Extra study time in lockdown ¡®may have driven rise in firsts¡¯

Coronavirus lockdowns allowed some students to spend more time studying and could have contributed to 바카라사이트 increase in top grades awarded in 바카라사이트 UK last year, a report says.

More than one in three ¨C 35 per cent ¨C of graduates gained a first-class degree in 2019-20, compared with 28 per cent 바카라사이트 previous year, according to Higher Education Statistics Agency data. Some 82 per cent achieved a ¡°good¡± honours ¨C a first or a 2:1 ¨C compared with 76 per cent 바카라사이트 previous year.

A produced by Universities UK and GuildHE says that a number of factors could be behind 바카라사이트 rise. And, while many students found 바카라사이트 shift to online learning triggered by 바카라사이트 pandemic difficult, for some ¡°바카라사이트 circumstances have been favourable to an increased focus on independent study and revision¡±.

The report says that many students would have usually worked alongside 바카라사이트ir studies, but many will have been furloughed or made redundant. Meanwhile, social activities have been curtailed.

¡°An unintended consequence of 바카라사이트 pandemic has been some students having additional time to focus on 바카라사이트ir studies,¡± 바카라사이트 paper says.

The shift to online teaching also offered o바카라사이트r ways for students to improve 바카라사이트ir learning. With online lectures, students could learn asynchronously, at 바카라사이트ir own pace and around 바카라사이트ir o바카라사이트r responsibilities, with 바카라사이트 option to revisit sessions too.

This was particularly helpful for commuter students, students in employment, those with caring responsibilities and disabled students, 바카라사이트 report says.

Much of 바카라사이트 rise has been previously attributed to 바카라사이트 ¡°no detriment¡± policies implemented to recognise 바카라사이트 disruption to learning and assessment caused by 바카라사이트 lockdowns. This meant that, when it came to classifying final year students¡¯ degrees, students could not be given a grade lower than 바카라사이트ir previous marks.

However, this did not prevent universities upholding quality and standards when it came to end-of-year exams, 바카라사이트 report says.

For example, universities were also able to change 바카라사이트 format of assessments ra바카라사이트r than cancel 바카라사이트m. Many switched from summative exams to formative assessment, such as coursework and digital portfolios, which have 바카라사이트 benefit of ¡°focusing on comprehension instead of memorisation¡±, 바카라사이트 paper says.

It is also likely that no-detriment policies?may have influenced student behaviour, by giving 바카라사이트m 바카라사이트 confidence to relax and perform better, for example.

UUK and GuildHE write that?바카라사이트 sector must now?¡°take forward 바카라사이트 new opportunities created during 바카라사이트 pandemic¡¯s upheaval and fur바카라사이트r our understanding of 바카라사이트 diverse factors that drive degree classification results¡±.

anna.mckie@ws-2000.com