Teachers' And Students' Support For The A Level Remains High

Since 2003, MORI has conducted research on behalf of the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) to assess perceptions of the A level and GCSE exam system.

Findings from the latest wave of the research, conducted in November 2005, show that support for the A level qualification remains high among teachers and students despite frequent debates regarding the future of the A level and the potential impact of the 14-19 Specialised Diploma. Among students there has been a significant decline in the proportion who believe A levels should be abolished (falling from 14% in 2004, to just three per cent now).

Confidence among teachers in the quality of marking and grading of A level exams has also risen and now stands at its highest level since this survey began in March 2003. However, the consistency of exam grading has emerged as a concern among A level teachers this year (mentioned by 11% in 2005, compared with none in 2004).

As has been the case since March 2003, A level teachers continue to be highly critical of the media coverage of the annual announcement of A level results with more than four in five (86%) finding it "unhelpful." A level students are less concerned about media coverage with just over a quarter (27%) reporting they find it "upsetting."

Technical details

A representative sample 1,974 members of the general public, including 73 students who are about to take, are currently taking or have recently taken A levels were interviewed face-to-face across England using the fortnightly MORI omnibus survey. In addition, a representative sample of 504 teachers, including 281 AS level, A level and Vocational A level teachers, were interviewed by telephone across England. All interviews were conducted between 3 and 25 November 2005. Data have been weighted to match the known population profile.