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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think that the whole gcse / A level grading system is rigged

260 replies

SparklesandGold · 13/08/2021 18:23

Just my opinion.

But isn’t it funny how GCSE and A level grades have significantly for higher ever since exams were cancelled?

I can’t help but think the whole thing is flawed. I am not teacher bashing, but come on, It’s hardly surprising to wonder if some, not all, teachers bumped their students grades up intentionally.

AIBU?

OP posts:
AllAroundTheWorldYeah · 13/08/2021 19:01

@Artdecolover

The exams were not cancelled.

External exams were cancelled.

Please stop perpetuating such rubbish

Exams that the teachers knew the questions and mark schemes for & could therefore perfectly prepare the students
MrsHamlet · 13/08/2021 19:02

But I kind of just thought, well, Sarah is a good person so I will give her a higher grade and I also want our schools grades to be high so I’ll give the class As and B
That is absolutely not how it was done.

Artdecolover · 13/08/2021 19:03

If you know a school that did this then report it.

Though the DfE and Ofqual pretty much washed their hands of any responsibility so not sure what they'd do tbh...

Any school that did this is moronic imo. Ofsted will take a VERY dim view of grade inflation in coming years...

thevelvetcurtain · 13/08/2021 19:04

YABU. To me it shows that the conventional way we do exams forces children to not do as well as usual, because they're incredibly stressed. Other countries have shown that marking taken from continuous assessment is better, because young people aren't forced to cram, remember everything all at once, or any of the other arbitrary ideas we put on young people. If anything, it shows that we should continue doing things this way.

PheasantsNest · 13/08/2021 19:05

You obviously haven't got a clue what you are talking about. You are shit stirring.

thevelvetcurtain · 13/08/2021 19:06

And what is wrong with children being properly prepared, and feeling confident to learn? It's like people want kids to do badly.

Hercisback · 13/08/2021 19:06

But I kind of just thought, well, Sarah is a good person so I will give her a higher grade and I also want our schools grades to be high so I’ll give the class As and B

This is not what happened at all.

See previous posts re being unable to predict which students will have the bad day, leading to grade "inflation".

Pieceofpurplesky · 13/08/2021 19:06

But I kind of just thought, well, Sarah is a good person so I will give her a higher grade and I also want our schools grades to be high so I’ll give the class As and B

So little knowledge yet so much to say. The above is bullshit. What you think is totally wrong. Every child had to have a wealth of evidence as they could be called for moderation.

Artdecolover · 13/08/2021 19:06

@MrsHamlet

But I kind of just thought, well, Sarah is a good person so I will give her a higher grade and I also want our schools grades to be high so I’ll give the class As and B That is absolutely not how it was done.
Omg...the ignorance is staggering.

Do you have ANY idea how many individual pieces of work/assessments/NEAs had to be completed for EVERY pupil????

Ofqual called schools and requested work/evidence from random selection of children for moderation - not just "likeable" ones 🙄🙄🙄🙄

The schools then had 48 hours to provide that information.

Original poster
SparklesandGold · 13/08/2021 19:07

It’s just my opinion. I’m entitled to that.

OP posts:
Artdecolover · 13/08/2021 19:07

@thevelvetcurtain

And what is wrong with children being properly prepared, and feeling confident to learn? It's like people want kids to do badly.
Yep. Really sad.
flumposie · 13/08/2021 19:08

@keiratwiceknightly explains it perfectly. We had to jump through bloody hoops this year. Non stop assessments marked in our own time on top of our normal workload and not by paid examiners. Then we had to moderate as departments to check we had marked fairly. Then the exam boards sent for some pieces of work to be checked and moderated by them . So no grades have not been inflated if the above procedures have been used.

MrsHamlet · 13/08/2021 19:08

Me?! Absolutely I do. I moderated the work of the whole cohort for English.
The OP neither knows nor cares. She's just in it to have a go.

Artdecolover · 13/08/2021 19:08

@SparklesandGold

It’s just my opinion. I’m entitled to that.
Despite plenty of people pointing out the fallacy of that opinion? With - you know- facts.

Interesting.

I bet you "call a spade a spade" too, don't you?
🙄

User5827372728 · 13/08/2021 19:08

Ooh I taught a lovely Sarah so have her a grade 9.

Laura was pretty irritating though so she was given a 3

CallmeHendricks · 13/08/2021 19:09
  1. "No, I’m not teacher bashing."
Er, yes you are.
  1. "It’s not a job I could do"
Clearly.
  1. "I am full of admiration for teachers."
So what possessed you to start this unpleasant thread?
  1. "But I kind of just thought, well, Sarah is a good person so I will give her a higher grade and I also want our schools grades to be high so I’ll give the class As and Bs"
I refer you to point 2. You're clearly not cut out for the professionalism of a teacher's role, so just as well, eh?
Artdecolover · 13/08/2021 19:09

Goady fuckery at its best 👌

Hercisback · 13/08/2021 19:09

Your opinion is not valid. It is a false opinion and it is clear you don't know the facts.

sadeyedladyofthelowlands63 · 13/08/2021 19:11

It’s just my opinion. I’m entitled to that.

And we're entitled to say your opinion is utter bollocks.

Original poster
SparklesandGold · 13/08/2021 19:12

I’m not saying they don’t deserve good grades.

If they’ve worked hard and have a good understanding of their subject, then they deserve a high grade.

If they haven’t worked hard and don’t have a good understanding of their subject then sorry, but no, they don’t deserve a high grade.

OP posts:
Greenmarmalade · 13/08/2021 19:13

Teachers worked ridiculously long and stressful hours this year. Most will have done everything they can to be fair in a situation the government didn’t deal well with, and a system that they had no time to prepare for.

One factor is that they could test students immediately after they’d ‘learnt’ it, so they wouldn’t actually have to retain it or really know it.

No bias or speculation allowed by law.
Everyone has unconscious bias. That’s why exams are fairer. Particularly to the lost disadvantaged students.

Artdecolover · 13/08/2021 19:13

@SparklesandGold

I’m not saying they don’t deserve good grades.

If they’ve worked hard and have a good understanding of their subject, then they deserve a high grade.

If they haven’t worked hard and don’t have a good understanding of their subject then sorry, but no, they don’t deserve a high grade.

That's OK then because they won't have got one.
TSSDNCOP · 13/08/2021 19:13

Is that you Auntie Barbara?

Your narrow and completely uninformed opinion is offensive to students, teachers, school leaders and parents all of whom had to try and perform in, I think even you would have to agree, unprecedented circumstances or did global events not reach under your rock?

FYI:

Exams did happen
Work was comprehensively assessed by expert teachers
Results were peer reviewed and moderated again by Leaders to minimise bias
Results were moderated by Ofqual

Did you bother asking any of that before you regurgitated the Daily Mail?

Original poster
SparklesandGold · 13/08/2021 19:13

Why is everyone so sensitive when it comes
To teachers?

I’ve noticed it seems to hit a nerve when the slightest criticism is made about them.

Would MN be so sensitive if someone were to make a critical comment about their local bin man/woman?

OP posts:
Pinkflipflop85 · 13/08/2021 19:14

@SparklesandGold

I’m not saying they don’t deserve good grades.

If they’ve worked hard and have a good understanding of their subject, then they deserve a high grade.

If they haven’t worked hard and don’t have a good understanding of their subject then sorry, but no, they don’t deserve a high grade.

The ones who didn't work hard and don't have a good understanding of their subject would not have the evidence to be awarded a high grade.
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