To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the Level 4 pass mark for Key Stage 3 tests in (a) English and (b) mathematics was in each year since 1997. [124156]

The threshold mark for Level 4 in the Key Stage 3 tests in (a) English and (b) mathematics between 1997 and 2003 are as follows:

	English	Mathematics Tier 3–5	Mathematics Tier 4–6	Mathematics Tier 5–7
2003	16	68	30	26
2002	20	66	33	31
2001	21	67	32	31
2000	20	69	33	32
1999	22	69	32	30
1998	25	72	32	31
1997	19	54	28	24

The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) is responsible for the development and administration of the National Curriculum tests on behalf of the Secretary of State. There is a process in place, the level setting exercise, to ensure standards are maintained year on year. The level thresholds are the range of marks needed to achieve a particular level in the National Curriculum tests.The test development processes used by QCA include trials of written questions that are improved and finalised before administration. The pre-testing establishes comparability across key stages and across years. The technical information collected by these stages is considered alongside other evidence in order to set levels that are consistent from year to year.The confirmation of the final level thresholds takes the form of a meeting chaired by QCA and attended by representatives from the test development agencies, chief markers, QCA officers, researchers and statisticians, representatives from professional associations and independent academics and observers.The Government are satisfied that the quality control procedures in place for test development and level setting are thorough and rigorous. In July 1999, an Independent Scrutiny Panel, chaired by Jim Rose, considered QCA's arrangements for setting and maintaining the standards of the Key Stage 2 English and mathematics tests. The Rose Review report validated the development procedures and confirmed that the test data from Key Stage 2 were a reliable measure of pupil attainment.