Just one or two points to bear in mind. In accordance with QCA rules, exam
papers and their mark schemes are reviewed by a number of people and are
often amended and improved in response. The exam paper which emerges has been
very carefully checked.
Specimen papers, by contrast are subjected to very much less vetting. They
are therefore very much more likely to contain glitches. They are constructed
to get QCA approval for the specs, in a hurry sometimes.
While I would not suggest that exam papers and their mark schemes do not ever
have errors - they do - they are less likely than specimen papers to confuse
or mislead. I probably said this before, the whole thing is run by human
beings.
I find this debate rather sterile anyway. I used to teach my Economics
students to answer the question exactly as asked. Then, if they feel that the
basic premiss is doubtful, say so. We're talking here about the 70s and 80s.
I had no idea there could be so much doubt on this subject.
I like the idea of having every paper read by two people. nice one.
Presumably it would mean higher exam entry fees....
Nancy
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