A grade A problem

The debate sparked by today’s A-level results was predictable – the Tories are saying they’re getting easier and the government is saying everyone is simply getting smarter – but it’s also academic.

It doesn’t matter why the number of students getting As is higher than ever – the fact itself is a problem. The purpose of grading is to distinguish between different strata of performance. Of course it’s possible that students are smarter than ever.  But if that’s the case then the bar must be raised again – and again – and again until only a small percentage achieve the top grade; the message that A grades are meant to send to employers and universities is lost when one in four pupils are getting them.

The onus should not be on the universities and employers to distinguish between identical qualifications but on the examination system to distinguish between degrees of performance.  That 25 percent of students are getting As – regardless of whether this is due to dumbing down, better teaching or students getting smarter – shows that somewhere something is wrong.