English GCSE 'dumbed down' as marks awarded for basic grammar

Pupils taking supposedly "tougher" new GCSEs in English and maths will be able to answer multiple choice questions and take unlimited resits.

The exams, which have been revamped after accusations of "dumbing down", aim to ensure all school-leavers have gained basic numeracy and literacy skills.

But last night it emerged that one suggested question for an English test simply asks pupils which word is spelled incorrectly in the sentence "be careful, the kettel is hot".

It was also revealed that students could be awarded up to 50 per cent of an exam paper's total marks simply for mastery of the basics, known as "functional skills".

The revelations, from a briefing document by exam board Edexcel, have prompted fears that pupils are being examined on skills they should have mastered years earlier.

Business leaders have already warned that many teenagers are obtaining high-grade GCSEs despite struggling with basic grammar, spelling and elementary maths.

Dr Bethan Marshall, a senior lecturer in education at King's College, London, said: "If you make 50 per cent of the GCSE about doing the basics, you are dumbing down.

"The subject is about so much more than being able to communicate accurately. And if you are still doing basic skills at GCSE level, heaven help you. It's pretty boring."

But ministers have insisted the changes will make the qualification more rigorous and that pupils will be prevented from gaining grades higher than a C unless they have grasped enough basic skills.

The new English, maths and computing (ICT) GCSEs are to be introduced in 2010, although 1,000 schools and colleges across the country will test them from September.

Under the plans, English pupils will be assessed on grammar, spelling, their use of commas and apostrophes, making verbal presentations and detecting bias while reading.

Maths will cover converting metric and imperial measures and working with fractions and statistics. The ICT course will involve using the Internet and formatting text.

Pupils may also be allowed to retake the exams as many times as they like. Currently, GCSE candidates are allowed just one resit.

A spokesman for the Government's exam watchdog, the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority, said: 'No decision has been made as to the percentage of marks taken up by functional skills.

"The pilot of functional skills tests will include the full range of types of approaches to assessing the curriculum - it will not be limited to multiple choice.

"The pilot will also look at how many times GCSE resits will be allowed, and whether students will be allowed to resit the whole GCSE or just the functional skills element."

Tory schools spokesman Michael Gove said: "Labour's plans for the curriculum are descending into further chaos. After writing Churchill out of our history, they are now making a mockery of rigour in English.

"The idea that 16-year-olds should be tested on how to spell 'kettle' and the principle that this exam should be based on tick-box multiple choice tests undermines any claim to higher standards."

Schools Minister Jim Knight denied the changes meant a reversion to "primary level lessons", adding: "Pupils will still be required to have deep and broad subject knowledge."