Difficulty report tarnishes A-level gold standard, the Institute of Physics and the Royal Society respond

The Institute of Physics

1 July 2008

The Institute of Physics

A-level grades and the UCAS point-scoring system, which treats all subjects as equally difficult, have been tarnished by new research, published today, Tuesday, 1 July, which shows that some subjects at A-level are more difficult than others, says the Institute of Physics and the Royal Society.

With 250,000 A-level results analysed over five robust statistical methods, it has been shown that it is easier to achieve the top grades in subjects like Media Studies and Psychology than it is when taking subjects like Maths, Physics and Chemistry.

The new research from Durham University, which was commissioned by the Institute of Physics (IOP) and the Royal Society, runs contrary to a report released by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) in February this year, the ‘Inter-Subject Comparability Study’, which stated that there are “no substantial or consistent differences in standards between any subjects at any level”.

With UCAS points, derived from A level grades earned, being the clearest determinant of where a student will attend university, there is concern that students are influenced towards taking ‘softer’ subjects to obtain the highest points score and hence the best university places. High grades also assist a school’s position in annual, exam results-based, league tables.

Daniel Sandford-Smith, Head of Education Pre-19 at the Institute of Physics, said, “A system that collects and publishes annual data on the relative difficulty of subjects should be introduced by Ofqual to allow open but informed discussion on the topic. 

“The introduction of an annual report that exposes the relative difficulties of A-levels would encourage a transparent, market-led approach, helping universities to choose between the brightest candidates.

“Honesty about the level of assessment in different subjects will also encourage the brightest students to tackle the more challenging subjects, in the knowledge that their achievement will be recognised and will result in the greatest rewards.”

Professor Michael Reiss, Director of Education at the Royal Society, said, “The worry is that some good students are put off taking Maths and Science A-levels because it’s harder to get a good grade in them.  Anything that discourages students from taking these subjects, which are so important for the future prosperity of the UK, is really bad news.”

The researchers, from Durham University’s Curriculum, Evaluation and Management (CEM) Centre analysed and compared data from nearly one million schoolchildren sitting GCSE and A-level exams and reviewed 28 different studies of cross subject comparison conducted in the UK since 1970.

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