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2012
6th Cambridge Assessment Conference - Examining Risk
10 Oct 2012
The conference on 10 October addressed the issue of risk in examinations. So what can we learn from the past, what might be learned from insights within other fields, and how best we can confront the reality of risk in the future?
Confident learners, confident teachers: new ways of looking at leadership
1 Oct 2012
Teachers from around the world gathered in Cambridge in September to debate the development of leadership skills for the classroom.
How do examiners reach judgements?
20 Sep 2012
Examiner judgements are an essential part of the assessment process. Find out how examiners in different contexts arrive at their judgements, and what variables have an influence on the judgements that are made.
Lessons from the East
14 May 2012
The UK’s education system can learn a lot from ‘the East’. Indeed, we must if we are to remain globally competitive. However, context is everything and we can’t simply transpose lessons from one culture to another.
Just how closely should textbooks link to public examinations?
16 Apr 2012
In England's education system there are concerns that close ties between certain books and exams are leading to ‘teaching to the test’ and undermining the values of fair and accurate assessment.
The meaning of validity: consensus; what consensus?
4 Apr 2012
Find out about the evolution of thinking on validity, from the early 20th century to the present day. Are certain elements of the supposed ‘consensus’ more central than others? And to what extent are different versions of the ‘mainstream’ account compatible?
Driving up standards in vocational education
16 Mar 2012
Find out how OCR's new Cambridge TECs help to equip students aged 16+ with the practical skills and knowledge they need to progress into the modern workplace or higher education.
A straightforward guide: A Levels and GCSEs in the UK
15 Feb 2012
Our series of factsheets provides an overview of the content and design of UK A Levels and GCSEs, the role of exam boards and the regulator, and how these qualifications are created and marked.
The science of career success: personality and psychometrics in education and beyond
30 Jan 2012
Psychologists have tried to predict career success for over a century. Guest speaker Dr Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic revealed the key psychological determinants of career success in school, university, and adult employment.
OCR's "pioneering work" – Gove announces changes to ICT curriculum at BETT 2012
11 Jan 2012
Education Secretary Michael Gove recently praised OCR's "pioneering" work in the field of computer science qualifications at a major educational technology event.
2011
Who's afraid of e-assessment; is the UK reluctant to abandon pen-and-paper tests?
12 Dec 2011
As far back as 2004, Ken Boston (then head of the Qualifications & Curriculum Authority) said that e-assessment would touch the lives of everyone. However, in 2011 that's not yet the case.
Education Select Committee Inquiry: How should examinations for 15-19 year olds in England be run?
16 Nov 2011
We have given evidence to the Committee on the arguments in favour of and against having a range of awarding bodies for academic and applied qualifications, and the merits of alternative arrangements.
Preparing high-achieving English language students for work, study and life in an English-speaking environment
11 Oct 2011
Join Cambridge ESOL's free live webinar on Wednesday 30 November 2011 at 08:30 UK time.
Learning, Teaching and the Brain
27 Sep 2011
At a conference hosted by University of Cambridge International Examinations, Dr Paul Howard Jones from Bristol University explained how teachers can use insights from neuroscience to provide more effective teaching and learning.
Digging for validity
8 Sep 2011
Guest speaker and archaeologist Dr Carenza Lewis explains how a valid assessment model has been developed for an extra-curricular activity.
GCSEs: from modular to linear assessment
25 Aug 2011
The Government's recent announcement on the removal of modular GCSEs means that students starting a three year course from September 2011 will follow a linear programme of assessment. However, a study conducted by Cambridge Assessment revealed that there is in fact justification for both linear and modular assessment routes to coexist.
Education changes under the coalition government
15 Aug 2011
The coalition government has launched many educational policies: academies, free schools, the English Baccalaureate and the freedom for parents and teachers to choose qualifications. What are the implications for today's learners?
Using the CRAS framework to measure the demand of exam questions
29 Jul 2011
CRAS is a framework developed to measure the demand of individual exam questions. CRAS can, however, prove problematic if it is used to measure the demand of a whole question paper or qualification.
How English language learning can be improved through online technology
25 Jul 2011
Learning has been transformed through online communication, English language teachers from across the globe claim during a live online conference.
What can we learn from other improving school systems?
30 Jun 2011
At our eighth Parliamentary Research Enquiry, academics and policymakers debated a recent McKinsey report on what schools of varying levels of performance do to achieve sustainable gains in student outcomes.
Higher Education admissions tests must be fair, valid and transparent
17 May 2011
Higher Education Institutions are under increased pressure to be able to prove that their selection procedures are transparent and fair.
Comparability of examination standards
20 Apr 2011
With many new qualifications being introduced and international comparisons taking place, this area is becoming increasingly important to researchers. But what exactly we mean by comparability?
Inter-subject comparability - a worthy comparison?
24 Mar 2011
Should one try to distinguish between two candidates with the same A-level grades but in different subjects? And could the choice of method used in subject comparability exercises ultimately affect the chances of groups of students in accessing Higher Education?
How do children learn?
26 Jan 2011
There was a lively debate about the science of how children learn and the implications this has for education policy at Cambridge Assessment’s seventh Parliamentary Research Enquiry at the Houses of Parliament.
2010
The future of A levels
23 Dec 2010
Group Chief Executive Simon Lebus and Group Director of Assessment, Research and Development Tim Oates both spoke recently on 'The future of the qualifications and assessment system - A level reform and university entrance'.
Challenges of assessment reform
20 Oct 2010
150 educationalists gathered at the 5th Cambridge Assessment conference to debate the practical consequences of assessment reform.
Cambridge International Teachers' Conference 2010
6 Oct 2010
200 teachers from over 40 countries gathered in Cambridge to debate the dimensions of a global education, identifying and sharing best practice in education for a connected world.
Building a Better History Curriculum (11-19)
14 Jul 2010
In advance of the Government’s new curriculum review groups being established, teachers and historians gathered to share their views about England's history curriculum.
What might a children’s rights approach bring to assessment?
22 Jun 2010
Assessment enables children to achieve, succeed and get the best out their school lives. But academics believe that children are being tested too much. So how can we ensure that educational practice is compatible with international children’s rights standards?
How do HE institutions differentiate between applicants?
1 Jun 2010
The increasing numbers of well-qualified applicants present institutions with a real challenge: how can they choose between applicants in a way that is consistent, fair, transparent and predictive of their future academic success?
England’s National Curriculum – does it miss the point?
6 Apr 2010
Since its introduction in 1988, there have been successive revisions to the form and content of the National Curriculum – and Cambridge Assessment is concerned about the current direction of revision policy.
Formative assessment - a critical review
12 Mar 2010
Dr Randy Bennett of the Educational Testing Service, USA, shares his views on formative assessment - also known as assessment for learning (AfL). What can we learn from this?
2009
Critical Thinking - its role, value and impact upon driving attainment
1 Dec 2009
Students who have a deficit of ‘thinking skills’ are not only lacking sufficient grounding to embark upon undergraduate study, but also missing a vital skill essential for the 21st-century workforce.
What can we learn from cross-national comparisons of education and training?
9 Oct 2009
Guest speaker Professor David Raffe explains how policy makers should exercise caution and care in order to draw robust conclusions.
Computer-adaptive testing – the way forward for school exams?
10 Sep 2009
Guest speaker Professor Peter Tymms explains how the form of an assessment can have as much influence on outcomes as the construct being assessed.
On-screen essay marking is reliable
24 Aug 2009
Examiners can mark essays just as reliably on screen as they can in the traditional paper mode – if properly done, according to a recent Cambridge Assessment study.
The importance of training and skills as the economy emerges from recession
17 Jul 2009
OCR's Greg Watson talks skills at World Class Skills 2009.
Testing and Identity
10 Jun 2009
Testing and Identity: This month, our guest speaker Gordon Stobart explains how the use of 'labels' in testing can make it a destructive process.
Have we realised any benefit from the focus on 'Assessment for Learning'?
19 May 2009
A recent seminar hosted by the Cambridge Assessment Network explores some of the reasons why people are becoming advocates of Assessment for Learning.
What is happening to 14-19 education in England today?
8 Apr 2009
Clara Kenyon, Qualifications Director at OCR, describes some of the key changes taking place in England's education system today.
Using Technology to Enhance Education
24 Feb 2009
Principals from Cambridge International Centres debated the role of technology in education as the internet and multimedia transform learning today.
Concept of error
2 Jan 2009
Ofqual’s Dr Paul Newton explores the issue of error and reliability in examinations. He calls for a clear message on error and for it to be discussed openly.
2008
Parliamentary research seminar: Better Training: Better teachers?
17 Dec 2008
Over 140 teaching professionals including researchers and practitioners attended our Parliamentary seminar “Better Training: Better teachers?” on 10 February 2009.
Cambridge connection
14 Nov 2008
Former CEO of the Singapore Examinations and Assessment Board, explains how Cambridge examinations have helped establish its successful education system.
‘The relationships of examination boards with schools and colleges: a historical perspective'
18 Jun 2008
Kathleen Tattersall, Chair of Ofqual, presents a historical perspective on the relationship of examination boards with schools and colleges.
Protecting the innocent...
18 Jun 2008
...– the ethics of mass innovation in education. This seminar takes a closer look at the safeguards that should be in place when major changes to the education system are being planned.
14-19 Reform - a global perspective
22 Apr 2008
Distinguished contributors from across the globe discussed the challenges and opportunities within 14-19 education that they see on their own continents.
IAEA 2008 Conference
1 Feb 2008
Cambridge Assessment hosted the 34th International Association for Educational Assessment (IAEA) Annual Conference in Cambridge.
Our 150th Anniversary Celebrations
1 Jan 2008
Since 1858 we have been at the forefront of enhancing education through assessment. Our success owes much to the contribution of examiners and our partners around the world. In 2008 we celebrated our 150th anniversary.
