This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-22530207
The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Previous version
1
Next version
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Minister rejects concerns over AS-level changes | Minister rejects concerns over AS-level changes |
(about 21 hours later) | |
Concerns that changes to AS-levels will harm university admissions are unfounded, the schools minister David Laws has argued in a letter to Labour. | Concerns that changes to AS-levels will harm university admissions are unfounded, the schools minister David Laws has argued in a letter to Labour. |
Government analysis has shown that GCSEs are slightly better predictors than AS-levels of whether a student will get a good degree, writes Mr Laws. | Government analysis has shown that GCSEs are slightly better predictors than AS-levels of whether a student will get a good degree, writes Mr Laws. |
Labour says it will reverse many of the coalition's planned A-level changes in England if it wins the next election. | Labour says it will reverse many of the coalition's planned A-level changes in England if it wins the next election. |
From 2015 the government says AS-levels will not count towards full A-levels. | From 2015 the government says AS-levels will not count towards full A-levels. |
Under the changes new A-level courses to be taught from September that year will depend on linear exams taken after two years in the sixth form. | Under the changes new A-level courses to be taught from September that year will depend on linear exams taken after two years in the sixth form. |
AS-levels will still exist, but as stand-alone exams. | AS-levels will still exist, but as stand-alone exams. |
'Deep understanding' | 'Deep understanding' |
Many universities base their offers of places to students on the results of AS-levels which are taken in the first year of sixth form study. Students also use the results to decide which subjects to take as full A-levels. | Many universities base their offers of places to students on the results of AS-levels which are taken in the first year of sixth form study. Students also use the results to decide which subjects to take as full A-levels. |
Decoupling the two sets of exams would reduce the importance of AS-levels and the plans have drawn criticism from many teachers and universities, including Cambridge, which argues that they will "jeopardise over a decade's progress towards fairer access". | Decoupling the two sets of exams would reduce the importance of AS-levels and the plans have drawn criticism from many teachers and universities, including Cambridge, which argues that they will "jeopardise over a decade's progress towards fairer access". |
Earlier this month, Labour's Shadow Schools Minister Kevin Brennan pledged that Labour would not support a "policy that undermines both rigour and equity". | Earlier this month, Labour's Shadow Schools Minister Kevin Brennan pledged that Labour would not support a "policy that undermines both rigour and equity". |
The government has argued that A-levels and AS-levels in their current form do not help students develop a deeper understanding of their subjects. | The government has argued that A-levels and AS-levels in their current form do not help students develop a deeper understanding of their subjects. |
Now government statisticians have cross referenced GCSE and AS-level results with degree results, looking specifically if top school exam results are accurate predictors of a degree at 2:1 or above. | Now government statisticians have cross referenced GCSE and AS-level results with degree results, looking specifically if top school exam results are accurate predictors of a degree at 2:1 or above. |
"The analysis showed that knowing GCSE results alone allows a university to correctly predict whether a student will receive a 2:1 in 69.5% of cases," writes Mr Laws in a letter to Mr Brennan. | "The analysis showed that knowing GCSE results alone allows a university to correctly predict whether a student will receive a 2:1 in 69.5% of cases," writes Mr Laws in a letter to Mr Brennan. |
He added that AS-levels alone correctly predicted the outcome slightly less frequently in 68.4% of cases. | He added that AS-levels alone correctly predicted the outcome slightly less frequently in 68.4% of cases. |
"Knowing AS-levels as well as GCSEs does not add significantly to an admission officer's ability to predict outcomes. Knowing both increases the prediction accuracy only slightly from 69.5% to 70.1%", concludes Mr Laws. | "Knowing AS-levels as well as GCSEs does not add significantly to an admission officer's ability to predict outcomes. Knowing both increases the prediction accuracy only slightly from 69.5% to 70.1%", concludes Mr Laws. |
He argues that GCSE and AS grades both "record essentially the same information about the student: their general academic intelligence and willingness to work hard." | He argues that GCSE and AS grades both "record essentially the same information about the student: their general academic intelligence and willingness to work hard." |
"Once you know a student's exam results in one set of these exams, you learn little by knowing the results in the other set of exams," he argues. | "Once you know a student's exam results in one set of these exams, you learn little by knowing the results in the other set of exams," he argues. |
Cambridge research | Cambridge research |
He says that this is why he government has decided to prioritise additional teaching and learning over additional time devoted to exam preparation. | He says that this is why he government has decided to prioritise additional teaching and learning over additional time devoted to exam preparation. |
He argues that the government's plans will "help move us away from the current state of affairs in which English students are subjected to constant streams of exams". | He argues that the government's plans will "help move us away from the current state of affairs in which English students are subjected to constant streams of exams". |
A spokesman for the University of Cambridge said the government analysis did not reflect its own research where AS scores were found to be a better predictor of success than GCSEs. | A spokesman for the University of Cambridge said the government analysis did not reflect its own research where AS scores were found to be a better predictor of success than GCSEs. |
"But this is about more than just the admissions process, loss of AS- impacts on student choice, flexibility and deprives them of the chance to apply to university with confidence. | "But this is about more than just the admissions process, loss of AS- impacts on student choice, flexibility and deprives them of the chance to apply to university with confidence. |
The spokesman added that some 10% of Cambridge entrants do very well at AS-level despite poor GCSE performance. | The spokesman added that some 10% of Cambridge entrants do very well at AS-level despite poor GCSE performance. |
"If offers were to be based on GCSE results these students would not present a true picture of their ability, nor of their positive progress in sixth form. Around 75% of this group come from state schools and colleges." | "If offers were to be based on GCSE results these students would not present a true picture of their ability, nor of their positive progress in sixth form. Around 75% of this group come from state schools and colleges." |
Mr Brennan said: "The minister's response to my letter falls short of the mark. | |
"His plans will undermine widening access to university. They will narrow choices for young people. A linear exam at the end of a two year course is not always the best way to assess learning. | |
"In pursing these socially regressive plans, he is damaging the learning opportunities for young people." |
Previous version
1
Next version