Incorrect spelling will not be penalised in English tests

Are exam standards being lowered in the UK because of SMS? Not everyone is happy about.

Examiners marking an English test taken by 600,000 14-year-olds have been told not to deduct marks for incorrect spelling on the main writing paper, worth nearly a third of the overall marks, reports The Telegraph.

The revelation of the "spelling free-for-all" in the hour-long paper has angered traditionalists who say that children should be penalised for poor spelling".

[...] "Teaching spelling and good grammar is even more important in an era when children's ability to master it is threatened by the prominence of text messaging," Mark Hoban, the Conservative education spokesman said.

emily | 12:13 PM | SMS and Students |
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