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GCSE and A level exam enquiries have exceeded 450,000 say Ofqual

Exams regulator Ofqual has today published provisional data showing the number of Enquiries about Results (EARs) and Appeals against results “has increased noticeably this year.”

The new information follows this summer’s exams, and shows GCSE enquiries increased by 56 per cent and A Level enquires increased by 34 per cent (see below).

However, grade changes following a challenge only increased by just over one percentage point in the case of GCSEs to 18.8 per cent, and just under zero point three percentage points for A levels.

Ofqual-figures-21-10-14

Ofqual added: “The impact of any wrong marking on students or schools is considerable, and marking mistakes undermine public confidence. Earlier this year we reported that the quality of marking is generally good, but could be improved. Nevertheless, teachers and the public remain concerned about marking and particularly those rare cases where grades change to a baffling extent.”

Russell Hobby, general secretary of school leaders’ union NAHT said: “The large increase in papers sent for remarking is a sign of falling confidence in exams following many rapid changes. The volume of grade changes is worrying. Not all schools can afford to challenge grades on a routine basis, so this opens up real inequities.

“NAHT welcomes the news that Ofqual are looking into marking – we need get this area right as a matter of high priority. Politicians also need to plan their changes carefully and patiently in future, so that schools can cope.”

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