How do you know when a learner is ready for an exam?  If they pass, they were ready.  But I would also argue that if they fail, they are in a better position than not being entered for the exam at all.  Qualifications can be used diagnostically and we should grasp that opportunity more readily.

There is a fashion in the music world to prepare all year for an exam and then have a mock around Easter to see if learners should be entered proper for the exam in the Summer term.  This seems like a monstrous waste of time to me, why not do the exam in Easter and use the result for the next grade straight away.  No re-sit, just get on with progressing and working on weaknesses.

I’d love there to be progressive mastery qualifications in other subjects, sign me up as a writer today!  Grade 8 mental arithmetic sounds like a complete winner to me, every GCE A* maths candidate should get it in their AS year! Blimey, this idea might get me that BMW I so rightly deserve…

Think I’m out of my mind?  I’ll have you know that I’ve got a grade 8 in critical thinking and grade 6 problem solving! Let us know in the comments section below and please subscribe here or over on YouTube.