LONDON, (Reuters) – School science exams, revised after criticism that they failed to stretch able pupils, have been sent back for further modification after an exam watchdog said they failed to address concerns over standards.
The new-look GCSE exams for 15 and 16-year-olds are being developed after regulator Ofqual found problems with the versions used in 2007 and 2008, and still used today.
The revisions cover exams in science, additional science, additional applied science, biology, chemistry and physics.
Around 500,000 pupils take science GCSEs each year.
Ofqual said the five exam boards offering science GCSEs, including OCR, AQA and Edexcel, had submitted revised versions of the qualifications for approval for teaching from September 2011.
“However, Ofqual has found that the new versions do not fully address the concerns raised,” it said in a statement.
“It has sent detailed feedback to the awarding organisations so they can take action to bring the examinations up to the required standard.”
