Example education dissertation topic 5:

A statistical comparison of the rate of top grade awarded at school and university levels from 1979: A consistent lowering of secondary standards?

The suggestion that ‘A-levels are getting easier’ is not only perennial but also tends to be based on a comparison of previous examination papers. This dissertation takes an alternative view of this problem by proposing a hypothesis. ‘If students are performing better (rather than their grades being artificially boosted) then ceteris paribus, there should be a corresponding rise in the awarding of top grades at the next stage of their education career’. After all, there is a correlation between ever increasing A grades at GCSE level and at A Level. Accordingly, through the analysis of statistical data on A levels and degree classifications this dissertation seeks to provide an answer to the aforementioned perennial question.

Suggested initial topic reading:

• Fazackerley, A. and Richmond, T. (2009) ‘Science Fiction? Uncovering the real level of science skills at school and university’, Policy Exchange, Vol. 22, pp. 1-23.
• Hodgen, J., Brown, M., Küchemann, D. and Coe, R. (2010) ‘Mathematical attainment of English secondary school students: A 30-year comparison’, Working Paper, King’s College London/University of Durham.
• Mattei, P. (2012) ‘Raising educational standards: National testing of pupils in the United Kingdom, 1988-2009′, Policy Studies, not yet published.