The UK's Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) has welcomed the news that exam regulator Ofqual will announce an investigation into A-level and GCSE standards. RSC has been for several years at the forefront of calling for greater rigour in exams and assessments. The watchdog, which has already reviewed GCSE science exams, had reported last year that "standards are currently too low".
Prof. Jim Iley, RSC director of science and education, said it was inevitable a wide-ranging review needed to be carried out after 23 consecutive years of annual rises in exam results. He also warned that it was essential for Ofqual, in carrying out its duty to compare UK exam standards against the highest performing systems abroad, to conduct its reviews using experts independent from the awarding organisations.
Further, Prof. Iley said the RSC would be happy to support Ofqual in its review. Since Ofqual does not have subject expertise, the RSC recommends that Ofqual engage with professional bodies and learned societies to ensure such comparisons are undertaken by independent panels of expertise.
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