Success at GCSE 'can hide weaknesses in basic skills'
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Your support makes all the difference.SOME GCSE candidates are scoring high marks despite weaknesses in basic literacy and numeracy, according to a report by school inspectors published yesterday.
The report from the Office for Standards in Education says GCSE standards are satisfactory but higher priority must be given to spelling, grammar and punctuation and to basic mathematical skills.
The inspectors' findings may help to resolve the argument between employers, who complain that school-leavers cannot spell or punctuate, and teachers who say improving GCSE results show that standards are rising. The report says many GCSE candidates who achieve satisfactory standards overall, because marks for different parts of the syllabus are aggregated, may still lack important skills.
In English, standards of grammar and spelling in some candidates' work are lower than their grade would suggest; in maths, some of those getting As and Bs answer questions about algebra and proof badly; in science, many high scorers have difficulty with key ideas such as balancing chemical equations and the laws of motion, and in French, candidates with a good vocabulary have rarely mastered the accurate use of tenses.
The inspectors conclude that this year's GCSE exams were marked more rigorously than last year's, after the introduction of a code of practice for the examination groups. The code was drawn up when the inspectors suggested GCSE standards might be slipping. 'The quality of examining and awarding has improved since our last report. HMI are confident that the grades awarded in 1993 are based on sound procedures,' they say. However, they point to serious flaws in the assessment of spelling, punctuation and grammar, with some candidates who used sophisticated vocabulary being penalised for poor spelling.
In science, marks for grammar and spelling were judged on limited evidence because most work consisted of multiple choice or short responses. The report also points out that exam boards shy away from setting questions on the more difficult parts of the syllabus.
John Patten, Secretary of State for Education, has asked his exam advisers and the four GCSE exam boards to develop a new system in time for next year's examinations. The Joint Council for the GCSE said it would examine the criticisms which it said 'were minor'.
GCSE Examinations Quality and Standards Summer 1993; HMSO; pounds 3.50.
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