The impact of A-level reform on Economics in Higher Education

Peter SmithAssociate, Economics NetworkSeptember 2015

2

Overview

• Background to the reforms

• Timeline

• Overall impact of the reforms

• The reformed economics curriculum

3

Background• Existing system of AS/A-levels introduced in 2000

– modular, with exams twice per year– AS contributed to A-level grades– provided information for HE admissions

• Concerns

– too much time spent preparing for exams– students ill-prepared for HE study– learn and forget approach– grade inflation

• For Economics, challenge of taking students from no knowledge to being exam-ready very quickly

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Timeline of the reforms

Sep-10

Jan-11

May-11

Sep-11

Jan-12

May-12

Sep-12

Jan-13

May-13

Sep-13

Jan-14

May-14

Sep-14

Jan-15

May-15

Sep-15

White Paperlaunchesreview ofA-levels

Education Secretary

Michael Goveannounces

removalof January

exams

Ofqualresearch

published &consultation

launched

AS to bedecoupled

from A-level

Report ofgroup on

reviewof subjectcurricula

Subject expert panels review content Ofqual

publishessubjectcontent

requirementsfor Phase 1(including economics)

Teachingof reformed

Phase 1 subjectsbegins

Ofqualaccredits

economicsspecs

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Overall impact of the reforms• Subject specifications being phased in over 3 years

– Economics in the first phase– Maths in the final phase (teaching from 2017)– A mixture during the transition

• Will fewer exams release teaching time?

• Will AS levels survive?

– If not, admissions information affected– Entering students for exams is costly

6

Changes to the economics curriculum• More content added than removed

• More time for students to assimilate new concepts before being examined

• Heightened focus on quantitative skills and criticality

• Possible increase in diversity of incoming students

– i.e. between those with & without A-level Economics

7

Changes to contentBoards New content Revised

contentDeleted content

All Financial sectorRole of central bankBehavioural economics

AQA Intro to utility theoryMonopolistic competition

More on nature of development

Cost-benefit analysisGrowth of firmsGame theoryBuffer stocks

Edexcel

More reference to economic history & economic thinkers

More on emerging economies

Details of EULabour immobility/ price instability as market failures

OCR Intro to utility theoryDebates in macroeconomic thinkingThe environment

More on development

Emphasis on leisure and transport economics

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Quantitative skills (20% of overall marks)• calculate, use and understand ratios and fractions

• calculate, use and understand percentages and percentage changes

• understand and use the terms mean, median and relevant quantiles

• construct and interpret a range of standard graphical forms

• calculate and interpret index numbers

• calculate cost, revenue and profit (marginal, average, totals)

• make calculations to convert from money to real terms

• make calculations of elasticity and interpret the result

• interpret, apply and analyse information in written, graphical and numerical forms

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…and finally• CORE curriculum may help to cope with diversity of

background

• Increased awareness of quantitative skills may be helpful (but only for those who have taken A-level)

• Admissions needs to be carefully handled in the transition

• https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/302106/A_level_economics_subject_content.pdf

• Thanks for listening…