Ofqual announces extra checks for maths A-level standards

Ofqual has announced plans to include extra scrutiny over the standards of new A-level maths papers, examining the levels of difficulty the papers currently test.

The watchdog will survey the responses of maths teachers and PhD students after undertaking the new A-level maths papers which are due to be taught for the first time in September 2017. The process is aimed at ensuring all boards’ papers are equally challenging.

The news comes after last-minute checks on the standards of new GCSE maths papers by Ofqual last year revealed that one exam board’s paper was found to be easier than others, with some papers considered to be too difficult.

Dr Michelle Meadows, Ofqual’s executive director for strategy, risk and research, said: "The accreditation process does look at the level of demand, but it only judges each qualification in isolation.

"It’s more difficult to make an accurate judgement of the likely difficulty of just one exam paper or question, it is far easier and more reliable to compare two questions and rate which is going to be more difficult."