Paul
Surely the Railtrack answer is very odd. Railtrack do not run trains and set
ticket prices, but derive their revenue from the train operators.
It is appalling that the Boards can get away with such sloppy thinking.
Steve Hurd
----- Original Message -----
From: "Paul Unwin (GC_11_PO)" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Monday, June 04, 2001 4:25 PM
Subject: AVCE Business - Spec Paper unease
> I have been following your debate on AQA exams/spec answers with interest.
> We are not affected by the happenings at AQA here but I'm sure you will
not
> be surprised to hear of very similar problems with the AVCE Business from
> Edexel.
>
> In the new AVCE, 1/3 of all units are tested externally. We are putting
our
> students through 2 tested units this year:
>
> Competitive Business environment Unit 2 and
> Motivating and Developing People Unit 19.
>
> We are VERY concerned with the quality of exams and Marking schemes, which
> is making it impossible for students to achieve the grades they deserve.
>
> Here is a flavour of the problem from the Specimen Paper
>
>
> 8d) Recommend how railtrack should respond if a subsidy is to be
withdrawn.
> (6)
>
> >From the marking scheme
> 8d) possible reactions include: increase ticket price, reduce number of
> services, reduce level of service.
> 1 mark for reaction
> 1 mark for development
>
> SO AN A GRADE STUDENT WHO GOES INTO DEPTH ON ONE, WILL GET NO MORE THAN
2/6.
> TO GET MAXIMUM MARKS THE STUDENT HAS TO EXPLORE 3 POINTS.
>
> Throughout the Unit 2 paper, open/loose questions are accompanied by very
> rigid marking criteria, which restrict student achievement.
>
> Are Edexcel sorting this ?
>
> Well the following results indicate that they HAVE to do something about
> their tests and marking schemes:
>
>
> of the 7951 entries for Unit 2 in January 2001
> 0.4% attained Grade A
> 2.4% attained Grade B or better
> 7.8% attained Grade C or better
> 20.2% attained Grade D or better
> 40.2% attained Grade E or better
>
> For the 801 entries for Unit 19 in January 2001
> 0.4% attained Grade A
> 2.2% attained Grade B or better
> 6.1% attained Grade C or better
> 14.6% attained Grade D or better
> 30.2% attained Grade E or better
>
>
> These pass rates are abomnable BUT the poor results cannot be purely
> ascribed to the increased rigour of the new AVCE. The tests and their
> marking schemes must be having an effect.
>
> Such poor exams will only make the taking of this really good new
> qualification an absolute NO NO.
>
> Thankfully none of our students took the tests in the January sitting. Did
> anybody out there get burned?
>
>
>
>
> Paul Unwin
> Business Studies
> Grantham College (FE)
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