Northern Ireland’s final-year students will discover tomorrow whether they have emulated their Southern counterparts’ success when the A-level results are announced tomorrow.
In recent years, Northern Ireland’s students have achieved the highest marks in the United Kingdom but following the steady increase in pass marks from 78 per cent in 1991 to 89.5 per cent last year, there has been some debate that exam results are being marked easier UK-wide.
There has also been controversy surrounding the new AS-level exams, which were sat for the first time this year.
The National Association of Head Teachers wrote to the British Education Secretary last week expressing its concern that the results may create an "inadequate and distorted picture".
The new exam results can be accepted by students and used as a certificate for entry into further education but the student may choose not to accept the qualification which means they can re-sit any part of the exam again. Those who accept the AS-level are obliged to take all three units of their exam if they subsequently wish to re-sit.
"Since it is perfectly possible for a candidate to state that their "results are being held over" as part of their personal statement in the UCAS form, the balance of argument is against cashing in until this becomes necessary," General Secretary Mr David Hart wrote.
Meanwhile, students in Scotland received their marks this morning and were no doubt relieved when they discovered the correct results had been sent. Last year, 17,000 students were sent the wrong marks.
However, there was embarrassment for the Scottish Qualification Body again this year when it incorrectly announced a seven per cent increase in the higher pass rate. The rate of increase was, in fact, 1.3 per cent.
A helpline has been set up by the Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment (CCEA) and will be in operation until August 24th. The telephone number is: (028) 9026 1260.
"We’ll do our best to answer any query and if we can’t, we’ll do our best to put callers in touch with someone who can," the council's chief executive Gavin Boyd said.
The CCEA website also provides information on re-marking, obtaining a copy of marked exams and other frequently asked questions and will accept email enquiries.
All GCE A level, AS and Key Skills results will be available tomorrow. CCEA GCSE results will be available to candidates on Tuesday 21st August 2001 while GCSE results from other boards will be available on Thursday August 23rd.