因疫情取消中高考 英國用算法算出的成績引學生不滿

爲了防控新冠疫情，英國今年並未舉行A-level和GCSE（分別相當於中國的高考和中考）考試，考生成績由一套算法得出。但在已放榜的“高考”成績中，近40%的學生成績低於教師給出的預估分數。這使得許多學生與名校失之交臂，引發了考生和家長的抗議。英國政府已宣佈改變成績計算政策，以教師的評估作爲最終成績。

A-level and GCSE students in England will be given grades estimated by their teachers, rather than by an algorithm, after a government U-turn.

英國政府對考生成績政策出現180度大轉彎，A-level和GCSE（分別相當於中國的高考和中考）考生的分數將由他們的老師評估給出，而不是通過算法來計算。

It follows uproar after about 40% of A-level results were downgraded by exams regulator Ofqual, which used a formula based on schools' prior grades.

由於英國資格及考試監督辦公室（Ofqual）使用了基於學校之前成績的公式來計算考生分數，大約40%的考生A-level成績低於教師評估，引發了軒然大波。

uproar[ˈʌprɔː(r)]：n.騷動；喧囂

GCSE results in England, Wales and Northern Ireland come out on Thursday.

英格蘭、威爾士和北愛爾蘭的GCSE成績將於週四（8月20日）公佈。

Ofqual chair Roger Taylor and Education Secretary Gavin Williamson apologised for the "distress" caused.

Ofqual的主席羅傑·泰勒和英國教育大臣加文·威廉姆森就此事給大家造成的“痛苦”表示道歉。

Teachers' estimates will be awarded to students unless the computer algorithm gave a higher grade.

除非計算機算法給出更高的分數，否則考生成績將由教師評估得出。

Mr Williamson said the results of mock exams - which critics said can be inconsistent across different schools - will now not be a key part of the appeals process.

威廉姆森說，模擬考試的結果將不再是申訴程序的關鍵部分。批評人士認爲不同學校之間的模擬考試評分標準可能不一致。

In a statement, he acknowledged the "extraordinarily difficult" year for students, after exams were cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.

他在一份聲明中承認，受新冠疫情影響，A-level和GCSE考試被取消，今年對學生來說“特別艱難”。

He said the Department for Education had worked with Ofqual to design "the fairest possible model" but it had become clear that the process of awarding grades had resulted in "more significant inconsistencies than can be resolved through an appeals process".

他表示，英國教育部之前與Ofqual合作，設計出“儘可能公平的模式”，但很明顯，評分過程導致了“更嚴重的不一致，無法通過申訴程序解決”。

"I am sorry for the distress this has caused young people and their parents but hope this announcement will now provide the certainty and reassurance they deserve," said Mr Williamson.

威廉姆森說：“我對此事給年輕人和他們的父母帶來的痛苦感到抱歉，但希望這一消息能給他們帶來應得的確定性和安慰。”

He also revealed the temporary cap on the number of places that universities can offer to students would be lifted.

他還透露，將取消大學招生名額的臨時上限。

數日的混亂

In a tweet, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said the government had been "forced into a screeching U-turn after days of confusion".

工黨領袖基爾•斯塔默爵士發推文表示，政府“在經歷了數日的混亂後，政策被迫做出180度大轉彎”。

A-level students held protests across the UK in response to grades they said were unfairly awarded.

由於認爲所得分數不公，英國各地的A-level考生舉行了抗議活動。

Ofqual chair Mr Taylor apologised for the "difficulty" caused to students over its grading system.

Ofqual的主席泰勒先生爲評分制度給學生們造成的“困難”道歉。

He told the BBC: "I would like to say sorry. We have recognised the difficulty that young people have faced coping with the receipt of grades that they were unable to understand the basis on which they had been awarded."

他告訴英國廣播公司：“我想說對不起。我們認識到了年輕人在收到成績時所面臨的困境，他們無法理解自己獲得成績的依據。”

He added the regulator realised it had taken "the wrong road" and decided to "change course" after seeing the "anxiety" it had caused to young people and the added "administrative burden on teachers at a time when they need to be preparing for the new school term".

他補充說，在看到給年輕人帶來了“焦慮”，而且“在需要爲新學期做準備時給教師增加了行政負擔”之後，監管機構意識到自己走了“錯誤的道路”，並決定“改變政策”。

對大學的挑戰

Alistair Jarvis, chief executive of Universities UK, said universities were being "as flexible as possible with applicants" but that the "late policy change" has created "challenges".

英國大學協會首席執行官阿利斯泰爾•賈維斯表示，大學正在“儘可能靈活地對待申請者”，但“政策的後期變化”帶來了“挑戰”。

He called on the government to "step up and support universities", adding that Universities UK was seeking "urgent clarification" on a number of issues.

他呼籲政府“加強對大學的支持”，並補充說該協會正在尋求“緊急澄清”一些問題。

In a statement, the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (Ucas) said about 69% of 18-year old applicants across the UK were currently placed with their first-choice university, which it said was "higher than at the same point last year".

在一份聲明中，英國大學和學院招生服務中心（Ucas）表示，目前英國約有69%的18歲申請者被他們的第一志願大學錄取。該機構稱，這一比例“比去年同期還要高”。

It said students who did not have places at their first or insurance choice of university did not need to make their decision immediately.

該中心稱，那些未被第一志願大學或者保底院校錄取的學生不需要立即做出決定。

Ucas said it would be issuing new advice for students and schools, which would be sent directly to students, as soon as they were able to take a decision.

Ucas表示，一旦管理部門有了正式決定，該機構將向學生和學校發佈新的建議，這些建議將直接發給學生。