An interesting thread and topic to observe from the antipodes.

On the one hand exams that are a rerun of something already done.

On the other hand the examination extended to also cover the subject of
mindreading.

I have a very strong belief and practice that NO student should be assessed
via an unfamiliar format. What then are we assessing?

Peter French MEd MAcc
Writer and Assessor - VET
Australia
----- Original Message -----
From: david haynes <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Monday, June 04, 2001 2:08 PM
Subject: Re: Specimen Answers : more unease


> Duncan
>
> I think that perhaps you are too kind.
>
> You seem to be implying that IF there is a link
> between Specimen Answers (heavily studied and learned
> by pupils) and question papers then this is a result
> of negligence.
>
> That is one possibility I'll grant you, but not one I
> agree with.
>
> I see Exam Boards as businesses - and businesses
> compete. Exactly how Exam Boards compete is another
> thread altogether.
>
> You draw the analogy with Tesco and the
> supplier/customer relationship.
>
> I have long held the view that there should be only
> one (preferably government) exam board albeit with
> Option topics.
>
> I also think that Examiners should be paid more AND
> that every paper should be double-marked. Higher pay
> would attract Examiners so there should be no problem
> with supply. The Examiner could mark the paper, record
> the mark - but not on the sheet, then send them off
> for second marking.
>
> The average of the two marks could be the entered
> finalised mark.
>
> You mention the Examiners' books everywhere. Most
> Examiners are practising teachers...so just how do
> they find the time?
>
> Perhaps it is not so much the Exam Boards that are
> businesses - but the Examiners themselves.
>
> Again one comes back to the supplier/customer
> relationship.
>
> How does one make sure a book sells?
>
> There are several answers, one of which is that it is
> full of 'good stuff' relevant and readable.
>
> Another one is that it is written by someone who will
> later be in charge of Examining students. Teachers
> will trust (even 'kow tow to') the author; schools
> will buy the text.
>
> The way the book can keep selling is to make sure that
> people still take that board.
>
> And the way to make that board popular is (among other
> things like support services) to try and ensure that
> there is a high pass rate.
>
>
> And one way to do that.....which brings me back to
> Specimen Answers. I assume that exam papers are
> checked, ratified, analysed etc by some sort of
> governing body prior to the exam being sat? I wonder
> if that same Examining Body double check to see if
> similar questions have been asked before.
>
> The reason I ask is this. There is a Professional Body
> that runs a series of Accounting and Business exams.
> Successful students are awarded a Diploma and gain
> entry into university, sometimes missing the first
> year. The exams look reasonably difficult - until one
> realises that the exact same questions - word for word
> - are asked year after year...and there are four
> sittings a year. I am fairly sure the universities are
> not aware of this and hence take the exams at face
> value.
>
> I don't think there are problems with Examiners as
> such - apart from them being underpaid and under
> assessed. The problem lies with the lack of checking
> on exam papers - and also, I suspect, the lack of
> willingness of teachers etc to question, in public if
> necessary, the behaviour of such boards.
>
> One such forum could be this but that would be unfair
> as exam boards are - presumably - not here. I remember
> a particularly nasty interchange of emails about a
> particular OCR Business Studies paper a year ago. That
> 'debate' was very short-lived.
>
> I also remember an email exchange about a year ago
> between myself and others where one Examiner openly
> said that he chose a particular board as it was 'easy'
> and his job was to get as many of his pupils through
> as possible. Therefore IF (and I stress 'IF') there is
> a correlation between Specimens and 'Actuals' then
> no-one's going to moan about it...are they?
>
> Maybe this IS what 'satisfying clients' is about - I
> sincerely hope not!
>
> In terms of making a decision, my original concerns
> were that I had mistaught my pupils. I am now
> beginning to wonder whether in fact I correctly taught
> them - but have disadvantaged them for this board.
>
> I had hoped I would not have to choose between
> delivering a subject and enabling pupils to pass an
> exam. I had assumed they were mutually inclusive
> rather than exclusive!
>
> There must be other Business Studies teachers who are
> reading this thread - your views?
>
> DH
>
>
>
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