My answer is a resounding “No!” Several things have made it a lot easier to get an A grade:

• The Assessment Objectives: if pupils tick the right boxes, they’ll get a good grade
• Re-takes
• Less stringent marking.

The old English A Level was a difficult exam to get an A grade in. Overwhelmingly, you had to write beautifully crafted essays to get A grades. Now you have to meet the Assessment Objectives and you’ll get full marks.

Talking on Radio 3’s Nightwaves about this with Estelle Morris tomorrow.