National Reference Test given the go ahead for 2017
The first National Reference Test (NRT), designed to better inform the awarding of GCSE grades, has been given the go ahead to take place in 2017.
Ofqual has confirmed that around 18,000 students will take the tests in February and March 2017, following careful consideration of the outcomes of a trial test held in March this year.
The tests are designed to monitor if there is any change in how students perform at national level over time, which will provide valuable additional information for the awarding GCSE grades. It is hoped that the NRT can be used to gauge whether there has been genuine improvements in pupil performance that would potentially justify a national rise in GCSE pass rates.
Sally Collier, chief regulator, Ofqual, said: “The trial went very smoothly and has demonstrated that the test is ready to go live. We will make sure that schools taking part are well supported and more generally explain how the results have a clear potential to benefit GCSE awarding.”
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