With the independent sector continuing to use IGCSEs, it is little wonder that concerns have been reignited "among some heads that the state-private divide will widen" (Opinion: The saga of the IGCSE: if it`s good enough for Eton, why not for my local school? 10/07/18). "Competing equally for the best university places" is clearly a government policy that is dead in the water.
A-levels are also being sidelined by many public and high-achieving state schools which opt instead for Pre-U examinations. These are set and marked by teachers in the independent sector, are not regulated like other exams by the Joint Council for Qualifications, and, like IGCSEs, are run by Cambridge Assessment; they first came to light with last year`s cheating scandal (Winchester college suspends teacher over exam cheating claims, 28/08/17).
A Freedom Of Information request revealed that History was the most popular Pre-U examination last year with independent schools; of the 745 entered, 451 were awarded distinctions, the equivalent of A*/A grades; that`s 60.5% of the entry, compared to 23.4% gaining the same grades at A-level. For English Literature, a massive 74.9% of the entry received the equivalent of A*/A grades at Pre-U, compared to the A-level percentage of 24.8%.
The Physics figures were 65.8% compared to 29.6%, Maths 67.7% as opposed to 41.8% at A-level. In the less popular subjects the percentages of top grades are even more remarkable; Spanish Pre-U 82.6% compared with A-level`s 34%, and Music 78.6% compared with 19% at A-level.
Looks like IGCSEs are not the only "easier exams" being taken by private schools "to boost their chances of top grades and places at the best universities".
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