Development and production of AS/A2 A level exemplification material and performance descriptions

This page provides an overview of the content and purpose of the above materials and indicates materials available for specific audiences. The link above to 'Making sense of the materials' explains how these materials can be used to recommend grade boundaries, while also indicating their limitations.

Overview

QCA produced A level performance descriptions and exemplification materials in response to Mike Tomlinson’s interim report, Inquiry into A level standards (September 2002). This report concluded that standards in the A level awarding process were not clear enough to examiners.

In producing these materials, QCA has, on behalf of the regulatory authorities, worked with awarding bodies and examiners to prepare performance descriptions at key grade boundaries. Also, for some subjects, QCA has provided examples that illustrate these standards. The performance descriptions and exemplification materials are meant to be used by examiners during the awarding process. They form part of a range of materials and technical information that is used to inform awarding decisions.

They have been carefully developed by examiners from all the awarding bodies, along with staff from QCA, ACCAC and CCEA, the regulatory authorities for England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Performance descriptions

The performance descriptions have been written to describe the typical performance of candidates at the A/B and E/U boundaries in AS and A level examinations. These are in relation to the specific assessment objectives for a subject.

You can access performance descriptions for all subjects by clicking on the link at the top of this page

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Exemplification materials

The exemplification materials contain examples of questions, mark schemes and candidates' responses from the summer 2002 and January 2003 AS and A level examinations.

Performance descriptions and exemplification materials have also been prepared for Welsh and Welsh as a second language. These are now available from the Qualifications, Curriculum and Assessment Authority for Wales.

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Audience

A level examiners:

QCA has developed these materials to help examiners in the awarding process.

Teachers:

Teachers may find these materials interesting and useful. These materials can be used to support consistency in assessment across departments and to improve teacher understanding of candidate performance.

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