Research library
Browse and search the library of research carried out by the Centre for Education Research and Practice, covering a wide range of topics across education and assessment.
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The Effects on Schools and Pupils of Modularising GCSEs
In 2009, a suite of revised GCSEs was introduced for first teaching. For the first time, all subjects were offered in modular specifications, where previously the majority were only offered linearly....
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Analysis of the trends in early entry at GCSE
The following paper aims to outline the trends in early entry to GCSE over recent years, drawing upon data available in the literature and reporting on an analysis of all awarding body data from 2007 to 2011....
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Is the English Baccalaureate the most appropriate academic core? Subject choice and attainment at GCSE and A-level
The English Baccalaureate (EBacc) was introduced to encourage the uptake of a set of academic subjects which the government believe will improve the prospects of young people from all backgrounds (Department for Education, 2010)....
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Testing the validity of judgements about geography essays using the Adaptive Comparative Judgement method
Adaptive comparative judgement (ACJ) is an alternative to marking that presents judges with pairs of students’ work and asks them to decide, holistically, which piece of work contains more of a specified trait or set of traits....
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Using modern test theory to maintain standards in public qualifications in England
This paper describes how item response theory (IRT) methods of test-equating could be applied to the maintenance of public examination standards in England....
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Using adaptive comparative judgement to obtain a highly reliable rank order in summative assessment
Adaptive Comparative Judgment (ACJ) offers an alternative to marking, especially for performance assessments for which achievement can be difficult to describe in mark schemes. The ACJ system uses a web-browser to deliver pairs of candidates’ work to judges....
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Carry on examining: further investigation
This paper follows on from work by Tremain (2011) and Meadows (2004) on examiner satisfaction and looks at the difference in intentions to continue examining between examiners with experiences of different marking media and modes of delivery of standardisation....
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Assessment reform: students' and teachers' responses to the introduction of stretch and challenge at A-level
This paper describes an exploration into a reform of the A-level qualification in England in 2008; namely, the introduction of the ‘stretch and challenge’ policy....