Petition Calls for Review of Difficult A-Level Maths Paper
More than 19,000 individuals have signed a petition requesting a review of an A-level maths exam paper, citing that it was considerably more difficult than any previous assessments.
The Pearson Edexcel Paper One exam, held on Wednesday, has caused students to feel "overwhelmed" and "uncertain" due to questions that demanded "multiple layers of reasoning" and "extended algebraic manipulation."
Ofqual's Response to Exam Difficulty
Ofqual, the examination regulator in England, has stated that it is "closely monitoring" the marking process of this particular paper.
A Pearson spokesperson affirmed the exam board's commitment to providing a fair examination experience for all candidates.
Details of the Petition
The petition, which was published on the day of the exam, argues that grade boundaries should be adjusted to reflect the increased difficulty of the paper.
"Many candidates who had demonstrated strong mathematical ability throughout their studies found themselves unable to complete substantial sections of the paper within the allotted time,"
the petition states.
"These students deserve confidence that their grades will reflect their mathematical ability rather than the unusual difficulty of a single examination paper,"
it continues.
Official Statements from Ofqual and Pearson
Ofqual told the Press Association that their main priority is "students and ensuring their grades are a reliable indication of what they know, understand and can do."
Caroline Darrington, a spokesperson for Pearson, commented:
"If a paper is found to be more difficult than previous years, grade boundaries will be set to reflect that.
When setting grade boundaries, we review a range of evidence, including statistical data and expert judgment.
This process ensures students receive results that fairly reflect their performance and are comparable across exam series."
