One of the main motivations for carrying out this analysis was to try to
explore the apparent myths that have been trawled by the media hacks since
last night.
I would like to think that all teachers are doing a better and better job
and it would be nice to get the recognition that that deserves.
It is astonishing, though, that a relatively high level exam such as A
levels has such high pass rates: whatever the reason it is extraordinary.
Brickbats are easy, bouquets seem much more difficult to hand over.
Duncan Williamson
----- Original Message -----
From: "Jim Riley" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Thursday, August 15, 2002 11:07 PM
Subject: Re: Analysis of A level results
> Could it just be that:
>
> (1) Teachers are doing their job better than ever before?
> (2) Students are more motivated and better organised than ever before?
> (3) There are more support resources (e.g. Bized) available than ever
> before?
> (4) Students are taking the most appropriate examinations for their
> skill-set than ever before?
>
> It seems to me that these are perfectly plausible explanations for
> improvements in standards.
>
> I find the explicit and implicit criticism of A level results, that has
> consumed the media today, quite obscene.
>
> As for accounting, I think that, due to immateriality, it has been
> included in the roundings ("others"). Given the nature of the subject,
> that seems to be an entirely appropriate fate.
>
> Jim Riley
> Tutor2u
> www.tutor2u.net
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: For teachers and lecturers interested in curriculum issues
> affecting the te [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On
> Behalf Of Duncan Williamson
> Sent: 15 August 2002 17:52
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Analysis of A level results
>
>
> Thanks Sandra for the link to the A level results pdf file.
>
> I was interested to see how far the headline news had veered away from a
> more rational analysis of this year's A level results, so I have
> prepared an analysis of the grades for the whole UK by:
>
> * individual grade analysis, the % passing at A, the % passing at B and
> so
> on: the headline news has focused on cumulative A - E passing results,
> this analysis is much more realistic
> * Female v Male: this is very revealing, by
> * I have assessed the average subject at each grade
> * I have analysed the Business Studies results
> * I have analysed the Economics results
> * tongue in cheek identification of subjects at which it is most
> difficult to achieve an A grade and the subject achieving the highest
> proportion of A grades ... which do you think they are before you look?
>
> ** What has happened to Accounting: it's disappeared!
>
> Overall it does appear astonishing that the 21% of all results awarded
> are at A grade: that is a very high level of attainment; and a further
> 23% of candidates have achieved a B grade: over 40% of the population of
> candidates in 2002 achieved an A or B grade. It's not difficult to see
> why commentators are worried about the standards of the A level
> examinations. I am not in a position to assess whether these
> examinations are getting easier or more difficult so I take at face
> value that teachers and students are learning examination technique as
> well as they are their subject content.
>
>
>
> However, we could ask the 8.5% of the 26,780 candidates who sat the
> Computing exam and achieved an A grade how they feel about academic
> standards in that subject: this is the lowest proportion of candidates
> achieving an A grade in any subject.
>
>
>
> Since this will be a temporary page I will give the direct link to the
> page: www.duncanwil.co.uk/alevel2002.html sorry for any offence caused
> by revealing links to my site.
>
> Finally, if anyone is interested they are more than welcome to write OFF
> LIST and ask for a spreadsheet with all of this information: raw data;
> pivot tables allowing you to calculate all sorts of relationships; and
> graphs. It also includes first digit Benford's Law analysis: this
> analysis suggests a problem with the data that may be worthy of forensic
> analysis!
>
>
> Best wishes as always
>
> Duncan Williamson
>
>
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