The 2020 A-levels results are a fiasco. The pandemic has left students all over the nation disheartened by their results due to the broken education system ingrained with classism.
Thursday 13th August was the results day for A-level students’ majority of whom were feeling more nervous than any year of sixth form students. At the beginning of lockdown as schools began to close, and there was a lot of uncertainty regarding whether students would have the opportunity to take their GCSE and A-level exams.
With the abrupt cancellation of exams, there was concern and confusion on how a computer could determine grades which would dictate the academic future of many students.
The build-up to results day:
There were thousands of empty promises given to students. The government announced that they would receive full support reflective of their predicted grades and their previous performance throughout sixth form.
This was interpreted in two ways. For many they were relieved as they wouldn’t have to take the exams. If their mock grades were reflective of their predicted grades, results day would run smoothly; securing them a place at their firm choice of university. Others however, the summer exams would have been a boost.
Additionally, mocks are not reflective of a students’ ability and so it is, like the standard the time where they reach their goals. Nevertheless, the whole system, which was already corrupt has jeopardised thousands of grades and has left the future for many students ambiguous.
The fiasco:
According to TES, results were to be graded and calculated by a “combination of teachers’ assessment of pupil performance, schools’ historic exam data and pupils’ prior attainment.” Education minister, Nick Gibb also on BBC Radio 4: “The majority of students tomorrow will get the grade submitted by their teachers. Those 40 per cent that are adjusted will be by just one grade.”
🗣”There are actual real people here who are opening these envelopes and this determines their future.”
— ITV News West Country (@itvwestcountry) August 13, 2020
One A-level student from Somerset has spoken to ITV News about her frustrations with this year’s grading system.
Read more: https://t.co/ifa3kylKUF pic.twitter.com/vBtQXLAmIM
This was not the case. According to Ofqual, (The Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation) more than a third of A-level results in England downgraded. This was not by one grade but by several with students who were predicted an A, coming out with a D instead.
This makes us question the system and the algorithm used to determine these results. Labour leader, Sir Keir Starmer said: “Nearly 40% of young people have had their grades marked down and that’s thousands of young people whose opportunities could have been dashed.”
Appealing inaccurate grades:
For those who didn’t get their predicted grades, they were told that mock grades could be used to challenge and appeal the A-levels grade that they were given. Ofqual changed this decision and that more information will be published in “due course”. Students were also told that universities would be more flexible considering the current climate, but many are not being understanding at all.
Additionally, A level students do not deserve yet more uncertainty and delay and the situation is not being handled as severely as it should be. The algorithm used to determine grades is extremely flawed, with vague promises, causing more chaos than it ever should during this pandemic.
The option to take exams in Autumn almost seems impossible due to remote teaching and the support students didn’t receive during lockdown as they were told no exams would take place, including retakes. Surrounding retakes and remakes, there is the question of affordability.
Form to apply for the autumn A level exams included in daughter’s results pack yesterday – these are the costs – around £300 for a young person unhappy with results to sit the exams in the autumn – I’m fuming all over again – how is that fair! pic.twitter.com/pGfIv3kthy
— Anita Charlesworth (@AnitaCTHF) August 14, 2020
From a university admissions perspective I find it difficult to understand how many are rejecting students as their results are too low when they never took the exams. The results that students were given are not their real results and this is an aspect that is not being factored in at all.
It is embarrassing to think that the government has not thought about the effect of the stress and anxiety that has been caused by this heart-breaking farce on the mental health and well-being of young people, their parents and their teachers which cannot be underestimated.
Postcode injustice:
It comes with no surprise that private schools in England have seen the biggest rise. Having your results decided by an algorithm based on whether you are rich or poor is shameful. It is an organised betrayal from the education system.
We are not a population of A levels. Individual people studied and worked and hoped and dreamed. Our newly grown up children.
— Dr Martin Remains 3.5% (@MartinRemains) August 13, 2020
Many thousands today had their hopes dashed by an algorithm that favoured students of private schools and obviously would do so. This is not just.
Many students have been marked down as their school hasn’t performed well in the past, another aspect that should not have been considered when determining grades.
How can this be resolved?
It is difficult to put yourself in this position, even from the moment when exams were cancelled and the wait until results day. A-levels are a student’s ticket to university and if they were falsely given worse results it can be overwhelming to fix.
The government has failed this generation of students and it is understandable why they are protesting and demanding the truth. The most effective and active decision would have been to stick with the teachers’ decisions this year. How can a computer possibly know a student better than their own teacher who has been monitoring their grades all year? Futures have been set back and the government is only exacerbating further uncertainty. It is difficult to say, everything will work out for the better
It would be unfair not to mention those who have been successful and are relieved with their results. There are also pioneers who have been successful without getting the grades that the need, mostly because of privilege, trying to be supportive on social media. Nevertheless, a generation of students have been left heartbroken because of a computer and an outdated, biased education system. There are young people who have genuinely spent the last few years working extremely hard and it is absolutely unlawful that they were awarded less than they deserve.
