Ofqual has decided not to adjust grading standards in A Level French, German and Spanish and physics, chemistry and biology.

This decision comes after extensive research into inter-subject comparability over many years following concerns that it might be harder to achieve top grades in these subjects compared to others.

Recognising that perceived grading severity could undermine confidence in these qualifications, Ofqual will be working with exam boards to avoid the potential for these subjects to become statistically more difficult in the future.

Commenting on the concerns about the decline in take-up of A Level Modern Foreign Languages, Ofqual said that “lowering the grade boundaries is not the right way to make subjects more attractive to potential students”.  Further work will now be carried out, however, on grading standards in GCSE French, German and Spanish.