The recent exam marking fiasco(s) has shown what the problems might be with a system that relies entirely on a one-shot exam at the end of an education process. BTECs were originally considered not in need of regrading because they were modular and therefore already had a lot of evidence of what the candidate might be expected to score in their final result (they were later revised to be inline with the revision of other examinations but still).

Modular examinations used to be the way we assessed people until it was abolished by Michael Gove in favour of final examinations. Literally this government has gone on so long that it’s reaping the consequences of its actions and it does not care to change direction.

Assessment by a single examination favours certain kinds of people, if I was being unkind I would say it favours the approach of the currently ruling clique and their aversion to consistent work in favour of a roll of the dice and a bit of elan to bluff your way through. Having to turn up and do the work repeatedly not only has the advantage of being a better indicator of educational performance over time but hey also means that you don’t have to create ficitious grading systems at the last minute with the aid of an algorithim.