Why a return to the 1970s is a must – in the A Level system

In 1982 the A Level pass rate was 68.2 per cent.  By 2001 it was 89.9 per cent.

This year it is just shy of 100 per cent.

Amazing isn’t it how much cleverer students are today? Or is it due to the sheer brilliance of teachers?

Of course, neither is true, it is down almost entirely to criterion-referencing which replaced norm-referencing in 1987.

Under the old system only a certain percentage of students could receive a particular grade.

When criterion-referencing system was introduced, examiners were given criteria for the awarding of grades.

Although there were arguments for the change, it led to grade inflation to the point in 2010 when an A* grade had to be brought in.

In 1965 when grades were introduced (replacing just ‘pass’, ‘distinction’ or ‘fail’) no more than 10 per cent of students could achieve an ‘A’.

This year nearly a third of results were A* or A.

Another problem with criterion-referencing is that the decision about standards can be influenced by politicians or the academics of the day.

In reality, the population’s intelligence and ability doesn’t really change that much so norm-referencing is far more honest.

It is clear that the goal posts have constantly been moved and the system is based on what academics think should be a pass or fail.

To me this doesn’t make sense. There should be a complete return to norm-referencing as a means of grading. This is more honest and gives truer performance outcomes.

*with thanks to Alan Smithers’ paper ‘A Levels 2014-2014’ for valuable information