Leadership

An Evaluation of Centre Assessment Grades From Summer 2020

Although there was an overall increase in grades in 2020, the majority of the relationships between grades and centre and candidate characteristics were remarkably stable between previous years and 2020

This Ofqual report looks at the use of centre assessed grades (CAGs) last year. It led to large rises in grades, with two-thirds of students having at least one of their A-level results upgraded. The regulator’s report look at the source data and which students were impacted.

Ofqual found last year’s GCSE and A-level CAGs were on average about half a grade higher than those in previous years. But reassuringly the majority of relationships between grades and other features studied – such as subject and school – had not “substantially changed”, the report stated.

So although teacher grades were higher than previous years, they mostly “did not introduce any substantial bias or different patterns of grading”.

However, at A-level, there was one statistically significant difference in the narrowing of the gap between male and female candidates.

Ofqual said the strongest predictor of grade outcomes by far was a student’s prior attainment, with this relationship slightly stronger in 2020 compared to previous years.

<--- The article continues for users subscribed and signed in. --->

Enjoy unlimited digital access to Teaching Times.
Subscribe for £7 per month to read this and any other article
  • Single user
  • Access to all topics
  • Access to all knowledge banks
  • Access to all articles and blogs
Subscribe for the year for £70 and get 2 months free
  • Single user
  • Access to all topics
  • Access to all knowledge banks
  • Access to all articles and blogs