Ofqual sets out marking inquiry as challenges to exam grades increase

With the percentage of enquires about results (EARs) rising year-on-year, Ofqual has set out plans to investigate the way examinations are marked.

The regulator has published the first of three reports into the quality of marking for GCSEs, A levels and other academic qualifications.

It gives an overview of how the marking system operates and identifies areas which will be explored in two more reports later this year.

It finds that while “most of the education community, students and the public” has confidence in the quality of marking for A levels and GCSEs, preliminary grades and marks are increasingly being contested. The report continues: “What is more, a significant (and growing) minority of teachers and headteachers tell us that they do not believe that marking has been good enough in recent years, especially in GCSEs.