Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/180494 
Year of Publication: 
2018
Series/Report no.: 
IZA Discussion Papers No. 11476
Publisher: 
Institute of Labor Economics (IZA), Bonn
Abstract: 
In many countries, important thresholds in examinations act as a gateway to higher levels of education and/or good employment prospects. This paper examines the consequences of just failing a key high stakes national examination in English taken at the end of compulsory schooling in England. It uses unique administrative data to show that students of the same ability have significantly different educational trajectories depending on whether or not they just pass or fail this exam. Three years later, students who just fail to achieve the required threshold have a lower probability of entering an upper-secondary high-level academic or vocational track and of starting tertiary education. Those who fail to pass the threshold are also more likely to drop out of education by age 18, without some form of employment. The moderately high effects of just passing or failing to pass the threshold in this high stakes exam are therefore a source of educational inequality with high potential long-term consequences for those affected.
Subjects: 
high stakes examinations
manipulation
English
JEL: 
I20
I21
I24
Document Type: 
Working Paper

Files in This Item:
File
Size
781.4 kB





Items in EconStor are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.