Pupils can pass the Diploma qualification even if they score zero on subject understanding

[I Am Herenow]

According to The Daily Telegraph, the UK Government's new Diploma programme has been put under scrutiny and accused of "dumbing down" after it was revealed that a pupil needed only to score highly on teacher-assessed coursework, and then they could technically score zero in their subject-specific exam (The Telegraph uses Engineering as an example) and still get an overall pass. Moreover, the Government revealed that only thirteen per cent of students taking the Diploma are expected to achieve a pass in all their modules.

I Am Herenow

[Wolfcp11]

Wait, this is high-school level diploma right?

[Desperado †]

And?

The idea is that their mostly coursework based, and the final examination counting for a lot less. This has been seen as a far fairer way of judging pupils (coursework has become a larger factor for deciding your final grade in the British education system). It's hardly a 'loophole', it's a different way of assessing a pupils ability.

Personally I agree with having more decided by the coursework and less by the final exam, though I think that the system requires a lot of monitoring to ensure that the coursework is done appropriately and marked fairly.

[I Am Herenow]

Wait, this is high-school level diploma right?

Yes, it's an option for 16- to 18-year-olds living in the UK (although it is traditional to take A-Levels instead at this stage).

Personally I agree with having more decided by the coursework and less by the final exam, though I think that the system requires a lot of monitoring to ensure that the coursework is done appropriately and marked fairly.

I would still say that the notion of someone getting precisely nothing right on their Engineering exam when taking an Engineering Diploma but still getting a pass overall is quite striking. Moreover, this ties in with the other access-to-university stories that pop up every now and again. What I mean is that university selectors are bound to hold these sorts of qualifications in lower regard than A-Levels if the article linked in my first post is true, quite the opposite of their de iure status as the equivalent of 3.5 A-Levels. I thus find it disappointing that such options as these should even exist which allow some schools to take them up simply to improve their own standing in league tables, whilst actually doing more harm than good to their students' chances of getting into good universities.

I Am Herenow

[Desperado †]

I would still say that the notion of someone getting precisely nothing right on their Engineering exam when taking an Engineering Diploma but still getting a pass overall is quite striking.

Why? If the coursework counts for say, 75%, the pass mark is a reasonable 70%, and the final exam counts for 25%, what's wrong with the fact that you can technically get an overall pass whilst getting 0 in your final exam?

Moreover, this ties in with the other access-to-university stories that pop up every now and again. What I mean is that university selectors are bound to hold these sorts of qualifications in lower regard than A-Levels if the article linked in my first post is true, quite the opposite of their de iure status as the equivalent of 3.5 A-Levels. I thus find it disappointing that such options as these should even exist which allow some schools to take them up simply to improve their own standing in league tables, whilst actually doing more harm than good to their students' chances of getting into good universities.

I Am Herenow

You fail to state a single reason as to why coursework is a less reliable way of assessing a pupils ability than the final exam (and we have no idea currently what percentage the coursework/final exam counts for or what the overall pass percentage mark is for these diplomas), hence what you've said holds no merit whatsoever.

[I Am Herenow]

If the coursework counts for say, 75%, the pass mark is a reasonable 70%, and the final exam counts for 25%, what's wrong with the fact that you can technically get an overall pass whilst getting 0 in your final exam?

(0.7 * 0.75) + (0 * 0.25) = 0.525; 53% is hardly an astounding result. Would you entrust the planning of a bridge; a job which, if done incorrectly, could well cost lives, let us not forget; to someone who will only make the right decision about half the time?

You fail to state a single reason as to why coursework is a less reliable way of assessing a pupils ability than the final exam

The Telegraph states that coursework is teacher-assessed, whereas exams must, by law, be marked by someone who does not know the author of the script they are marking; one can infer that they feel that teachers can be more subjective and give pupils they know the 'benefit of the doubt', whereas exam markers who do not know the student will be more objective.

Moreover, I would like to add my own argument to the article's, namely that coursework is, by definition, easier to score highly in than an exam, as one has more time and a more flexible schedule with coursework than with a timed exam, and can moreover ask their teacher for help, look in books etc.; a luxury that one clearly does not have during an examination. Thus, exams are in my opinion a better test of the knowledge that one has actually acquired, as opposed to testing whether someone can fish something out of a textbook but not necessarily learn it properly.

we have no idea currently what percentage the coursework/final exam counts for or what the overall pass percentage mark is for these diplomas

To quote the article above:

Ofqual documents reveal that the marks accrued in the principal learning units will be added to those gained in the project. The aggregate of the marks produces the grade. This allows for a student to do very badly in one element but still secure a pass.

In the advanced diploma, the equivalent of A-levels, to gain an E grade in principal learning, students must gain at least 18 points. However just 22 marks out of 154 will give them an E grade in the diploma overall. This means that a pupil can score 17 marks – a fail – in their principal learning but gain 5 out of 28 marks in their project and still be awarded an E grade diploma. Grade D can be achieved with 17 marks in principal learning and 27 marks in the project.

It is even possible for a candidate to get zero marks in principal learning but still pass the diploma, provided they gain an A or an A* grade in their project – 20 to 28 marks.

Pupils studying the diploma at GCSE level can gain a C grade overall if they fail principal learning but score three out of 10 on their project.

Hence, one can pass (technically, only a U is a fail as such) by scoring anywhere from 14.3%, and the coursework counts for 18.2% of the whole (far less, then, than the 75% figure you consider to be acceptable).

I Am Herenow

[Father Jack]

Coursework is , got A* GCSE for all of my coursework and I used wikipedia and our teacher told us what to do. In fact I hear that in many subjects for A levels and GCSE they are scrapping coursework because it is a farce that does not properly test the pupil. Make them do exams on several occassions throughout the year and you will weed out the lazy ones who refuse to do some revision/ have not worked in class. Then again the sort of people who take this diploma will be lacking in academic prowess.

[Desperado †]

Coursework is , got A* GCSE for all of my coursework and I used wikipedia and our teacher told us what to do. In fact I hear that in many subjects for A levels and GCSE they are scrapping coursework because it is a farce that does not properly test the pupil. Make them do exams on several occassions throughout the year and you will weed out the lazy ones who refuse to do some revision/ have not worked in class.

It's being changed so that nearly all coursework is done in class. As for scrapping it, I've only heard of it being increased (at GCSE level).

[Marie Louise von Preussen]

Yet another vivid account of the Nu Labour depredations - Honestly how can you even swallow that?

[Justice and Mercy]

An exam is the best way to determine whether or not a student understands the material.

And no, not those multiple-choice exams American teachers have grown so fond of, short answer and essay exams.

[roy34543]

if anything coursework should count for absoloutly 0 of your score.
Exams should count for all of your score. Maybe multiple exams, but exams only.