Val Sismey

8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.

April 2nd 2014

Room 104, Street Level

Colorado Convention Center

Shifting Sands: An Update on the Changing UK

Educational Landscape and

Cambridge International

Examination Variants(W1.1848)

GCSE reform More fundamental reform than

for A levels

Identified issues over

standards

controlled assessment

accountability measures

English and maths at the forefront of the change and will be

redeveloped for first teaching in 2015

syllabuses will be available in autumn 2014

All other subjects redeveloped for first teaching in September

2016

GCSE reform November 2013: final re-sits for unitised GCSEs in maths, English

and English Language

students must ‘cash in’ results and certificate

June 2014: first assessment of ‘linear’ GCSEs

students must ‘cash in’ results and certificate

November restricted to re-take

only for GCSE English, English

Language, Mathematics

2017-19 will see numeric

grades reported for reformed

subjects and alpha grades for

all others

GCSE – general changes in England

Heavier assessment times

Grading likely to be reported on a scale of 1-9 (9 being highest)

plus Ungraded

Linear assessment

More focus on

understanding and less on

memorisation

Reduced internal

assessment

Tiering will disappear in

most cases

Early and dual entry for GCSEs

What counts in school performance tables?

A student’s first entry to a GCSE or equivalent examination

whether taken in the same exam series or different exam series, unless…

two GCSEs in the same subject are taken on the same day, in which case the best result counts towards school performance tables

Students who have already completed a GCSE may re-take that GCSE and the best result will count in school performance tables

Importance of Mathematics

One ‘big fat GCSE’ with overlapping tiers

Endorsed results

For practical skills in Sciences

For Speaking and Listening in English

Results not integrated into overall grade but reported

separately, possibly using a different scale.

Accountability Measures

E-Bacc (GCSE Grade C in English, Maths, 2 Sciences, 1

Humanities, 1 Language)

Note that individuals are not awarded the E-Bacc – it is

purely an accountability measure

Best of 8. This will include English, Maths and the student’s

best 6 other subjects.

Note that this replaces the former 5 x Grade C or above

A level reform – general changes in England

A level qualifications will

be linear

include more synoptic assessment

have reduced internal assessment

AS level qualifications will

Be standalone (decoupled from the A level)

remain at the current standard

not contribute to A level

Outside England

Wales likely to continue with modular A Levels

Northern Ireland not yet decided

A level reform – exam sittings

One exam series in England each year, in May/June, for all

A levels, from now onwards

no January examination from 2014 onwards

Wales and Northern Ireland governments are still to decide

UK exam boards are providing one exam series a year

for students across the whole of the UK.

Role of ALCAB

ALCAB – A Level Content Advisory Board

In 2012, the Secretary of State for Education approached

the Russell Group of universities to seek its involvement in

the Government’s A level reform programme.

Established by the Russell Group in September 2013

Funded by DfE

Advise on content not assessment

Will advise on a maximum of 8 subjects

A level reform – 2015 specifications

The following 14 (top entry) subjects are being redeveloped for first

teaching in September 2015 with syllabuses ready by September

2014 and first assessment in 2017.

Art & Design English Literature

Biology English Lang and Lit

Business Studies *Geography

Chemistry History

Computing Physics

Economics Psychology

English Language Sociology

* Geography now delayed by one year to first teaching 2016

A working example

In England the A Level in English Literature is being

changed. The number of set texts will be reduced from 12 to

8. Students will have to study a Shakespeare play and a

post 2000 work. There will be a requirement for an ‘unseen’

text.

In Cambridge International A Level in English Literature

students study between 6 and 8 texts. They take 4 papers:

Poetry and Prose

Drama

Shakespeare and other Pre-20th C texts

And either 20th C Writing or Comment and Appreciation

or Coursework

Importance of Mathematics

Mathematics and Further Mathematics A levels require

fundamental work

several issues: amount of choice, standard of units etc

Core maths – needs to be linked into other subjects

Mathematics pathways

Cambridge Maths

First assessment of AS levels in 2017, A levels in 2018

16-19 Vocational qualifications

Applied General qualifications

• Provide broad study of an academic area

• Recognised by HE for entry requirements

• Combination of theory and practice for a sector area but not for a specific occupation

• From 150 GLH in size

Technical Level qualifications

• Provide clear preparation for employment in a technical occupation or occupational group

• Recognised by employers

• From 300 GLH in size

OCR Technicals: General or Technical

Applied general: -

IT, Art and design, Media, health and Social Care,

Sport, Performing arts, Business

Technical:

Engineering and Administration

For more information on Vocational &

BTECs

SESSION ID: 1867

SESSION TITLE:

When Vocational and Technical Education Blurs with the

Academic -- Understanding Education in the UK

SESSION DATE: Wednesday, April 2, 2014

SESSION TIME: 9:15AM - 10:15AM

What does all this mean for Cambridge

International Examinations?

We will not make any changes in the short term e.g. grading

will remain as it currently is, AS will continue

We will review the situation on a regular basis

IGCSE and AS/A Level will continue to have November and

June series (and March for India)

Many of the reforms being introduced are already in place

with Cambridge credentials e.g.

Are already linear, not modular

Already embed Maths in other subjects e.g. Physics

Already have the depth required

Already ensure practical skills in Science are covered

Comparability with the US system

Credential evaluators usually agree that IGCSE and O Level

are comparable to the level of a US high school diploma and

recommend credit for A Levels. Many also recommend

credit for AS Levels.

What do Cambridge grades mean?

Grades for Cambridge International AS & A Levels

A*, A Excellent

B

C Good

D

E Satisfactory

U Not Passing

Sample Statement of Results

Watermark

Other hidden security features are also present on official Cambridge documentation

Serial number

Upper and Lower case

reporting of grades

achieved

Percentage Uniform

Mark

Sample Certificate: Cambridge International

AS and A Level

Other hidden security features are also present on official Cambridge documentation

Hologram

Serial number

Number of subjects

Upper and Lower case

reporting of grades achieved

Watermark

Signature of VC of

University of Cambridge

CIE Direct- verify students’ results online

Email: Info@cie.org.uk to request a ‘University access to Cambridge

results online application form’

Sample US Recognition

We think the Cambridge curriculum is superb

preparation for universityChristoph Guttentag, Dean of Undergraduate Admissions, Duke

University, USA

I think there are tremendous benefits to

pursuing the Cambridge curriculum. It’s a proven

international curriculum for success in higher

education and we know that students who pursue it

have been successful around the world.Jerry Lucido, CERPP Executive Director, University of Southern California

Students we have who have taken Cambridge

International A Levels do very well at our campus. They

are very well-prepared for our curriculum and we find

that they have a lot of confidence, but also that they

have a good deep subject knowledge, (and) the ability

to think critically and well.Stuart Schmill, Dean of Admissions, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

(MIT)

“We believe that Cambridge International AS and A

Level examinations are excellent preparation for

students to take the next step in the path of lifelong

learning.”Mary Adams, Associate Director of Admissions, Pennsylvania State

University

I value Cambridge preparation because the students

we have received with that kind of preparation have

done very well at the University. We like the fact that

no matter where they come from, they come

prepared.John Barnhill, Assistant Vice President for Enrolment, Florida State

University

How to add Recognitionwww.cie.org.uk/programmes-and-qualifications/recognition-and-acceptance/

Or email: recognitions@cie.org.uk

Learn more!

Getting in touch with

Cambridge is easy

Email us at

info@cie.org.uk

or telephone

+44 (0) 1223 553554

www.cie.org.uk