A-level exams 'will get harder'

Exams taken by sixth-form students next year will be more difficult, says a schools expert.

Those with jobs in education may be interested to hear comments from Dr John Dunford, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, who explains how new options at A-level will create more opportunities for highly-able students.

Dr Dunford said the range of possible grades will be expanded so students can achieve an A* grade.

They can also choose to undertake an extended project as part of their course.

These new initiatives will help universities to differentiate between students at the upper end of the grade scale, he explained.

"Until we see the full effect of these changes in a few years' time, it does not make sense to call for A-levels to be made more difficult," he added.

Dr Dunford's comments follow news this year's sixth-formers have achieved record-breaking results.

More than a quarter (26.7 per cent) of all grades awarded were an A.





Published On 25/08/2009