is coming to GCSE'S will apply to iGCSE as well ?

OP that would really annoy me. As far as I know it hasn't happened to DD but I have a few friends who have experienced this the last year or two at a couple of different schools and year groups, with several different subjects.

summerends
I compare my kids with what I got at private school, what their friends get at private school and how kids who move to and from the private schools fit into their cohort.

IGCSEs were much more rigorous than GCSEs of the 2009 and it suited fee paying schools to NOT be directly comparable with oiks (added value and all that)
but GCSEs have upped their game and IGCSEs have stood still
they are different exams and suit different students.

I asked DD if they did the Edexel or the Cambridge and she snorted that even a fool knows to avoid the edexel

so the middle cohort at her comp are taking the same exam paper as the brightest and best at selective fee paying schools.

I've no idea what that implies, but I'll support my kids as much as they need.