As the amount of top grades secured at A Level reached a record high yesterday, GCSE students are predicted to experience the same, and insiders have suggested their results will increase at every grade tomorrow. A Level students could be considered a litmus test for results this year as 45% of all grades awarded at A Level were A or A*, an increase of 20% on pre-Covid results. Thus, GCSE students will be expecting similar grades tomorrow.

Leading EdTech platform MyTutor has delved deeper into issue of public opinion around teacher graded assessments and asked the nation’s parents and children how they prefer to be graded. The data has found that 46% of parents agree their child actually prefers this way of learning and grading, and 54% agree their child learns and retains more due to being graded throughout the year. With so many children getting higher grades, it may be time to re-assess who we measure academic ability, and what methods should be continued post-pandemic.

MyTutor is keen to discuss how having experienced a year of teacher graded assessments, many children who may falter in sit-down exams may find this method of grading more complementary to the way they learn best.

Key Stats:

46% agree that having experienced teacher graded assessments, their child actually prefers this way of learning and grading
54% agree their child feels they learn and retain more due to being graded throughout the year rather than end of year exams
26% of parents agree that since COVID-19, there is a visible decline in their child’s educational progression and they’re now scoring lower
42% agree that their child has the highest levels of stress they have observed in his/her lifetime
43% agree their child’s self-esteem is linked to the grades they achieved at school and university
Bertie Hubbard, CEO of MyTutor comments on the difficulties faced by school children during the pandemic:
“The last 18 months have been unbelievably tough year on teens and parents alike with months out of school, exam cancellations, not seeing friends and worrying about Covid-19. With schools open again, catching up on lost learning and prepping for exams this term has undoubtedly brought another set of challenges for teens.

“They’re in more need than ever for some support and reassurance with their studies, and that’s exactly what our tutors offer. Our tutors are all from UK universities, and because they’re just a few years older they can easily relate to what teens are going through. With their dedicated one-to-one support, teens get some much-needed reassurance and come out with a stronger self-belief – 88% say that lessons made them feel more confident.”