Effects+of+assessment+routes+on+further+study

=Do different assessment routes (linear vs. modular) prepare= =students, in the same way, for further study?= //Carmen Vidal Rodeiro// //Thursday, 30 August, paper session// //Verslag door: André Heck//

Korte Samenvatting
In UK, modularisation of GCSE has been introduced and fully operational since 2009. It has been much critized: less demanding, less rigor, fragmentation of learning and lack of coherence in programs, sifrace learning insteaad of deep learning, increase of assessment load, teaching to the test heightened, no good preparation for advanced studies, and so on. From September 2012 again only a linear syllabus with a test at the end of two years.

In this research study it was investigsted wether the different assessment routes prepared students equally for further study. The focus was on the impact of the GCSE assessment route on the uptake and performance in three A-level subjects, namely mathematics, English and ICT. Data came from the National Pupil Database and the OCR awarding body.

Results were the following:
 * Mathematics: GCSE linear candidates more likely to take the A level and achieve at least frade A and at least grade E at A level (on an 8-point scale A*, A, B, ..., G)
 * English: no differences in uptake and performance
 * ICT: GCSE modular candidates more likely to take the A level but no difference in performance.

Inzichten
Effect of assessment routes on uptake and performance seem to depend on the subject: maybe the nature of the discipline matters. Further research is needed, also into other factors that may count.

Review
The neighbour's grass is not greener: also in other countries, educational reforms may not be given a real chance to grow, but are closed without research-based evidence of its successful and less succesful aspects. Drastic, abrupt changes happen, sometimes based on sentiment. This was clear from the presentation.

Toepasbaarheid
Research on effects of different assessment routes is doable and can provide insight in what forms of assessment suit best under what conditions and for what kind of subjects. This may lead to a more informed discussion instead of a sentiment-based decision making proces.

Keywords
assessment routes