UK Edition
Rise of 'predictable' exam papers due to fears of social media backlash, expert argues
Examiners are too scared to set hard questions for fear of being shamed on social media, an advisor to Ofqual, the exams regulator, has claimed.
Professor Robert Coe, from Durham University, has also said papers have become too easy and predictable and that ‘low-level thinking’ is increasingly being rewarded in exams, the Times Educational Supplement reported.
Teenagers are taking to Twitter and Facebook in larger numbers to complain questions will ‘haunt’ them in their dreams because of their complexity, leading to a social media backlash.
However, Ofqual said questions do require students to show their ‘understanding and application of knowledge’.
Addressing the Headmasters’ and Headmistresses’ Conference annual gathering earlier this month, Prof Coe said: “Too much low-level thinking, what I am calling ‘predictable regurgitation’, is rewarded in exams, and that’s such a dysfunctional and distorting thing to be contending with.”
He argued today’s exams are ‘overly predictable’ because of “the sense of public backlash that we’ll have if we ever write an interesting exam paper… you ain’t half going to get slated on social media.
“Exam boards will be very sensitive to this and Ofqual are very sensitive.
“The students will be complaining [online] straight away – probably not before the exam’s finished but not many minutes after.”
'Play it safe'
Professor Coe highlighted how in one case of a ‘bamboozling’ question about a crocodile stalking its prey as a case where the qualifications authority in Scotland ended up apologising for having written a challenging question.
See the question and the answer here.
He said this illustrated how today’s exams reward “recall with limited thinking required”, “question spotting”, and “playing safe”.
He added: “We have had a period where accessibility has dominated.
“I think we ought to be devoting a bit of effort to thinking about how we can, yes, keep hold of accessibility but also make sure we are not losing high expectations and we are providing challenge as well.”
Familiar and unfamiliar questions
The Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ), which represents the UK’s exam boards, said there is no fear of being innovative with exam questions.
Michael Turner, JCQ director general, said: “Teachers can be confident that a huge amount of research and expertise go into creating examination papers so they can properly assess a student’s skill and knowledge – at both end of the grade spectrum.
“As media stories and Twitter show each year, exam boards are not afraid of being innovative in setting questions. And with the new set of reforms coming, we will see further stretch and challenge in the system.”
An Ofqual spokesman said: “Our regulatory requirements place a limit on the marks available for straightforward recall of information and place greater emphasis on students demonstrating their understanding and application of knowledge.
“This, in turn, introduces a greater range of opportunities for interesting and challenging questions to be set on both familiar and unfamiliar contexts and to reward those higher order skills Professor Coe is looking for.”