GCSEs of the Future

GCSEs: time for change

GCSEs are becoming more and more common. High marks are becoming too consistent – making these qualifications irrelevant and insignificant. However, to suddenly change the scheme to a harsher, (possibly more accurate), marking of the curriculum would disadvantage the forthcoming generations yet to sit their examinations, as they would have less chances of achieving such high marks, and this may not be taken into account by employers.

Also, disappointment from students taking the tests may arise due to ignorance of the remarkable change in schemes.  How would they be able to tell if their results are sufficient for a child of their intelligence? The chances are they wouldn’t.

But, if there is an inconsistency in the marking scheme, can we just let it slip? Surely, we should recover the mistake sooner than later?

I asked a pupil from Year 7, the most likely to be affected, and she told me, “I think this scheme would be a good idea, as it would be more challenging for pupils, such as myself.”

Surely, to achieve true success, there must be an element of challenge - challenge that perhaps is not supplied in the current tests?  If it is assumed by students that they will achieve a pass in their GCSEs as a bare minimum, is there also a tendency to not try as hard as they might?

All in all, whilst a change in GCSE marking schemes may affect forthcoming generations, the current situation must be rectified sooner rather than later. This would put the significance back into the qualification of a GCSE.

Daisy, Year 8.