LONDON (UK) – In a bid to defuse the row over awarding school grades during the pandemic, England has decided to allow students to use the results of earlier tests. This last-minute change comes in the wake of an outcry in Scotland.
During the lockdown there were no exams in Britain. Students are slated to receive marks for their A levels on Thursday. This exam is taken by 18-year-olds to gain admission to a university.
The results will be based on the judgement of the school and then moderated by the exam board.
However, education minister Gavin Williamson said on Wednesday that students now have the choice of selecting either their calculated grade, their mock result or a new exam in the fall.
As a result, no one will get an outcome lower than their mock result.
Scotland had to revoke its downgraded results on Tuesday after the moderation process by an exam board led to dismay and protests.
The minister said if students in England wish to use their mock result, they will be allowed to do so through an appeal.
“By ensuring students have the safety net of their mock results, as well as the chance of sitting autumn exams, we are creating a triple lock process to ensure confidence and fairness in the system,” the minister said in a statement.
(Photos syndicated via Reuters)
This story has been edited by BH staff and is published from a syndicated field