Demythologising A Level Exam Standards

Autor/in	Newton, Paul E.
Titel	Demythologising A Level Exam Standards
Quelle	In: Research Papers in Education, 37 (2022) 6, S.875-906 (32 Seiten)Infoseite zur Zeitschrift PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	0267-1522
DOI	10.1080/02671522.2020.1870543
Schlagwörter	Foreign Countries; Misconceptions; Exit Examinations; Norm Referenced Tests; Criterion Referenced Tests; Standards; Qualifications; Examiners; Educational Trends; Trend Analysis; United Kingdom (England) + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Ausland; Missverständnis; Final examination; Abschlussprüfung; Standard; Qualifikation; Qualifikationsstufe; Examiner; Prüfer; Bildungsentwicklung; Trendanalyse
Abstract	There are two major myths concerning A level exam standards in England. First, the Ancient Myth, which insists that standards were norm-referenced until the 1980s, when they transitioned to being criterion-referenced. Second, the Modern Myth, which insists that standards transitioned again, during the 2010s, to being based upon the comparable outcomes principle. The present paper debunks these myths, arguing that: except for the occasional use of comparable outcomes to bridge qualification reforms, A level standards have always been attainment-referenced; and that this has always been operationalised using a combination of methods, including both examiner judgement of exam performances and statistical expectations of cohort attainment. The paper also argues that what has changed significantly is the degree of confidence that the exam industry has placed in examiner judgement relative to statistical expectations, which has waxed and waned over time. When statistical expectations have prevailed, pass rates have tended to plateau; somewhat implausibly. When examiner judgement has prevailed, pass rates have tended to rise; also somewhat implausibly. These trends have given a false impression of principled transitions, which the paper dispels. (As Provided).
Anmerkungen	Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 530 Walnut Street Suite 850, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Tel: 215-625-8900; Fax: 215-207-0050; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals
Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2024/1/01