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Original poster

A'Levels 2022 - Exam? CAGS?

30 replies

AreWeShafted · 21/04/2021 21:34

Sorry if everyone knows what's going on BUT..... What's going on next yr for A'levels? are they going to be able to sit their exams? I'm sure I heard something about, them sitting exams but it will be based on a reduced curriculum etc . I dread our dc being shafted again with bloody CAGs/TAGs whatever. The lack of exams had an awful knock on effect on uni admissions this year which I'm hoping won't be repeated next year.

OP posts:
UserTwice · 23/04/2021 08:56

It's not the inflation of grades that's the issue so much (inflation was inevitable if you measure everyone on a "good day" scenario) but the lack of moderation between schools. So a student going to School A could get a higher mark for the same standard of work as a student going to School B.

If next year's results are based on any element of teacher assessment (and my DC's teachers are tentatively suggesting they think there will be a hybrid model of exams/TA) then moderation is the thing that absolutely has to be got right. Many of the current Year 12 lost out at GCSE because they went to schools that moderated down in good faith prior to submitting CAGS versus those who went to schools that submitted aspirational CAGS with no internal moderation. Not any of the schools' faults- they were told there would be standardisation across the board. But it absolutely can't happen again.

Original poster
AreWeShafted · 23/04/2021 06:31

The sooner we know what’s happening the better. Leaving everyone in limbo till the last minute is counterproductive. If they are going to examined on a slimmed down syllabus then schools need to know now so they focus on the right things. At the moment, they’re battling to make up for lost time and trying to cover length and breadth of every subject.

OP posts:
Hopeful201 · 22/04/2021 17:34

It is going to be interesting, I guess if the virus is under control they will reduce the breadth of the course. If the virus starts going out of control who knows! My two are doing A levels and GCSE's next year, I would hope they get some idea of anything being dropped fairly soon. To take the stress away.

Original poster
AreWeShafted · 22/04/2021 09:25

@clary
my worry is the cancellation of exams and teacher grades have somewhat inflated the numbers attaining high grades leading to universities getting nervous about numbers. Some top Unis this year had weird outcomes for some students, strings of A’s at both levels but rejected due to overwhelming numbers of applicants. I’m sure this had a knock effect on all universities. Those that would normally take lower grades now expecting higher? I haven’t heard any evidence of the middle to lower range Unis doing this BUT it’s common sense.

What a bummer for your DC though! I hope whatever they end up doing that they are able to get the grades they need for where they want to go. This has been all round crap.

OP posts:
clary · 21/04/2021 23:32

AFAIK no one has said so we don't know.

IMHO they have to have exams in some form - if only bc the current yr 12 haven't done any public exams (not their fault of course). But also - well, for all the reasons why we ever do exams. It has to be possible next year.

Equally I think that the difficulties this year - missed time, remote lessons - must mean a scaling back of either content or breadth or volume - something. So for example I am expecting that Eng Lit will be reduced in terms of texts; MFL (my subject) will see perhaps a dropping of the speaking element again and perhaps more choice of questions, in case topics have not been covered.

I also think the last 12 months have shown the value of teacher assessment - not the dreaded controlled assessment, so easy to fiddle, but a genuine element of input by teachers "this is what I think this student should/would achieve" - teachers by and large have integrity and in any case, if this element were combined with a public exam it would be impossible for them to say everyone would get a 9. What it would do is offer some support to those who really struggle with exams.

Don't get me wrong, I am a believer in the rigour and equality of exams, but they are a one size and it does not fit all. And I speak as a parent of an exam-panicker and an exam puller-of-it-out-of-the-bag. (sadly the panicker did exams and the puller is in yr 13. Ah well.)