Do algorithms have too much power?
LSE IQ
00:00
The a-Level Algorithm
In March 2020, it was announced that summer exams were to be cancelled due to the pandemic. Cue many jubilant teenagers who thought they would be awarded predicted grades instead. Then off-quail, the exams regulator came up with an algorithm which automatically prescribed what grades students would get. It was designed to counteract the inevitable grade inflation from teacher-assess grades. The end result, 39% of students received lower grades than expected,. After a huge public backlash, the exam regulator admitted fault and reverted to teacher-ass assess grades. Boris Johnson even apologized to students.
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