Of course, you could show percentage scores in the tests rather than where you sit in the country. That means that it should be consistent over time, although I agree that in a decent sized national subject it’s probably fine the other way.
My main objection to giving percentiles relates to the OP’s concern that there’s no such thing as a ‘very good’ A, At least with UK school exams, I think that getting 100% in most subjects tests for conscientiousness and not making silly errors at best and being well-trained in the exam system at worst. I am pretty sure that if percentages were public I’d have had to get better marks to get into uni, but also that in making sure I did so I would not have been using my time usefully.
What I think would be far preferable to a ‘who managed not to screw up a single question’ model of getting better than an A would be an extension paper that was genuinely challenging and couldn’t be straightforwardly taught.
Of course, you could show percentage scores in the tests rather than where you sit in the country. That means that it should be consistent over time, although I agree that in a decent sized national subject it’s probably fine the other way.
My main objection to giving percentiles relates to the OP’s concern that there’s no such thing as a ‘very good’ A, At least with UK school exams, I think that getting 100% in most subjects tests for conscientiousness and not making silly errors at best and being well-trained in the exam system at worst. I am pretty sure that if percentages were public I’d have had to get better marks to get into uni, but also that in making sure I did so I would not have been using my time usefully.
What I think would be far preferable to a ‘who managed not to screw up a single question’ model of getting better than an A would be an extension paper that was genuinely challenging and couldn’t be straightforwardly taught.