Are GCSE Exam Changes Affecting Student's Results?

Many students and parents have been left 'befuddled' by the recent changes to the GCSE marking system. The new system was introduced for specifications that were first taught in 2015. This means that the 2017 'English Literature' and 'Mathematics' GCSE have been marked according to a new 9-1 level system with 9 being the highest level attainable. 2018 and 2019 will have a mix of numbered and lettered marking systems but by 2020, all results will be shown in this new number form. This begs many questions. Why have they been changed? Does the new system help?

There has been a various mix of support and backlashes at the new system. For example, Laura McInerney from the Guardian wrote a rather negative article, describing the changes as "complicated" and "radical". She states that the changes are an excuse for the Government to blame the failing results on exam changes rather than a failing education system. Additionally, she goes on to say that the confusion the change causes is also very bad but, she does say that there has been plenty of warning McInerney believes that the transition will not be a smooth one.

Another source that has a negative opinion on the changes is the National Union of Teachers. They described the changes as 'Retrograde' or backwards. Also stating that they provide a 'difficult situation for schools', a recurring theme I find. They say that the changes have implicated that the only way for schools to 'improve', is if others fail. Overall, this emphasises the fact that this is a confusing and somewhat unnecessary change to the GCSE marking system.

So was the change really worth it? I looked at exam results from 1993-2016 collected by BSTUBBS and produced this rather 'unnerving' chart...

GCSE MATHS AND ENGLISH RESULTS 1993-2016

As you can see from the graph above, the percentage of students who passed their English/Maths GCSE has gradually increased since 1993, a promising implication. However, at the 2013-14 mark, the results start to judder... Unfortunately, when you get to 2015-2016 the results drop. From a reasonable 64-66% back down to a flat 60% last seen in 2005 and 2013. This is a clear implication that something has gone wrong. Coincidentally, 2015 was the year that the marking changes were first introduced for Maths and English...

In conclusion, there are many points that lead towards the idea that the marking system has negatively affected the results of students. Many opinions and my personally collected data supports this. However, their are many other factors that could cause a change in the results: mistakes by markers, unusually hard questions in the exams, to name just a few. Changes are made to the GCSE's pretty much every year; from question styles, marking systems and overall difficulty yet there hasn't been quite a drop like 2016 before. Does this point towards a deficient new marking system? Or simply a bumpy transition?