This is a matter for Ofqual, the Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation. I have asked Ofqual’s Chief Regulator, Sir Ian Bauckham CBE, to write directly to the hon. Member for East Hampshire. A copy of his reply will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

This is a matter for Ofqual, the Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation. I have therefore asked its Chief Regulator, Sally Collier, to write directly to the Honourable Member. A copy of her reply will be placed in the House of Commons Library.

Information on GCSE science unit level exam entries, awards and remarking requests is not held by the Department but is collated by the qualifications regulator, Ofqual.

Glenys Stacey, Ofqual's Chief Regulator, has written to the hon. Member with such information relevant to the questions as Ofqual holds. A copy of her reply has been placed in the House Libraries.

Letter from Glenys Stacey, dated 14 January 2013:

The Secretary of State has asked Ofqual to respond to the parliamentary questions you have raised. Please find our responses below.

If you would like to discuss any of these in more detail, please do not hesitate to contact me.

PQ 135916

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many of the AQA Unit 1 science examination papers sat for GCSE (a) biology, (b) chemistry and (c) physics were (i) requested to be remarked and (ii) were remarked in (A) June 2011, (B) January 2012 and (C) June 2012.

For the summer exam series 2012 we collected the number of enquiries for remarks by unit from awarding organisations. These figures are set out in the table below. The column "enquiries" shows the number of requests received and re-marked. The "%" column shows those enquiries as a percentage of the total number of entries for that unit.

Previous to this, we collected for each summer exam series the total number of unit enquiries. These figures do not break down at an individual unit level. Awarding organisations sent Ofqual individual units only if the percentage of enquiries for remarks to the total entry was greater than 5%. None of the science subjects for AQA fell into this category.

PQ 136058

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what proportion of students received an A* grade for the AQA Unit 1 GCSE papers sat in (a) biology, (b) chemistry and (c) physics in January 2012.

In January 2012, 0.6% of students achieved a unit-level A* grade in Biology unit 1, 1.4% in Chemistry unit 1 and 0.9% in Physics unit 1.

PQ 136059

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many students received an A* grade for AQA Unit 1 GCSE papers sat in (a) biology, (b) chemistry and (c) physics in January 2012.

In January 2012, 561 students achieved a unit-level A* grade in Biology unit 1, 1,168 in Chemistry unit l and 710 in Physics unit 1.

PQ 136061

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many pupils received an A* grade in the AQA Unit 1 GCSE science papers sat in (a) biology, (b) chemistry and (c) physics in June 2012.

In June 2012, 10,273 students achieved a unit-level A* grade in Biology unit 1, 11,077 in Chemistry unit 1 and 8,022 in Physics unit 1.

PQ 136062

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what proportion of students received an A* grade in the AQA Unit 1 GCSE science papers sat in (a) biology, (b) chemistry and (c) physics in June 2012.

In June 2012, 6.9% of students achieved a unit-level A* grade in Biology unit 1, 7.4% in Chemistry unit 1 and 5.4% in Physics unit 1.

Please do get in touch if you would like to discuss these issues or any others in relation to our regulatory role.

Information on GCSE science unit level exam entries, awards and remarking requests is not held by the Department but is collated by the qualifications regulator, Ofqual.

Glenys Stacey, Ofqual's Chief Regulator, has written to the hon. Member with such information relevant to the questions as Ofqual holds. A copy of her reply has been placed in the House Libraries.

Letter from Glenys Stacey, dated 14 January 2013:

The Secretary of State has asked Ofqual to respond to the parliamentary questions you have raised. Please find our responses below.

If you would like to discuss any of these in more detail, please do not hesitate to contact me.

PQ 135916

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many of the AQA Unit 1 science examination papers sat for GCSE (a) biology, (b) chemistry and (c) physics were (i) requested to be remarked and (ii) were remarked in (A) June 2011, (B) January 2012 and (C) June 2012.

For the summer exam series 2012 we collected the number of enquiries for remarks by unit from awarding organisations. These figures are set out in the table below. The column "enquiries" shows the number of requests received and re-marked. The "%" column shows those enquiries as a percentage of the total number of entries for that unit.

Previous to this, we collected for each summer exam series the total number of unit enquiries. These figures do not break down at an individual unit level. Awarding organisations sent Ofqual individual units only if the percentage of enquiries for remarks to the total entry was greater than 5%. None of the science subjects for AQA fell into this category.

PQ 136058

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what proportion of students received an A* grade for the AQA Unit 1 GCSE papers sat in (a) biology, (b) chemistry and (c) physics in January 2012.

In January 2012, 0.6% of students achieved a unit-level A* grade in Biology unit 1, 1.4% in Chemistry unit 1 and 0.9% in Physics unit 1.

PQ 136059

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many students received an A* grade for AQA Unit 1 GCSE papers sat in (a) biology, (b) chemistry and (c) physics in January 2012.

In January 2012, 561 students achieved a unit-level A* grade in Biology unit 1, 1,168 in Chemistry unit l and 710 in Physics unit 1.

PQ 136061

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many pupils received an A* grade in the AQA Unit 1 GCSE science papers sat in (a) biology, (b) chemistry and (c) physics in June 2012.

In June 2012, 10,273 students achieved a unit-level A* grade in Biology unit 1, 11,077 in Chemistry unit 1 and 8,022 in Physics unit 1.

PQ 136062

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what proportion of students received an A* grade in the AQA Unit 1 GCSE science papers sat in (a) biology, (b) chemistry and (c) physics in June 2012.

In June 2012, 6.9% of students achieved a unit-level A* grade in Biology unit 1, 7.4% in Chemistry unit 1 and 5.4% in Physics unit 1.

Please do get in touch if you would like to discuss these issues or any others in relation to our regulatory role.

Information on GCSE science unit level exam entries, awards and remarking requests is not held by the Department but is collated by the qualifications regulator, Ofqual.

Glenys Stacey, Ofqual's Chief Regulator, has written to the hon. Member with such information relevant to the questions as Ofqual holds. A copy of her reply has been placed in the House Libraries.

Letter from Glenys Stacey, dated 14 January 2013:

The Secretary of State has asked Ofqual to respond to the parliamentary questions you have raised. Please find our responses below.

If you would like to discuss any of these in more detail, please do not hesitate to contact me.

PQ 135916

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many of the AQA Unit 1 science examination papers sat for GCSE (a) biology, (b) chemistry and (c) physics were (i) requested to be remarked and (ii) were remarked in (A) June 2011, (B) January 2012 and (C) June 2012.

For the summer exam series 2012 we collected the number of enquiries for remarks by unit from awarding organisations. These figures are set out in the table below. The column "enquiries" shows the number of requests received and re-marked. The "%" column shows those enquiries as a percentage of the total number of entries for that unit.

Previous to this, we collected for each summer exam series the total number of unit enquiries. These figures do not break down at an individual unit level. Awarding organisations sent Ofqual individual units only if the percentage of enquiries for remarks to the total entry was greater than 5%. None of the science subjects for AQA fell into this category.

PQ 136058

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what proportion of students received an A* grade for the AQA Unit 1 GCSE papers sat in (a) biology, (b) chemistry and (c) physics in January 2012.

In January 2012, 0.6% of students achieved a unit-level A* grade in Biology unit 1, 1.4% in Chemistry unit 1 and 0.9% in Physics unit 1.

PQ 136059

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many students received an A* grade for AQA Unit 1 GCSE papers sat in (a) biology, (b) chemistry and (c) physics in January 2012.

In January 2012, 561 students achieved a unit-level A* grade in Biology unit 1, 1,168 in Chemistry unit l and 710 in Physics unit 1.

PQ 136061

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many pupils received an A* grade in the AQA Unit 1 GCSE science papers sat in (a) biology, (b) chemistry and (c) physics in June 2012.

In June 2012, 10,273 students achieved a unit-level A* grade in Biology unit 1, 11,077 in Chemistry unit 1 and 8,022 in Physics unit 1.

PQ 136062

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what proportion of students received an A* grade in the AQA Unit 1 GCSE science papers sat in (a) biology, (b) chemistry and (c) physics in June 2012.

In June 2012, 6.9% of students achieved a unit-level A* grade in Biology unit 1, 7.4% in Chemistry unit 1 and 5.4% in Physics unit 1.

Please do get in touch if you would like to discuss these issues or any others in relation to our regulatory role.

Information on GCSE science unit level exam entries, awards and remarking requests is not held by the Department but is collated by the qualifications regulator, Ofqual.

Glenys Stacey, Ofqual's Chief Regulator, has written to the hon. Member with such information relevant to the questions as Ofqual holds. A copy of her reply has been placed in the House Libraries.

Letter from Glenys Stacey, dated 14 January 2013:

The Secretary of State has asked Ofqual to respond to the parliamentary questions you have raised. Please find our responses below.

If you would like to discuss any of these in more detail, please do not hesitate to contact me.

PQ 135916

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many of the AQA Unit 1 science examination papers sat for GCSE (a) biology, (b) chemistry and (c) physics were (i) requested to be remarked and (ii) were remarked in (A) June 2011, (B) January 2012 and (C) June 2012.

For the summer exam series 2012 we collected the number of enquiries for remarks by unit from awarding organisations. These figures are set out in the table below. The column "enquiries" shows the number of requests received and re-marked. The "%" column shows those enquiries as a percentage of the total number of entries for that unit.

Previous to this, we collected for each summer exam series the total number of unit enquiries. These figures do not break down at an individual unit level. Awarding organisations sent Ofqual individual units only if the percentage of enquiries for remarks to the total entry was greater than 5%. None of the science subjects for AQA fell into this category.

PQ 136058

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what proportion of students received an A* grade for the AQA Unit 1 GCSE papers sat in (a) biology, (b) chemistry and (c) physics in January 2012.

In January 2012, 0.6% of students achieved a unit-level A* grade in Biology unit 1, 1.4% in Chemistry unit 1 and 0.9% in Physics unit 1.

PQ 136059

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many students received an A* grade for AQA Unit 1 GCSE papers sat in (a) biology, (b) chemistry and (c) physics in January 2012.

In January 2012, 561 students achieved a unit-level A* grade in Biology unit 1, 1,168 in Chemistry unit l and 710 in Physics unit 1.

PQ 136061

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many pupils received an A* grade in the AQA Unit 1 GCSE science papers sat in (a) biology, (b) chemistry and (c) physics in June 2012.

In June 2012, 10,273 students achieved a unit-level A* grade in Biology unit 1, 11,077 in Chemistry unit 1 and 8,022 in Physics unit 1.

PQ 136062

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what proportion of students received an A* grade in the AQA Unit 1 GCSE science papers sat in (a) biology, (b) chemistry and (c) physics in June 2012.

In June 2012, 6.9% of students achieved a unit-level A* grade in Biology unit 1, 7.4% in Chemistry unit 1 and 5.4% in Physics unit 1.

Please do get in touch if you would like to discuss these issues or any others in relation to our regulatory role.

Information on GCSE science unit level exam entries, awards and remarking requests is not held by the Department but is collated by the qualifications regulator, Ofqual.

Glenys Stacey, Ofqual's Chief Regulator, has written to the hon. Member with such information relevant to the questions as Ofqual holds. A copy of her reply has been placed in the House Libraries.

Letter from Glenys Stacey, dated 14 January 2013:

The Secretary of State has asked Ofqual to respond to the parliamentary questions you have raised. Please find our responses below.

If you would like to discuss any of these in more detail, please do not hesitate to contact me.

PQ 135916

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many of the AQA Unit 1 science examination papers sat for GCSE (a) biology, (b) chemistry and (c) physics were (i) requested to be remarked and (ii) were remarked in (A) June 2011, (B) January 2012 and (C) June 2012.

For the summer exam series 2012 we collected the number of enquiries for remarks by unit from awarding organisations. These figures are set out in the table below. The column "enquiries" shows the number of requests received and re-marked. The "%" column shows those enquiries as a percentage of the total number of entries for that unit.

Previous to this, we collected for each summer exam series the total number of unit enquiries. These figures do not break down at an individual unit level. Awarding organisations sent Ofqual individual units only if the percentage of enquiries for remarks to the total entry was greater than 5%. None of the science subjects for AQA fell into this category.

PQ 136058

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what proportion of students received an A* grade for the AQA Unit 1 GCSE papers sat in (a) biology, (b) chemistry and (c) physics in January 2012.

In January 2012, 0.6% of students achieved a unit-level A* grade in Biology unit 1, 1.4% in Chemistry unit 1 and 0.9% in Physics unit 1.

PQ 136059

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many students received an A* grade for AQA Unit 1 GCSE papers sat in (a) biology, (b) chemistry and (c) physics in January 2012.

In January 2012, 561 students achieved a unit-level A* grade in Biology unit 1, 1,168 in Chemistry unit l and 710 in Physics unit 1.

PQ 136061

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many pupils received an A* grade in the AQA Unit 1 GCSE science papers sat in (a) biology, (b) chemistry and (c) physics in June 2012.

In June 2012, 10,273 students achieved a unit-level A* grade in Biology unit 1, 11,077 in Chemistry unit 1 and 8,022 in Physics unit 1.

PQ 136062

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what proportion of students received an A* grade in the AQA Unit 1 GCSE science papers sat in (a) biology, (b) chemistry and (c) physics in June 2012.

In June 2012, 6.9% of students achieved a unit-level A* grade in Biology unit 1, 7.4% in Chemistry unit 1 and 5.4% in Physics unit 1.

Please do get in touch if you would like to discuss these issues or any others in relation to our regulatory role.

Responsibility for managing and agreeing the process of setting grade boundaries, grading and awarding GCSE qualifications is a matter for the independent exams regulator Ofqual and exam boards. The Department has no role in those decisions.

Glenys Stacey, Ofqual's chief regulator, has written to the hon. Member with such information relevant to the questions as Ofqual holds. A copy of her reply has been placed in the House Libraries.

Letter from Glenys Stacey, dated 14 January 2013:

The Secretary of State has asked Ofqual to respond to the parliamentary questions you have raised. Please find our responses as follows.

If you would like to discuss any of these in more detail, please do not hesitate to contact me.

PQ 135914:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what the allowable level of change between science GCSE examination results of A*-C grade is following the introduction of a new syllabus.

Given the more challenging nature of the new GCSE science syllabuses, students had to perform at a higher standard to achieve the same grades. Exam boards took this into account when judging where to set grade boundaries on the new GCSE Science units in summer 2012. Exam boards agreed a common statistical mechanism to predict likely results and these predictions were used as a starting point for the awards of new GCSE science qualifications last summer.

These statistics were only part of the information used during the awarding process, which also includes evidence of student performance. Exam boards used a range of qualitative and quantitative evidence as required by our Code of Practice. If their results differed from the original predictions by more than 2% the exam boards were required to provide evidence to justify those results but this did not set a limit on the level of change between this new qualification and its predecessor.

PQ 135915:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what procedure is used to determine grade boundaries for a new syllabus in GCSE science examinations.

The procedure for determining grade boundaries for new GCSE science specifications is no different from that used for ail other GCSEs. These are described in the Code of Practice and Ofqual’s General Conditions of Recognition. Exam boards are required to use a range of evidence, including evidence of student work, recommendations from senior examiners, and statistical evidence.

PQ 136060:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what the accepted level of grade fluctuation is when a new syllabus is introduced for GCSE science in (a) biology, (b) chemistry and (c) physics.

New GCSE qualifications in biology, chemistry, physics and additional science will be awarded for the first time in summer 2013. Only new GCSE Science qualifications were available in summer 2012 (the other titles were available in the predecessor qualification). As mentioned in response to PQ 135914, given the more challenging nature of the new GCSE science specifications students have to perform at a higher standard to achieve the same grades. For this reason we have been discussing with exam boards the expected standards for new GCSE qualifications in biology, chemistry, physics and additional science and will continue to do so ahead of the first qualifications being awarded in summer 2013.

We do not define how much fluctuation there should be in performance across grades for new GCSEs in science. It is for the exam boards themselves to set appropriate grade standards using all the information available to them as described in our regulatory documents. Ofqual monitored the awards of GCSE Science qualifications in 2012 and will do so for the separate and additional science qualifications in 2013. We will challenge any exam board's qualification outcomes if it is necessary to do so.

Responsibility for managing and agreeing the process of setting grade boundaries, grading and awarding GCSE qualifications is a matter for the independent exams regulator Ofqual and exam boards. The Department has no role in those decisions.

Glenys Stacey, Ofqual's chief regulator, has written to the hon. Member with such information relevant to the questions as Ofqual holds. A copy of her reply has been placed in the House Libraries.

Letter from Glenys Stacey, dated 14 January 2013:

The Secretary of State has asked Ofqual to respond to the parliamentary questions you have raised. Please find our responses as follows.

If you would like to discuss any of these in more detail, please do not hesitate to contact me.

PQ 135914:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what the allowable level of change between science GCSE examination results of A*-C grade is following the introduction of a new syllabus.

Given the more challenging nature of the new GCSE science syllabuses, students had to perform at a higher standard to achieve the same grades. Exam boards took this into account when judging where to set grade boundaries on the new GCSE Science units in summer 2012. Exam boards agreed a common statistical mechanism to predict likely results and these predictions were used as a starting point for the awards of new GCSE science qualifications last summer.

These statistics were only part of the information used during the awarding process, which also includes evidence of student performance. Exam boards used a range of qualitative and quantitative evidence as required by our Code of Practice. If their results differed from the original predictions by more than 2% the exam boards were required to provide evidence to justify those results but this did not set a limit on the level of change between this new qualification and its predecessor.

PQ 135915:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what procedure is used to determine grade boundaries for a new syllabus in GCSE science examinations.

The procedure for determining grade boundaries for new GCSE science specifications is no different from that used for ail other GCSEs. These are described in the Code of Practice and Ofqual’s General Conditions of Recognition. Exam boards are required to use a range of evidence, including evidence of student work, recommendations from senior examiners, and statistical evidence.

PQ 136060:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what the accepted level of grade fluctuation is when a new syllabus is introduced for GCSE science in (a) biology, (b) chemistry and (c) physics.

New GCSE qualifications in biology, chemistry, physics and additional science will be awarded for the first time in summer 2013. Only new GCSE Science qualifications were available in summer 2012 (the other titles were available in the predecessor qualification). As mentioned in response to PQ 135914, given the more challenging nature of the new GCSE science specifications students have to perform at a higher standard to achieve the same grades. For this reason we have been discussing with exam boards the expected standards for new GCSE qualifications in biology, chemistry, physics and additional science and will continue to do so ahead of the first qualifications being awarded in summer 2013.

We do not define how much fluctuation there should be in performance across grades for new GCSEs in science. It is for the exam boards themselves to set appropriate grade standards using all the information available to them as described in our regulatory documents. Ofqual monitored the awards of GCSE Science qualifications in 2012 and will do so for the separate and additional science qualifications in 2013. We will challenge any exam board's qualification outcomes if it is necessary to do so.

Responsibility for managing and agreeing the process of setting grade boundaries, grading and awarding GCSE qualifications is a matter for the independent exams regulator Ofqual and exam boards. The Department has no role in those decisions.

Glenys Stacey, Ofqual's chief regulator, has written to the hon. Member with such information relevant to the questions as Ofqual holds. A copy of her reply has been placed in the House Libraries.

Letter from Glenys Stacey, dated 14 January 2013:

The Secretary of State has asked Ofqual to respond to the parliamentary questions you have raised. Please find our responses as follows.

If you would like to discuss any of these in more detail, please do not hesitate to contact me.

PQ 135914:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what the allowable level of change between science GCSE examination results of A*-C grade is following the introduction of a new syllabus.

Given the more challenging nature of the new GCSE science syllabuses, students had to perform at a higher standard to achieve the same grades. Exam boards took this into account when judging where to set grade boundaries on the new GCSE Science units in summer 2012. Exam boards agreed a common statistical mechanism to predict likely results and these predictions were used as a starting point for the awards of new GCSE science qualifications last summer.

These statistics were only part of the information used during the awarding process, which also includes evidence of student performance. Exam boards used a range of qualitative and quantitative evidence as required by our Code of Practice. If their results differed from the original predictions by more than 2% the exam boards were required to provide evidence to justify those results but this did not set a limit on the level of change between this new qualification and its predecessor.

PQ 135915:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what procedure is used to determine grade boundaries for a new syllabus in GCSE science examinations.

The procedure for determining grade boundaries for new GCSE science specifications is no different from that used for ail other GCSEs. These are described in the Code of Practice and Ofqual’s General Conditions of Recognition. Exam boards are required to use a range of evidence, including evidence of student work, recommendations from senior examiners, and statistical evidence.

PQ 136060:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what the accepted level of grade fluctuation is when a new syllabus is introduced for GCSE science in (a) biology, (b) chemistry and (c) physics.

New GCSE qualifications in biology, chemistry, physics and additional science will be awarded for the first time in summer 2013. Only new GCSE Science qualifications were available in summer 2012 (the other titles were available in the predecessor qualification). As mentioned in response to PQ 135914, given the more challenging nature of the new GCSE science specifications students have to perform at a higher standard to achieve the same grades. For this reason we have been discussing with exam boards the expected standards for new GCSE qualifications in biology, chemistry, physics and additional science and will continue to do so ahead of the first qualifications being awarded in summer 2013.

We do not define how much fluctuation there should be in performance across grades for new GCSEs in science. It is for the exam boards themselves to set appropriate grade standards using all the information available to them as described in our regulatory documents. Ofqual monitored the awards of GCSE Science qualifications in 2012 and will do so for the separate and additional science qualifications in 2013. We will challenge any exam board's qualification outcomes if it is necessary to do so.

Responsibility for managing and agreeing the process of setting grade boundaries for GCSE qualifications is a matter for the independent exams regulator, Ofqual and exam boards. The Department has no role in those decisions.

Glenys Stacey, Ofqual's chief regulator, has written to the hon. Member with such information relevant to the question as Ofqual holds. A copy of her reply has been placed in the House Libraries.

Letter from Glenys Stacey, dated 14 January 2013:

The Secretary of State has asked Ofqual to respond to the parliamentary questions you have raised. Please find our responses below.

If you would like to discuss any of this in more detail, please do not hesitate to contact me.

“To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many (a) emails were sent and (b) meetings were held between Ofqual and AQA on the setting of grade boundaries for Unit 1 GCSE science papers in (i) biology, (ii) chemistry and (iii) physics (A) prior to the January 2012 examinations and (B) between the January 2012 and June 2012 examinations.”

We did not hold any meetings (nor have email correspondence) with AQA to discuss the setting of grade boundaries for these unit 1 papers (or any other units), either prior to the January 2012 examinations or between the January 2012 and June 2012 examinations.

We do discuss with exam boards the grade standards for qualifications overall, including GCSE science. In this case we discussed the expected overall grade standards for new GCSE Science qualifications with exam boards at various points between June 2011 and June 2012. These discussions involved all exam boards together rather than with each exam board individually. Further information on what was agreed can be found in the documents on the ‘Summer Exams 2012' page on our website:

http://www.ofqual.gov.uk/standards/summer-exams-2012/

Please do get in touch if you would like to discuss these issues or any others in relation to our regulatory role.

This matter is for the statutory regulator of qualifications (the Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation—Ofqual). Glenys Stacey, the Chief Regulator for England has written to the noble Lord and a copy of her reply has been placed in the House Libraries.

Letter from Glenys Stacey, Chief Regulator, Ofqual, to Lord Quirk, dated 9 October 2012.

As you will be aware, I have been asked by the Department for Education to respond to you directly about the question you asked regarding comparable outcomes and this year's GCSE English results following publication of our interim report.

In our report published on 31 August 2012, we concluded that the grade boundaries in GCSE English qualifications had been set properly. In recommending grade boundaries for these qualifications, senior examiners used the statistical evidence available to them alongside evidence of candidate work, as is required of them.

We are continuing to investigate this issue and we plan to publish our final report towards the end of this month. I will make sure that you are sent a copy.

If you would like more information, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Ofqual is responsible for ensuring that qualifications and assessments are of a high quality and an appropriate standard. It must also safeguard and maintain examination standards over time. Glenys Stacey, Ofqual's Chief Regulator, has written to the hon. Member and a copy of her reply has been placed in the House Libraries.

Letter from Glenys Stacey, dated 11 June 2012:

I am writing in response to your parliamentary question about what assessment the Secretary of State has made of recent trends in the standard of examinations in schools. We have been asked to respond on his behalf.

As part of our work to maintain standards, we carry out regular reviews to look at the standards of qualifications in different years. We aim to judge whether standards have been maintained over time and to compare standards between awarding organisations.

We use the findings from these reviews to inform our wider work, particularly when we are developing regulations for future qualifications.

Standards reviews look at different specifications within a qualification, the question papers and any other assessments, as well as student work, and we collate and analyse the views of a number of subject specialists. We focus on the relative demand of the qualifications. We judge demand in terms of the following:

specification factors, including assessment objectives, content and structure;

assessment factors, including what content is assessed and how, the weighting of each component and how the assessments are marked; and

student performance factors, including how students at particular grades responded to the assessments.

We collect materials on a regular basis from the five awarding organisations (AQA, CCEA, Edexcel, OCR and WJEC) where they offer the qualifications being reviewed. Not all awarding organisations offer all subjects. Where an awarding organisation offers more than one specification in a subject, we collect materials for the largest entry specification. The materials we look at include the specification, question papers and mark schemes, reports of examiners, student work and statistical evidence. We use subject experts to carry out the reviews. These subject experts are independent but we also include representatives from the awarding organisations and subject associations/learned societies.

We have recently completed work on seven standards reviews. We compared the standards of qualifications across years in the following subjects. In some cases the two qualifications were based on the same specification; in other cases there was a specification change in the meantime.

1. GCSE biology 2003 and 2008

2. GCSE chemistry 2003 and 2008

3. GCSE mathematics 2004 and 2008

4. A level biology 2003 and 2008

5. A level chemistry 2003 and 2008

6. A level critical thinking 2010

7. A level geography 2001 and 2010

In the GCSEs we reviewed (biology, chemistry and mathematics) we found that changes to the structure of the assessments, rather than changes to the content, reduced the demand of some qualifications. These qualifications have since been replaced with revised specifications. In the case of the sciences, where the new specifications have been used since September 2011, these new qualifications were designed to be more demanding.

In the A level subjects we reviewed, in general we found that changes to the way the content was assessed had an impact on demand, in many cases reducing it. In two of the reviews (biology and chemistry) the specifications were the same for both years. We found that the demand in 2008 was lower than in 2003, usually because the structure of the assessments had changed. Often there were more short answer, structured questions. As a result, students did not have as many opportunities to show their higher order skills in 2008. These specifications have since been replaced.

In geography there were changes to the specifications between 2001 and 2010. Changes to the content meant that some specifications had less scientific content in 2010. We found that the removal of coursework in 2010 reduced the overall demand of the qualification and may have meant students were less well prepared for higher education.

We also reviewed critical thinking qualifications for a single year (2010). The qualifications are offered by only two awarding organisations. We found some variation in the content of the two specifications but overall we found that the qualifications were comparable.

GCSEs will be revised following the National Curriculum Review in England and A levels will also be revised in the near future. We will use the findings from these reviews to inform the development of regulations for those new qualifications.

If you would like further information on this part of our work, please do get in touch with our Director of Standards, Dennis Opposs on 02476 716647 or at:

dennis.opposs@ofqual.gov.uk