Ofqual to adjust grading in GCSE French and German
Ofqual has investigated the concerns of teachers and other subject experts that fewer students are choosing to study modern foreign language (MFL) GCSEs because they believe it is harder to achieve top grades in these subjects compared to others.
The exams watchdog has reviewed the evidence that GCSE French, German and Spanish are severely graded in comparison to other subjects and judged that there is a sufficiently strong case to make an adjustment to grading standards in French and German, but not Spanish.
Dr Michelle Meadows, Director of Strategy, Risk and Research, said: "Building on our extensive body of work, we have looked at this issue from a wide range of different perspectives. We are satisfied that a sufficiently strong case exists for us to intervene to adjust grading standards in GCSE French and German. We are talking to exam boards about how best to implement this adjustment."
Ofqual now require the exam boards that offer these subjects to make adjustments to align grading standards in French and German with Spanish.
Ofqual will work closely with exam boards to determine the most appropriate approach, which will be put in place for the 2020 exam series. If necessary, this adjustment may be phased over more than one year.
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