4th February 2014 9:00
By Blue Tutors
New data has emerged which shows that the grades of British university students have dramatically improved, prompting speculation that universities may be manipulating results in order to maintain their place in league tables. Over the last ten years, the number of students achieving a first class degree has almost doubled, going from 11% to 19% last year. The number of students achieving 2:1s has also significantly increased. There is now a debate as to whether the quality of candidates has risen, or whether universities are responding to the pressure of league tables and inflating grades accordingly.
Researchers at Lancaster University have said that the quality of students they see is increasing, and have argued that a well-established system of moderation ensures that grades are not inflated at a university level. Universities are subject to external accrediting bodies, which impose specific protocols that universities must follow. Universities are also audited by the Quality Assurance Agency, who check to make sure that appropriate standards are being implemented. Yet despite these audits, it is proving difficult to establish what has determined the dramatic rise in student performance.
Researchers at the University of Lancaster have said that in order to interpret the trend for rising results, it is necessary to look at how both schools and universities have changed. In the past, university assessment tended to be exam heavy, putting a great deal of pressure on students. Nowadays, many universities offer students the opportunity to be assessed in part through coursework or project work, which means that students have the opportunity to spend more time on their work and achieve higher grades. They are also more motivated to perform well, when unemployment is high and a good final grade is essential. In addition, with the introduction of AS levels, retakes and ‘exam culture’, from school students are used to performing well and taking testing seriously.