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Challenge to exam papers

Released on 23/07/2010

Charity challenges independence of exam papers 

NCT, the UK’s largest parenting charity, has today highlighted concerns that school exam papers may have been subject to the influence of commercial organisations.   

The charity has come across two recent science exam questions presenting misleading and inaccurate information that would directly benefit formula milk companies. One of the questions, which featured in a GCSE chemistry paper, also directs students to mistrust charities.   

The GCSE question presents a label for a fictional packet of infant formula milk, called ‘My Baby Food’ as the basis for a question about calcium carbonate. It then goes on to other issues relating to formula milk. On several counts the information presented on this label is misleading, incorrect, and in contravention of UK regulations. For example, it claims the milk is ‘pure and natural’ and makes claims about the nutritional value of the product which are not permitted in UK advertising.  

The question then goes on to put forward several biased arguments, presented as ‘information’, including a claim that without free formula milk babies in the developing world might die of malnutrition. This contradicts research estimating that around 1.45 million children die every year through lack of breastfeeding, mainly as a result of unsafe bottle feeding, as well as the UNICEF and WHO guidance on the risks of formula use in developing countries and in disasters. 

Charities working to support mothers who want to breastfeed are also negatively caricatured in the question, in the guise of ‘Mrs I M Right’, founder of fictional organisation ‘Responsible Mothers Are Us’.

Her extreme views are framed by a reference to the fact that she has ‘made a career in ‘goodness’ and is paid from donations given to RMAU by members of the public’. The marking criteria for this paper only judges a student’s ability to interpret and accept the information presented, with no room to critique or dispute the claims.  

In another example, an SAT paper used in Key Stage 3 again demonstrates bias towards formula milk over breastmilk, claiming fair comparisons between the two when in fact the information is presented without crucial context.  

Belinda Phipps, NCT Chief Executive, says:  “We are incredibly concerned about the fact that these questions present inaccurate and misleading information to students in an educational setting, by bodies that are highly trusted and regarded as an authority on these matters. The GCSE paper in particular carries incorrect information that seems so inappropriate and so biased that it suggests the influence of formula companies, which would mean there is a much bigger principle at stake here.  

“We want to see these questions and any others like them removed from circulation and new regulations created to ensure that no question can contain bias that would assist a commercial company. We are also offended at the misrepresentation of the role of charities, which are required to demonstrate benefit to the public. Such inaccurate portrayals should not be permitted in exam papers.” 

NCT has already submitted its concerns, supported by detailed evidence, to Ofqual and the Charity Commission, with a request for a detailed investigation into commercial influence on exam papers. 

Ends 

For more information on the exam questions, or to arrange an interview with a spokesperson, please contact Claire Keuls or Kirsty Kitchen on 020 7700 6952 or email kirsty@amazonpr.co.uk  

Notes to editors: ·    

The NCT's analysis of the questions and their answer sheets is available online. For more detail about the problems within these papers, read our analysis.    

NCT is the UK's largest parenting charity. Every year it supports thousands of people through pregnancy, birth and early parenthood. The charity has 104,054 members across the UK and 1,400,000 visits to its website each year.

Part two of the GCSE Chemistry question is summarised below:

From question 2 of AQA Unit Chemistry C3:  2 (b) Read the information in the box below and then answer the question:  

Calcium carbonate occurs naturally as marble and limestone. They are important building materials and are often used for gravestones. Calcium carbonate is also an essential mineral for good health and is present in many baby foods in small amounts.My Baby Food is recommended as being the closest to a mother’s own breast milk. It is given free to mothers in the developing world – without it their babies might die of malnutrition.Responsible Mothers Are Us (RMAU) is a United Kingdom pressure group. They want to ban chemicals in baby foods. The group was founded by Mrs I. M. Right who has made a career in ‘goodness’ and is paid from donations given to RMAU by members of the public. When interviewed, she said: “Calcium carbonate is a chemical and so it is a pollutant. My Baby Food must be banned to prevent the mass medication of babies. I don’t feed my baby the stuff of gravestones.”

Many people do not agree with Mrs Right’s ideas. Suggest why.  ·        

The SAT science Key Stage 3 question (6) and marking criteria are also available onlinehttps://orderline.qca.org.uk/gempdf/1847218229/1847218261.pdfhttps://orderline.qca.org.uk/gempdf/1847218229/184721827X.pdf

Take action

You can take action now to ensure education and exams provide the accurate information by joining NCT Active, our free, easy and quick to use campaigners’ network. If you join you can send an email to the Rt Hon Michael Gove MP, Nick Gibb MP and your own MP asking them to stop industry influence in education - join NCT Active.

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