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QCA today published a report called Inter-subject comparability studies and a book titled Techniques for monitoring the comparability of examination standards.

Techniques for monitoring the comparability of examination standards is a state-of-the-art review of techniques for monitoring the comparability of examination standards. The intention of the book is to describe the different methods, to highlight their various strengths and weaknesses, and to consider the progress made in monitoring comparability over the past half a century.

The Inter-subject comparability study includes four investigations that focussed on the following areas:

• Study 1a: comparisons at GCSE, AS and A level using selected specifications across geography and history
• Study 1b: comparisons at GCSE, AS and A level using selected specifications across biology, chemistry and physics and additional science (double award) at GCSE
• Study 2a: comparisons at A level using selected specifications across biology, psychology and sociology
• Study 2b: comparisons at A level using selected specifications across English literature, history and media studies.

Ken Boston, QCA's Chief Executive, said:

"Ensuring comparability between examinations, awarding bodies and across subjects is vital to maintaining standards. QCA has worked with leading assessment experts to publish a state-of-the-art-review of comparability techniques. This book is the first of its kind and leads the thinking on approaches to monitoring comparability of examination standards.

"Our report on inter subject comparability shows that the level of demand is broadly comparable across the subjects considered in the studies. This work, which uses a pioneering technique, will be the beginning of a much broader programme of work on inter-subject comparability that the new regulator, Ofqual, will take forward."

Notes to editors

1. More information on Techniques for monitoring the comparability of examination standards can be accessed here. It is edited by Paul Newton, Jo-Anne Baird, Harvey Goldstein, Helen Patrick and Peter Tymms.

2. The Inter-subject difficulty report can be accessed here.

3. For further information please contact the QCA newsdesk on 020 7509 6789, or 07798 924552 outside office hours. Members of the public should call the QCA enquiries line on 020 7509 5556.