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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
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| Tougher A-levels to allow fewer re-takes | Tougher A-levels to allow fewer re-takes |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| By Sean Coughlan BBC News education correspondent | By Sean Coughlan BBC News education correspondent |
| A-levels should be strengthened by only allowing one re-sit, replacing "modules" with end-of-year exams and increasing university involvement, says the exam watchdog, Ofqual. | |
| Ofqual chief, Glenys Stacey, says too many re-sits by pupils can "devalue individual exams". | Ofqual chief, Glenys Stacey, says too many re-sits by pupils can "devalue individual exams". |
| There are also questions over whether AS-levels should be scrapped. | There are also questions over whether AS-levels should be scrapped. |
| The A-level reforms will mean "higher education becomes more involved", says Ms Stacey. | |
| Ofqual is setting out proposals on changes to A-levels, which will be open for consultation for three months. | Ofqual is setting out proposals on changes to A-levels, which will be open for consultation for three months. |
| If the proposals are adopted, the first changes would be applied to A-level courses beginning in September 2013 - with pupils taking reformed exams in summer 2015. | If the proposals are adopted, the first changes would be applied to A-level courses beginning in September 2013 - with pupils taking reformed exams in summer 2015. |
| Changes to content would be introduced from September 2014. | Changes to content would be introduced from September 2014. |
| 'Gold standard' | 'Gold standard' |
| This "gold standard" qualification is taken by pupils in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. | This "gold standard" qualification is taken by pupils in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. |
| The exam watchdog is suggesting a shift away from a "modular" structure - and a reduction in the opportunities for pupils to keep re-taking exam components to push up their grades. | The exam watchdog is suggesting a shift away from a "modular" structure - and a reduction in the opportunities for pupils to keep re-taking exam components to push up their grades. |
| The proposals call for an end of the January exams and puts forward the option of only allowing one re-take for AS and final A-level exams. | The proposals call for an end of the January exams and puts forward the option of only allowing one re-take for AS and final A-level exams. |
| This would mean that there would only be one set of exams each year, in the summer term at the end of each of the two years. | This would mean that there would only be one set of exams each year, in the summer term at the end of each of the two years. |
| Ms Stacey says this would "re-balance the emphasis of A-levels onto the learning rather than the assessment". | Ms Stacey says this would "re-balance the emphasis of A-levels onto the learning rather than the assessment". |
| The role of AS-levels remains open to debate - with questions raised about whether they should continue in their current form. | The role of AS-levels remains open to debate - with questions raised about whether they should continue in their current form. |
| Ofqual says it is "neutral" on the future of AS-levels and sets out three options - scrapping them altogether, keeping them in their current form or turning them into a standalone qualification which did not contribute to the A-level. | Ofqual says it is "neutral" on the future of AS-levels and sets out three options - scrapping them altogether, keeping them in their current form or turning them into a standalone qualification which did not contribute to the A-level. |
| If AS-levels were to be scrapped, it would mean A-levels returning to a two-year course with a final set of summer exams. | If AS-levels were to be scrapped, it would mean A-levels returning to a two-year course with a final set of summer exams. |
| Degree ready | Degree ready |
| Education Secretary Michael Gove wrote to Ms Stacey earlier this year, calling for universities to become more involved in A-levels, so they could better prepare students for degree courses. | Education Secretary Michael Gove wrote to Ms Stacey earlier this year, calling for universities to become more involved in A-levels, so they could better prepare students for degree courses. |
| The proposals set out by Ofqual say that universities should be engaged in the content and design of A-levels - and that the qualifications should have the support of at least 20 universities. | The proposals set out by Ofqual say that universities should be engaged in the content and design of A-levels - and that the qualifications should have the support of at least 20 universities. |
| Responding to the changes, the Russell Group of leading universities said that A-levels were "broadly fit for purpose" - but the changes would be beneficial. | Responding to the changes, the Russell Group of leading universities said that A-levels were "broadly fit for purpose" - but the changes would be beneficial. |
| Wendy Piatt, the group's director general, said the culture of re-sits was fuelling "grade inflation" - and so supported limits on re-taking exams. | Wendy Piatt, the group's director general, said the culture of re-sits was fuelling "grade inflation" - and so supported limits on re-taking exams. |
| She also supported a move away from a modular approach to teaching and testing - saying that pupils could arrive at university still expecting to be "spoon fed". | She also supported a move away from a modular approach to teaching and testing - saying that pupils could arrive at university still expecting to be "spoon fed". |
| The Russell Group has also voiced concerns about the lack of rigour in some subjects, such as maths and English. | The Russell Group has also voiced concerns about the lack of rigour in some subjects, such as maths and English. |
| Pam Tatlow, chief executive of the Million+ group of universities, said that the level of engagement in A-levels expected of universities would require a "co-ordinating body". | Pam Tatlow, chief executive of the Million+ group of universities, said that the level of engagement in A-levels expected of universities would require a "co-ordinating body". |
| Ms Tatlow also said that the qualification would lose credibility if approval was limited to only a "small sub-set" of universities. | Ms Tatlow also said that the qualification would lose credibility if approval was limited to only a "small sub-set" of universities. |