STEM news

Ofqual found serious causes for concern when monitoring the version of science GCSEs used in 2007 and 2008, and still in use today. These concerns were detailed in a report in March 2009 and include the lack of challenge and demand of some question papers and internally assessed tasks, and the standards set in some papers at grades C and A. These observations apply to specifications offered by all three England-based awarding bodies. In addition, the specifications offered vary considerably across awarding bodies, making it difficult to judge, without the use of statistical data, whether candidates' achievements at the same grade are comparable across awarding bodies.

Following these concerns, Ofqual asked for changes to be made to the current qualifications and for new ones to be designed. Among these changes are:

• Improved quality of questions , to stretch and challenge all students
• Work, including further training for senior examiners, to improve the quality of objective tests
• Tighter marking criteria to ensure that only the answers deserving of the marks are credited.

Awarding organisations have submitted new versions of the qualifications for approval for teaching in schools from September 2011. However, Ofqual has found that the new versions do not fully address the concerns raised. It has sent detailed feedback to the awarding organisations so they can take action to bring the examinations up to the required standard.

Meanwhile, Ofqual continues to work with the awarding bodies to tighten standards for the existing specifications.