Editing GCSE (section)

==Criticism==

=== Grade disparity ===
Statistics released by London's Poverty Profile found overall GCSE attainment in London to be greater than the rest of England. 39% of pupils in Inner London and 37% in Outer London did not get five GCSEs at A* to C, compared with 42% in the rest of England.<ref>{{cite web |author= |title=Trust for London and New Policy Institute |url=http://www.londonspovertyprofile.org.uk/indicators/topics/low-educational-outcomes/ |access-date=14 June 2015 |website=Londonspovertyprofile.org.uk |archive-date=8 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170908232401/http://www.londonspovertyprofile.org.uk/indicators/topics/low-educational-outcomes/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> Also, according to an ITV News report, UK students tend to outperform Jersey students on GCSE examinations.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.itv.com/news/channel/2015-03-20/uk-students-outperforming-jersey-gcse-students/|title=UK students outperforming Jersey GCSE students|work=ITV News|access-date=14 June 2015}}</ref> Gender bias is another area of concern. Department of Education data shows that the relative performance gap between girls and boys widened under GCSEs, compared with O-Levels.<ref name="National Archives">{{cite web|last1=National Archives|title=Department for Education|url=http://www.education.gov.uk/publications/eOrderingDownload/00389-2007BKT-EN.pdf|archive-url=http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20130401151715/http://www.education.gov.uk/publications/eOrderingDownload/00389-2007BKT-EN.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=1 April 2013|website=Department for Education|access-date=13 February 2017}}</ref>

=== Grade inflation ===
When the GCSE system was introduced, there were comments that it was a [[dumbing down]] of the previous GCE [[O-Level]] system (as it took the focus away from the theoretical side of many subjects, and taught pupils about real-world implications and issues relating to [[information technology|ICT]] and [[citizenship]]).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://lauramcinerney.com/2012/06/24/were-o-levels-harder-than-gcses/|title= Were O-Levels Harder Than GCSEs?|publisher= Laura McInerney|access-date=5 December 2016|date= 24 June 2012}}</ref>

In addition, the proportions of candidates awarded high grades at GCSE have been rising for many years, which critics attribute to [[grade inflation]]. By comparing pupils' scores in the YELLIS ability test with their GCSE results over a period of about 20 years, Robert Coe found a general improvement in grades awarded which ranges from 0.2 (science) to 0.8 (maths) of a GCSE grade.<ref>[https://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ukgwa/20080109111834mp_/http://www.statistics.gov.uk/about/data/methodology/specific/PublicSector/output/downloads/Peter_Tymmns_paper_GCSE_and_A_level.doc Robert Coe, Changes in Standards at GCSE and A-Level: Evidence from ALIS and YELLIS, CEM, Durham 2007 p.4] accessed 29 July 2011</ref> Only slightly more than half of pupils sitting GCSE exams achieve the 5 A* to C grades required for most forms of academic further education.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200506/cmhansrd/vo060227/text/60227136.htm|title=House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 27 Feb 2006 (pt 136)|website=Publications.parliament.uk|access-date=14 June 2015}}</ref>

One of the important differences between previous educational qualifications (and the earlier grading of A-Levels) and the later GCSE qualifications was supposed to be a move from norm-referenced marking to criterion-referenced marking.<ref>[https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200203/cmselect/cmeduski/153/15304.htm#a3 House of Commons Education and Skills Third Report 2003] retrieved 27 July 2011</ref> In a norm-referenced grading system, fixed percentages of candidates achieve each grade. With criterion-referenced grades, in theory, all candidates who achieve the criteria can achieve the grade. A comparison of a clearly norm-referenced assessment, such as the NFER Cognitive Ability Test or CAT, with GCSE grading seems to show an unexpected correlation, which challenges the idea that the GCSE is a properly criterion-based assessment.<ref>{{cite web |last= |first= |date=6 December 2000 |title=Monitoring progress and target setting in the secondary school: finding appropriate methods of data collection and analysis |url=http://www.leeds.ac.uk/educol/documents/00001635.htm |access-date=11 October 2017 |website=Leeds.ac.uk}}</ref>

=== Mental health ===
Senior school leaders, the [[NSPCC]], and [[Childline]] have expressed concern that GCSEs in their current exam-only format are too stressful and will lead to mental health crises. Students in 2019 were subjected to more exams and spent longer in the exam hall than their 2016 counterparts. While a GCSE student in 2016 had an average of 18 exams to prepare for, totalling 24 hours and 30 minutes, the average examinee in 2019 sat 22 exams, totalling 33 hours.<ref>{{cite news |last1= |first1= |date=24 August 2017 |title=Tough new GCSE exams risk pupils' mental health, warn school leaders |language=en |work=The Independent |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/education/education-news/new-gcse-exams-pupils-mental-health-stress-anxiety-tough-school-education-curriculum-warning-a7908961.html |access-date=30 December 2018}}</ref>

The [[Association of School and College Leaders]] (ASCL) surveyed 606 headteachers from schools that had entered pupils for exam-only GCSEs. They found reports of panic attacks, sleepless nights, depression, extreme fatigue, self-harming, and suicidal thoughts.<ref name="roberts">{{cite news |last1= |first1= |date=22 August 2018 |title=GCSEs 2018: New exams 'taking toll on pupils' mental health' {{!}} Tes |work=tes.com |url=https://www.tes.com/news/new-gcses-taking-toll-pupils-mental-health |url-status=dead |access-date=30 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181230234232/https://www.tes.com/news/new-gcses-taking-toll-pupils-mental-health |archive-date=30 December 2018}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable "
|+Effects encountered due to exam-only GCSE format 2017–18
|-
!Effect !! Number of headteachers reporting effect (%) !! Percentage of sample reporting problems
|-
|Panic attacks ||460 (75.9%) ||84.2%
|-
|Sleepless nights ||457 (75.4%) ||83.7%
|-
|Depression ||394 (65.0%) ||72.2%
|-
|Extreme fatigue ||344 (56.8%) ||63.0%
|-
|Self-harming ||340 (56.1%) ||62.3%
|-
|Suicidal thoughts ||216 (35.6%) ||39.6%
|-
|style=background-color:lightgray|''Sample reporting problems''||style=background-color:lightgray|546 (90.1%)|| style="background-color:lightgray" |100.0%
|}

Even before all GCSE qualifications adopted the exam-only format, students complained about the memorization load, the need to write continuously for long hours, how their social lives have been affected and the need for sleeping pills and painkillers. They have observed younger siblings starting to panic about the exams at the beginning of the course- not just in the final year or the final few months.<ref>{{cite news |last1= |first1= |date=21 August 2018 |title=GCSE results: 'The exam cycle shrank my happiness' {{!}} Tes |work=tes.com |url=https://www.tes.com/news/gcse-results-exam-cycle-shrank-my-happiness |access-date=30 December 2018}}</ref>

=== Social divide ===
The incorporation of GCSE awards into school league tables, and the setting of targets at school level at above national average levels of attainment, has been criticised. At the time of introduction, the E grade was intended to be equivalent to the CSE grade 4, and so obtainable by a candidate of average/median ability.<ref name="times3">{{cite news |last1= |first1= |date=1982-01-27 |title=Poor marks for maths teaching |work=The Times |issue=61142 |location=London, England |url=http://find.galegroup.com/ttda/infomark.do?&source=gale&prodId=TTDA&userGroupName=norlib&tabID=T003&docPage=article&searchType=AdvancedSearchForm&docId=CS51087931&type=multipage&contentSet=LTO&version=1.0 |access-date=12 September 2015 |ref=p3}}</ref> Sir [[Keith Joseph]] set schools a target of 90% of their pupils obtaining at least a grade F (which was the "average" grade achieved in the past). This target was reached nationally about 20 years later. David Blunkett went further and set schools the goal of 50% of 16-year-olds gaining 5 GCSEs or equivalent at grade C and above, although these grades were previously only obtained by the top 30%. This was achieved with the help of equivalent and largely vocational qualifications.<ref>{{cite web |last1= |first1= |title=History examinations from the 1960s to the present day |url=http://www.history.ac.uk/history-in-education/sites/history-in-education/files/attachments/history_examinations_from_the_1960s_to_the_present_day.doc |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131126122506/http://www.history.ac.uk/history-in-education/sites/history-in-education/files/attachments/history_examinations_from_the_1960s_to_the_present_day.doc |archive-date=26 November 2013 |access-date=13 September 2015 |website=history.ac.uk |ref=2011}}</ref> Labelling schools as failing if 40% of their pupils do not achieve at least 5 Cs, including English and Maths at GCSE, has also been criticised, as it essentially requires 40% of each intake to achieve the grades only obtained by the top 20% when GCSE was introduced.<ref>{{cite news |date=29 January 2015 |title=School league tables branded a 'nonsense' amid changes |publisher=BBC |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-31023685 |access-date=13 September 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1= |first1= |date=29 January 2015 |title=GCSE performance tables: Number of failing schools doubles in a year |website=The Telegraph |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/educationnews/11375644/GCSE-performance-tables-Number-of-failing-schools-doubles-in-a-year.html |url-status=live |url-access=subscription |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/educationnews/11375644/GCSE-performance-tables-Number-of-failing-schools-doubles-in-a-year.html |archive-date=11 January 2022}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

The extent of the switching away from the terminal exam only GCSE to the IGCSEs in public and private schools was revealed in answers to a parliamentary question posed by Labour MP [[Lucy Powell]] in November 2018. The option to choose to do so is no longer open to state schools since the introduction of the new GCSEs graded 1–9.<ref name="Helm">{{cite news |last1= |first1= |date=29 December 2018 |title=Exam reforms boost private pupils in race for universities |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/education/2018/dec/29/exam-reforms-boost-private-pupils-in-race-for-universities |access-date=30 December 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2018-12-30 |title=Private schools accused of 'cheating the system' with 'easier' GCSEs |url=https://inews.co.uk/news/education/private-schools-igcses-240648 |access-date=2023-10-29 |website=inews.co.uk |language=en}}</ref>

Michael Gove, the architect of these reformed examinations, said in 2009: "Denying IGCSEs in core subjects to children in state schools will only serve to increase the level of inequality in education<nowiki>''</nowiki>.<ref>{{cite news |last1= |first1= |date=4 November 2009 |title=GCSE alternative 'banned' in state schools |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/6502462/GCSE-alternative-banned-in-state-schools.html |url-status=live |url-access=subscription |access-date=30 December 2018 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/6502462/GCSE-alternative-banned-in-state-schools.html |archive-date=11 January 2022}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

=== Errors and mistakes ===
Teachers and pupils have the option to question exam results and have the scripts marked again if they feel the grade awarded does not reflect the pupil's ability and expectations; or if they review a copy of the script and notice a marking error. In recent years, there have been complaints that GCSEs and GCE A-Levels were marked unfairly. (In 2012, for the first time in the history of the exams, the proportion of all GCSEs awarded an A*–C grade fell).<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-19355956|title=Anger over 'harsh' English GCSE grades|date=23 August 2012|publisher=BBC News|access-date=14 June 2015}}</ref>

This can be seen as, in general, more appeals being submitted each year; however, the appeals rarely result in any grade changes as only 182 out of 6.2 million (0.003%) grades were changed in England in 2018, with most upheld appeals ending in no change of marks.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/794519/Appeals_for_GCSE__AS_and_A_level_summer_2018_exam_series.pdf|title=Appeals for GCSE, AS and A level Summer 2018 Exam Series}}</ref>

In one incident concerning the 2016 GCSE biology exam, there were complaints about the apparent lack of biology content in the exam.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/this-gcse-biology-exam-that-left-students-tears-could-you-answer-questions-1561200|title=This is the GCSE biology exam that left students in tears: Could you answer the questions?|date=20 May 2016|work=International Business Times UK|access-date=21 May 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last= |first= |date=17 May 2016 |title=Students left 'fuming' over GCSE biology exam that contained questions about drunk 15-year-olds |work=The Telegraph |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/2016/05/17/students-left-fuming-over-gcse-biology-exam-that-contained-quest/ |url-status=live |url-access=subscription |access-date=11 October 2017 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/2016/05/17/students-left-fuming-over-gcse-biology-exam-that-contained-quest/ |archive-date=11 January 2022}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last= |first= |date=17 May 2016 |title=Fury over GCSE biology exam that had 'no biology' in it |work=[[Metro (British newspaper)|Metro]] |url=http://metro.co.uk/2016/05/17/fury-over-gcse-biology-exam-that-had-no-biology-in-it-5888645/ |access-date=11 October 2017}}</ref> One of the questions in the biology exam asked students to define an "[[independent company]]", which some students perceived to be a business studies question.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/education/2016/may/17/gcse-exam-pupils-baffled-by-business-studies-question-in-biology-paper|title=GCSE exam pupils baffled by 'business studies' question in biology paper|date=17 May 2016|work=The Guardian|access-date=11 October 2017|agency=[[Press Association]]}}</ref>

The May 2017 English literature exam (under the regulation of OCR) wrongly implied that [[Tybalt]], a character in ''[[Romeo and Juliet]]'', was not a [[Capulet]]. This serious flaw in the question confused many of the students. OCR accepted responsibility and claimed no pupil would be disadvantaged. The question was worth 40 marks, a relatively large number of marks.<ref>{{Cite news |last= |first= |date=26 May 2017 |title=A plague o' both your houses: error in GCSE exam paper forces apology |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/education/2017/may/26/error-gcse-paper-leads-to-apology-ocr-exam-board-romeo-and-juliet-tybalt-shakespeare |access-date=15 December 2018 |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>

In 2022, advance information was given by examination boards to students, providing them with information on what topics would or would not be on the exam. However, in the Physics paper 1 exam, a topic that was stated as "Not Assessed" came up; AQA accepted the mistake and awarded all students the full 9 marks to the question.<ref>{{Cite web |title=An update on GCSE Physics Higher Tier Paper 1 |url=https://www.aqa.org.uk/news/an-update-on-gcse-physics-higher-tier-paper-1 |access-date=2022-06-25 |publisher=AQA |language=en}}</ref> Also, in 2022, a question on one of the higher Maths papers was leaked hours before students sat them. The exam board [[Edexcel]] apologised and conducted a full investigation.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.tes.com/magazine/news/general/gcses-2022-fine-boards-over-exam-paper-errors-say-mps | title=Exam paper errors: Plea for action }}</ref>

=== Cancellations ===
{{Main|2020 UK GCSE and A-Level grading controversy}}

In 2020 as a result of the [[COVID-19 pandemic]], GCSE examinations, along with all other May and June exams that year were cancelled. The government announced that GCSE and A-level grades would be awarded through teachers' assessments based on mock exams, coursework and other available evidence,<ref name="bbc">{{cite news |title=Coronavirus: Teachers to estimate grades after exams cancelled |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-51980831 |publisher=BBC News |date=19 March 2020}}</ref> moderated by a statistical standardisation model developed by [[Ofqual]].<ref>Ofqual, [https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/902736/Standardising_grades_in_summerx_2020_-_factsheet_-_20200721_1529.pdf Standardising grades in summer 2020], accessed 15 August 2020</ref> This is the first cancellation of GCSEs since they were introduced.

An algorithm for deciding grades was originally introduced by Ofqual, which got used for A-Level grades. However, this caused backlash,<ref>{{Cite news |date=2020-08-12 |title=A-levels: Anger over 'unfair' results this year |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/education-53759832 |access-date=2022-11-18}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.theguardian.com/education/2020/aug/19/ofqual-exam-results-algorithm-was-unlawful-says-labour|title=Ofqual exam results algorithm was unlawful, says Labour|date=19 August 2020|website=The Guardian}}</ref> causing the government to ultimately replace the algorithm with Center Assessed Grades for GCSEs on 17 August.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-08-17 |title=A-level and GCSE results in England to be based on teacher assessments in U-turn |url=http://www.theguardian.com/education/2020/aug/17/a-levels-gcse-results-england-based-teacher-assessments-government-u-turn |access-date=2022-11-18 |website=the Guardian |language=en}}</ref>

In 2021, GCSEs, along with A-level and AS exams, were cancelled again due to the pandemic and replaced with teacher assessed grades.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2020-11-10 |title=Covid: GCSE and A-levels in Wales cancelled for 2021 |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-54888376 |access-date=2022-11-18}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Schools: coronavirus |url=https://gov.wales/schools-coronavirus-0 |access-date=2022-11-18 |website=GOV.WALES |language=en}}</ref> The grades were decided based on previous mock exams, homework, classwork, and optional examinations set by Ofqual.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/uknews/gcse-and-a-level-students-in-england-will-not-be-asked-to-sit-exams-in-summer-2021/ar-BB1cv6lX|title=GCSE and A-level students in England will not be asked to sit exams in summer 2021|website=msn.com}}</ref>

=== Calls for reform and abolition ===
Support for scrapping GCSEs in England has increased because of the COVID-19 pandemic.<ref name="Hazell2021">{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2021-10-18 |title=Why the GCSE exam system could face a major overhaul after the Covid results fiasco |url=https://inews.co.uk/news/education/gcses-scrapped-will-england-exam-system-overhaul-covid-results-algorithm-fiasco-1254383 |access-date=2022-08-23 |website=[[I (British newspaper)|i]] |language=en}}</ref> Rethinking Assessment was established in September 2020 to call for assessment reform in secondary education, including scrapping GCSEs. Members include [[multi-academy trust]]s including the [[Academies Enterprise Trust]] and [[Bohunt School|Bohunt Academy Trust]], independents schools including [[Eton College]], [[Bedales School]] and [[St Paul's Girls' School]], and [[Lord Baker of Dorking]], the Conservative who introduced GCSEs as education secretary in 1986.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=McConville |first1=Alistair |last2=Lucas |first2=Bill |last3=Hyman |first3=Peter |date=2020-10-01 |title=It's time to scrap GCSEs – they serve no good purpose in the 21st century |language=en-GB |work=[[The Daily Telegraph]]|location=London |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/education-and-careers/2020/10/01/time-scrap-gcses-serve-no-good-purpose-21st-century/ |access-date=2022-08-23 |issn=0307-1235}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last= |first= |date=2020-09-26 |title=Eton joins call for 'unfair and stressful' GCSEs to be scrapped |language=en-GB |work=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |location=London |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/09/26/eton-joins-call-unfair-stressful-gcses-scrapped/ |access-date=2022-08-23 |issn=0307-1235}}</ref>

In 2021, former Conservative prime minister [[John Major]] led calls by him and eight former education secretaries, both Conservative and Labour, for GCSEs to either be scrapped and replaced, reformed or reviewed. Former education secretaries who called for them to be scrapped included Lord Baker, [[Lord Blunkett]] and [[Alan Johnson]], while those calling for changes, reforms or a review included Major and former education secretaries [[Baroness Morgan of Cotes]], [[Justine Greening]], [[Charles Clarke]] and [[Ruth Kelly]]. Former Labour [[schools minister]] [[David Miliband]] also called for them to be scrapped, as did Conservative MP [[Robert Halfon]], who chaired the [[Education Select Committee]] in the House of Commons between 2017 and 2022.<ref>{{Cite news |title=John Major leads call to overhaul GCSEs |language=en |work=[[The Times]] |url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/john-major-leads-call-to-overhaul-gcses-pmsbjn3z9 |access-date=2022-08-23 |issn=0140-0460}}</ref> Support for scrapping GCSEs also came from teaching unions,<ref name="Hazell2021" /> including the [[National Education Union]] which is the largest teaching union in the country,<ref>{{Cite news |last= |first= |date=2021-03-26 |title=It's time to abolish GCSEs, says biggest teaching union |language=en |work=[[The Times]] |url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/abolish-gcses-says-biggest-teaching-union-njmmxw2d7 |access-date=2022-08-23 |issn=0140-0460}}</ref> and a group of [[centrist]] [[One-nation conservatism|one-nation]] Conservative MPs.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/uk-news/gcse-exams-should-scrapped-mps-20592572 |title=GCSE exams should be scrapped, MPs told |date=2021-05-13 |access-date=2022-08-23 |website=[[WalesOnline]]}}</ref> Schools Minister [[Nick Gibb]] rejected the proposal, thinking that "it would be a huge mistake to abolish the tried and tested GCSEs".<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2021-07-21 |title=Schools minister Nick Gibb rejects call by John Major and other senior Tories to scrap or overhaul GCSEs |url=https://inews.co.uk/news/education/schools-minister-nick-gibb-john-major-tories-scrap-gcses-1114214 |access-date=2022-08-23 |website=[[I (British newspaper)|i]]}}</ref>

In 2022, former Labour prime minister [[Tony Blair]] called for GCSEs and A-Levels to be scrapped and replaced by a new qualification and an examination based on the [[International Baccalaureate]]. Before the age of 16, pupils would be assessed through pupil assessment. From 16 to 18, they would be assessed continually on their subject knowledge and skills through multiple methods including examination, which would determine their final grade.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Tony Blair |first= |author-link=Tony Blair |date=2022-08-23 |title=It's time to scrap GCSEs and A-levels |language=en-GB |work=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |location=London |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2022/08/23/time-scrap-gcses-a-levels/ |access-date=2022-08-23 |issn=0307-1235}}</ref> Blair declined enacting a similar proposal when he was prime minister.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2022-08-23 |title=Tony Blair: Rip up the current exam system – it's unfit for the modern world |language=en-GB |work=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |location=London |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2022/08/23/tony-blair-rip-current-exam-system-unfit-modern-world/ |access-date=2022-08-23 |issn=0307-1235}}</ref>