am_zarathustra wrote: » That's what it looks like to me too. I'd just be concerned about how accredited grades and exam grades are treated, two separate bell curves? One for each with a quota? Hard to not see inflation with both and exams this easy. You can only tighten a marking scheme so much in some subjects.
Mardy Bum wrote: » Results should match last year's because there will be a lot of students who will be using their points this year.
deiseindublin wrote: » Also, how do you gel an exam bell curve with predicted grades when it's pick and mix between them?
am_zarathustra wrote: » Actually excellent point, I'd only been of two datasets, I forgot they overlap and also sometimes don't. I'd love some form of explaination as to how it's going to be done.
Treppen wrote: » It's a bit of a dunt for students who opted for accredited grades only ! They'll be allocated a grade based on how they would perform in a normal year... whereas their peers who are sitting the exam will be undertaking a simplified version!
SEC Accredited Grades awarded to students in each subject based on schools’ estimates of students’ likely performance in the 2021 examination and a national standardisation process.
Treppen wrote: » This is what I was warning against 2 weeks ago. There has to be a record level of grade inflation this year. They might try and work the two off each other before coming to a grade for either! I mentioned they could possibly have sight on the 2 grades and adjust both/either accordingly to suit 1 overall bell curve. For a finish I rang the Union, after much explaining myself as to how the SEC could -in theory- make your lower grade become the higher, they got back to me and assured me that exam grade will not be used to moderate the accredited grade. So I'll take the Department at their word... Biology will now only be marked out of 290 marks instead of usual 400. I know some on here will defend the integrity of SEC to the death, but after the Hullabaloo a couple of years ago (nearly 100% increase in H1s , examiners told to mark answers 'very differently' after the first samples revealed a major skew, heated words ensued... allegedly). Some subjects it will be impossible to fit to a bell. Others -as usual- like Music, English, Art, possibly language orals will get the usual treatment. But hey! Maybe just let the cards fall where they fall and let CAO oversubscription lottery take care of it. Maybe it would have been easier to cancel the leaving cert and just work the auld 'bell curve magic' on predicted grades only.
Choochtown wrote: » I had to grade my finest student at 22nd out of 24. She worked so hard but just struggled with the subject. She always gave 100%, always handed in assignments on time etc. but I had to give an honest grade. How did she feel upon seeing that I had thought she was 22nd best out of 24? How did I feel upon knowing that she thought that I had thought so little of her?
am_zarathustra wrote: » How? I teach a right or wrong answer type of exam, I'd frequently have kids get 25/25 or 60/60 in an area they like and have studied hard for, as Rainbowtrout said this will be particularly prevelent in sciences. You can change the weighting sure but a large number of kids, with the extra time ect will just get full marks on a lot of questions so weighting won't helo. You can't mark a right question wrong to suit a curve. Much easier to downgrade and accredited grade. I'm correcting this year, I look forward to multiple changes to the marking scheme.
rainbowtrout wrote: » But it doesn't matter if she was the hardest worker in the class if she didn't have the natural ability in the subject. I'd presume she wasn't scoring the highest grade in the class if she ended up ranked at 22 out of 24. Students know where they are in the class. A student getting 49 is not going to expect to be ranked No. 1 no matter how hard they work if there are students getting 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s etc. They are aware that some students don't do a lot of work but have the ability to pull out a high grade without effort.
rainbowtrout wrote: » That's incorrect. From the guide to accredited grades:
Quote: SEC Accredited Grades awarded to students in each subject based on schools’ estimates of students’ likely performance in the 2021 examination and a national standardisation process.
Polka_Dot wrote: » I can imagine a lot of students doing extra questions too so that they can be marked out of their best ones. Particularly in the likes of biology, there's now plenty of time to do relatively few questions, so no harm doing an extra experiment/long question.
am_zarathustra wrote: » Avoid the heavy hitters too, if I want to bring a curve down hit Ecology etc, no point hitting Genetics. I'd be suggesting particular topics to them too. Weighted marking will be uneven, it always is. 4/5 in one question could be worth less than 2/5 in another. Do them all of you have time. Different sections are hit unevenly too. Kids with teachers who correct will be at an advantage here I think
jimmytwotimes 2013 wrote: » SEC backtracks on masks for orals. They created a needlessly anxious week for many.
km79 wrote: » And schools running around trying to buy Perspex screens Their incompetence never ceases to amaze me
noplacehere wrote: » Source? I’ve one very stressed friend
solerina wrote: » I think there is far too much choice on the biology paper and they have to do far too few questions considering the amount of choice, either or would have been preferable. I can see massive issues bringing grades down, bell curve or no bell curve !!
