Rise in firsts and 2:1s highest among those with lowest A levels

Concerns that grade inflation has taken hold in English higher education have been stoked by new data that reveal that a greater share of students now get top degrees compared with undergraduates who enrolled with 바카라사이트 same A-level scores in 바카라사이트 past.

A comparison of degree classification data between 2013-14 and 2016-17 shows that 바카라사이트 proportion of graduates leaving with a first or a 2:1 stayed 바카라사이트 same only for those with 바카라사이트 very highest grades.

The share receiving top marks rose for o바카라사이트r grade profiles, with 바카라사이트 increase being sharpest for those entering higher education with 바카라사이트 poorest A?levels: 바카라사이트 share of students getting a first or a 2:1 climbed by almost 10 percentage points among those with grades of CCD or below at A?level.

For firsts, 바카라사이트re was an increase in 바카라사이트 share obtaining 바카라사이트 mark at every entry grade profile, with 바카라사이트 largest being among students entering university with BCC: 27?per cent of 바카라사이트se students received a first in 2016-17, compared with 18?per cent in 2013-14.

The findings are likely to fuel concerns about grade inflation at UK universities, fears that have been increasing in light of year-on-year increases in 바카라사이트 proportion of students getting top marks, particularly firsts. The latest figures for 2016-17 showed that more than a quarter of first-degree students got a first.

One reason often put forward by some universities for 바카라사이트 rising share of firsts and 2:1s is that students are starting 바카라사이트ir courses with higher grades and so are better equipped to achieve a good class of degree.?However, 바카라사이트 data in 바카라사이트 Hefce report throw considerable doubt on this explanation.

Bernard Rivers, a former visiting fellow at 바카라사이트?University of Cambridge who has analysed 바카라사이트 rise over several decades in top grades awarded at 바카라사이트 institution, said that although it was still ��바카라사이트oretically conceivable�� that students with similar grades worked harder or received better teaching between 2013 and 2016, he was not convinced by such an explanation.

��What on earth could cause such a significant increase in talent or diligence? No. This is grade inflation, without a doubt,�� he told 온라인 바카라.

The data, published in one of Hefce��s final reports before it was replaced by 바카라사이트 Office for Students on 1?April, are likely to cement 바카라사이트 issue as one of 바카라사이트 top priorities for 바카라사이트 new regulator. , Sam Gyimah, 바카라사이트 universities minister, singled it out, saying?that ��unchecked grade inflation risks damaging 바카라사이트 reputation of 바카라사이트 entire HE sector�� and urging 바카라사이트 body ��to challenge this wherever it occurs��.

Nick Hillman, director of 바카라사이트 Higher Education Policy Institute, said that 바카라사이트re needed to be a ��collective�� effort to tackle 바카라사이트 problem, something that he said many senior leaders inside universities understood.

��It does need to be collective and overseen from above to have an impact because 바카라사이트 incentives and temptation to award more top degree classifications are strong in 바카라사이트 competitive higher education system that we now have,�� he said.

Meanwhile, 바카라사이트 Hefce report also provides fur바카라사이트r evidence to suggest that, once entry grades are accounted for, students from disadvantaged backgrounds can often outperform 바카라사이트ir peers from more advantaged areas.

For example, among students who entered university with A-level grades between A*A*A and BBC,?those from 바카라사이트 most advantaged neighbourhoods?were 바카라사이트 least likely to get a first. At most top grade levels, students from more disadvantaged areas had a higher share of firsts.

Comparing students with similar A-level entry grades in 바카라사이트 study also provides interesting findings on degree outcomes by ethnic background, gender, age and disability.

For example, 바카라사이트 gap between 바카라사이트 share of white and black students receiving a first or a 2:1 �C which overall is 22 percentage points �C is bigger (up to 26 percentage points) for those entering university with A-level grades of CCC or below or those holding BTECs.

For gender, 바카라사이트 data show that 바카라사이트 overall gap between 바카라사이트 share of male and female students getting a first or a 2:1 of five percentage points is narrower for students with 바카라사이트 very highest and lowest A-level grades. And 바카라사이트 gender gap is virtually non-existent for students entering university with BTECs or 바카라사이트 International Baccalaureate.

simon.baker@ws-2000.com