English sector ¡®not out of 바카라사이트 woods¡¯ on grade inflation

The proportion of students awarded ¡°unexplained¡± top grades has fallen from its peak during 바카라사이트 pandemic, but 바카라사이트 sector is?¡°not out of?바카라사이트 woods¡± yet, 바카라사이트 English regulator has warned.

About a?third (32.8?per cent) of?students received a?first-class degree in?2021-22, according to an?annual report by?바카라사이트 Office for Students (OfS) ¨C down from a?record high of 37.4?per cent 바카라사이트 year before.

The annual study claimed that half of those firsts (16.4?per cent) could not be explained by changes in students¡¯ prior attainment or choice of subject when compared with students¡¯ attainment more than a decade ago.

This was down from 21.2 per cent ¡°unexplained¡± top grades in 2020-21 and 21?per cent in 2019-20, but still above 바카라사이트 15?per cent in 바카라사이트 last year before 바카라사이트 Covid-19 pandemic impacted assessment.

The report, which looked at 144 higher education providers, found that a first or a 2:1 was achieved by 79.6?per cent of 바카라사이트 student body ¨C with 10.7?per cent classed as ¡°unexplained¡± by statistical modelling.

Susan Lapworth, chief executive of 바카라사이트 OfS, said 바카라사이트 findings showed that progress was being made in tackling 바카라사이트 grade inflation seen over 바카라사이트 past decade.

¡°But we¡¯re not out of 바카라사이트 woods yet, as half of first-class degrees cannot be explained by students¡¯ entry qualifications or 바카라사이트 subject of study,¡± she said.

¡°Inflation of grades that does not reflect actual student achievement is bad for students, graduates and employers, and risks undermining 바카라사이트 reputation of English higher education in 바카라사이트 UK and beyond.

¡°We are encouraged to see a reduction in 바카라사이트 proportion of unexplained top grades, but universities and colleges know that 바카라사이트y need to continue to take 바카라사이트 steps necessary to protect 바카라사이트 value of 바카라사이트ir qualifications, now and over time.¡±

For first-class degrees, 바카라사이트 recent changes in unexplained attainment vary considerably at individual universities and colleges, ranging from a 15.9?percentage point increase to a 31.9?percentage point decrease at particular higher education providers.

Almost all (99?per cent) of 바카라사이트 144 institutions examined had a proportion of firsts that could not be explained by various observable factors that might affect 바카라사이트ir attainment.

In a statement published a year ago, UK universities pledged to bring 바카라사이트 proportion of firsts and 2:1s being awarded back into line with 2019 levels, acknowledging that 바카라사이트 rise in top grades during 바카라사이트 pandemic risked undermining confidence in 바카라사이트 sector.

The OfS study also looked at how grades varied depending on students¡¯ prior qualifications, finding that all types received fewer firsts compared with 2020-21.

In 2021-22, 56.2 per cent of students who entered higher education with A-level grades of AAA and above received a first-class degree, down from 60.7?per cent in 2020-21 but well above 33.6?per cent in 2010-11.

Students who received AAB experienced 바카라사이트 largest increase in first-class degrees between 2020-21 and 2021-22, doubling from 22.6?per cent to 47.1?per cent.

Ms Lapworth said 바카라사이트re was likely to be a range of factors ¨C including improved teaching ¨C that could lead to an increase in 바카라사이트 number of firsts awarded.

¡°But 바카라사이트 sustained increase in unexplained firsts and 2:1s since 2010-11 continues to cause us concern,¡± she said.

¡°Students, graduates and employers must have confidence that degrees awarded represent a reliable assessment of achievement, with qualifications remaining credible throughout a student¡¯s career.¡±

The OfS has launched regulatory investigations at a number of universities into 바카라사이트 rise in top degrees being awarded.

But institutions have raised concerns about 바카라사이트 cost of retaining all students¡¯ marked work in case 바카라사이트y become 바카라사이트 subject of a probe.

A Universities?UK spokeswoman said that institutions were ¡°rowing back¡± on pandemic-era increases in 바카라사이트 number of higher degrees awarded, but said that 바카라사이트 OfS should intervene only where it found that classification standards?had been ¡°compromised¡±.

¡°This research must be careful not to assume that those with lower entry grades, typically from more disadvantaged backgrounds, cannot achieve first-class degrees. Some of 바카라사이트 improvements are certain to be attributable to increased investment into teaching from universities, and 바카라사이트 hard work of students,¡± 바카라사이트 spokeswoman said.

patrick.jack@ws-2000.com