GCSEs online this year

[Orangesandlemons77]

So is it correct that the GCSE assessments are being published online tomorrow?

Not sure. We had a letter on Friday saying that the overall grade will be given by a mixture of mock results, coursework and some further assessments. Here is an extract of the letter:

Curriculum Leaders have made available the list of assessments for every subject including titles and dates. These will be published on MCAS and will also be available over the next few days on the school website via this link: (I have removed this as it was the school link)

On the same page you will have access to the published documentation about how the results and appeals process will work for GCSEs in 2021. Please take the time to read this document carefully

The support materials the exam boards have created will be published online tomorrow. Schools may use all, some or none of these materials as part of their final assessments for TAGs.

I believe some schools are using their own assessments and there seems to be no consistency between schools at all. For example my DS’s school are doing assessments in the format of normal GCSEs in exam conditions (eg 1 hr 45 minutes paper 1 and 2 for sciences etc), his GFs school are doing 45 minute quizzes in the classroom and are being told exactly what the quiz is on. One of his friends is having no assessments and being marked as they did last year. It’s hard for him (and us) not to be a bit about it tbh. A 7 from one school this year probably won’t be the same as a 7 from another school, but most people won’t realise this. It’s quite galling.

It seems like a right muddle. If the assessments are online will all students be given fair access to this information?

In defence of schools, the DfE and exam boards have set no helpful parameters at all to ensure consistency across the country. The lack of direction is an absolute joke. It's really unfair on the kids but this is where the DfE have left us by cancelling the exams.

@Orangesandlemons77

It seems like a right muddle. If the assessments are online will all students be given fair access to this information?

It's there for them to find if they have internet access and choose to seek it out - not sure what else you mean by "fair access"? It's not hidden from certain sectors of society...

Well of course it would be unfair if some pupils are aware of it and see the papers and others don't

I mean, some schools seem to have pointed pupils to the resources online such as OrangeandBananafishs above

But for others schools is there not a risk some will access it and others not, but all those pupils will be assessed against each other? How is that in any way fair?

Also would publishing papers online not unfairly disadvantage some students in particular those with photographic memories would do no revision and simply memorise the test?

Well this is why a lot of schools are choosing not to use the exam board published assessments because it’s mad that they have published them online for students to access.

Not their choice though, they were told to by Ofqual. The exam boards think it’s mad too.

Does anyone have a link to where the information has been published please?

It’s hard for him (and us) not to be a bit hmm about it tbh. A 7 from one school this year probably won’t be the same as a 7 from another school, but most people won’t realise this. It’s quite galling

Galling? Education in this country has never made any pretence at equality but after the disruption pupils have experienced this year - and particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds - you and your teenager are feeling peeved?

All that matters is that the young people get the grades they need to move onto further education. That's the least we owe them.

There was the same issue last year. The headline is that there was grade inflation, but no mention of all the children that were actually moderated down by schools - and these children have therefore lost out twice as everyone thinks their downgraded marks are inflated.
And this will likely affect disadvantaged students more.

I cannot believe that there same problem has come round again this year - is there no accountability by the DfE/Ofqual?

I've found this

www.gov.uk/government/consultations/support-materials-and-advance-information-in-2021-gcse-as-and-a-level-exams/support-materials-and-advance-information-for-gcse-as-and-a-levels-in-2021-html

"The advance information should not be so detailed that students are able to memorise answers to write in the exam. This would give an advantage to students who are good at memorising or rote learning – it wouldn’t be a true assessment of the student’s ability. Students might also memorise answers that someone else had written, so the exam would not be a true assessment of the student’s ability in a subject.

That seems to say that the exam boards will give details of what is going to be in the exams? I'm not sure which bit of that link is updated?

I'm not sure either. It's all pretty confusing.