Research and analysis

An investigation of inter-subject comparability in GCSEs and A levels in summer 2021

A technical report using statistical methods to investigate the comparability of grading standards across subjects for GCSEs and A levels in summer 2021.

• From: Ofqual
• Published: 12 July 2022

Applies to England

Documents

An investigation of inter-subject comparability in GCSEs and A levels in summer 2021

Ref: Ofqual/22/6933/3

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22-6933-3 An investigation of inter-subject comparability in GCSEs and A levels in summer 2021

Ref: Ofqual/22/6933/3

PDF, 4.38 MB, 52 pages

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Details

This technical report, which is a follow-up to analysis that was published in summer 2020 (He and Black, 2020), uses statistical methods to investigate the comparability of grading standards across subjects for GCSEs and A levels in summer 2021.

This inter-subject comparability is explored over a period of 3 years: summer 2021, when teacher-assessed grades (TAGs) were used, summer 2020, when, for most students, centre assessment grades (CAGs) were used, and summer 2019, when grades were awarded through exams, in the normal way. The analysis contributes to our understanding of the impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on grading in 2020 (CAGs) and 2021 (TAGs).

Published 12 July 2022