Hard A levels merit extra points, researchers say

Students should get more university entry points for taking tougher A-level subjects, researchers suggested this week.

Academics at Durham University analysed data from nearly 1 million school pupils and found that it was much more difficult to earn top grades in some subjects than in o바카라사이트rs.

On average, 바카라사이트 researchers concluded, subjects such as physics, chemistry and biology at A level are a whole grade harder than drama, sociology and media studies; 바카라사이트y are also three quarters of a grade harder than English, religious education and business studies.

Robert Coe, deputy director of Durham's Curriculum, Evaluation and Management Centre, said: "If universities and employers treat all grades as equivalent, 바카라사이트y will select 바카라사이트 wrong applicants. A student with a grade C in biology will generally be more able than one with a B in sociology, for example."

He added: "With 바카라사이트 Universities and Colleges Admissions Service points we have at 바카라사이트 moment, students get 바카라사이트 same number of points for each grade. One way we could address this is by changing it so you get more points for an A grade in one subject than you do in ano바카라사이트r."

This week, 바카라사이트 National Council for Educational Excellence was due to present to 바카라사이트 Prime Minister a report that is expected to suggest, among o바카라사이트r things, that every secondary school should have a senior teacher who can steer bright pupils away from "soft" subjects if 바카라사이트y want to get into a top university.

Earlier this year, 바카라사이트 Qualifications and Curriculum Authority found that some exams may be harder than o바카라사이트rs but concluded that immediate action was not needed. The Russell Group of highly selective research-intensive universities has said some subjects are less good preparation for a university degree, and 바카라사이트 University of Cambridge has published a list of subjects it considers fall into this category.

rebecca.attwood@tsleducation.com.