Teenagers To Find Out A-Level Results

[mikey4444]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-40952125

What are the chances that we get the usual response, from the usual quarters today, that "A Levels were much harder in my day ", instead of congratulating these kids on their wonderful achievements ?

[jim360]

Been ten years since I sat mine, and I can't comment on what they are like now, but it seems to me that it's possible to do both at the same time. GCSE qualifications in maths, at least, are manifestly easier today than the equivalent O Level. But you can only do what's in front of you, so to make that point doesn't seem to me to take anything away from the students.

[murraymints]

the pass marks are abysmally low in some subjects...and sorry Mikey ...the content also looks much easier than in my time.... there is a dumbing down.... I was always amazed at the very poor spelling on forms and cvs by school/college leavers, quite apart from the content and equally poor communication skills ,of post grads even , when coming into the office to submit benefit claims

[ummmm]

I also think they are easier but we didn't have the same technology. The answer to more or less everything is just a few keystrokes away.

[Prudie]

I expect there to be an equal mix of that but also posters telling how their kids/grandkids have done so well and lots of 'well done you must be so proud' replies. Did you take A levels in the old days Mikey?

[Electrochem]

I agree with your sentiments, but sadly I find that a lot of school leavers and graduates have a poor understanding of grammar and mental arithmetic. Many can't construct a business letter or the like. Sadly, this is more to do with teachers being told not to worry about spelling and grammar, so it is not the fault of the kids. I have come across teachers who can't impart good grammar and the like, because they have never been taught it themselves. I also thing that we need to go back to end of year exams, instead of the current system of modular tests.

[EDDIE51]

I think that the announcement that student loans are to go up to 6% has a lot to do with the lack of take up in University places.
They are realising that going to Uni means starting their working life with tens of thousands of £ debt!

[Sqad]

A-levels were much harder in my days.....there you are mikey, I've said it.
In "my" days the really bright boy would take 3 or perhaps 4 A-levels and he would be University material, but now one sees pupils taking 8 or 10 A levels.
SO the kids of today are twice or thrice as clever OR the exams are easier. Which would you put your money on mikey?

[ummmm]

It's a fact of life that most things are computerised nowadays. Kids are rarely in a position to have to use mental arithmetic.

Go into pubs and you'll find that most bar staff don't even know the price of a pint...because the till does it for them.

[ummmm]

Sqad...I think you might be wrong there. They may take 10 plus GCSE but not A levels.

[Cloverjo]

I've never read of anyone taking 8 A levels, sqad. A few take 5 I think.

[ummmm]

Eddie...Martin Lewis, the money expert, said on TV the other day that uni students could be burdened with 50k of debt...before they've even started work.

[fiction-factory]

I think that the announcement that student loans are to go up to 6% has a lot to do with the lack of take up in University places.
They are realising that going to Uni means starting their working life with tens of thousands of £ debt!

If they misunderstand the system hat may be true eddie. It aint a loan is a graduate tax. Most never have to repay their fees in full and some never have to repay a penny. The 6% figure is the rate of interest by the way .

How come demand for places went up when fees were put up from £1000 to £3000 then £9000?

[fiction-factory]

Surely, eddie, if interest on ' loans' for fees were the issue you'd expect demand to increase as Corbyn wants to wipe out the debt and there is now much more chance he'll get in next time

[EDDIE51]

There was a program on TV last night about the Norton motorbike factory. They are having to turn down orders because they can't get enough skilled production workers. They need people able to operate high tech mechanical equipment such as milling machines and lathes. That sort of training does not come with a degree from a University.
In the past they would have taken school leavers with good 'O' levels and put them through an apprenticeship. They would have been paid to learn a trade rather than racking up a huge debt and ending up with a qualification that is almost worthless in many cases!

[Cloverjo]

Yes, f-f, they shouldn't think of it as loan that is holding them down. You sometimes see youngsters on quiz shows, when asked what they'll do with their winnings they say it'll go towards their student debt. I want to tell them not to! Enjoy the money on something else and let the loan be slowly paid off (or not) from your salary.

[fiction-factory]

I'd be very surprised if Martin Lewis said exactly that, ummm. He must bang his head against a wall at the number of times he tries to explain that this isn't a debt- it's a graduate tax that they will start to pay only if they earn a high salary. I think a lot of peopel deliberately misunderstand the student loan system in order to whip up fear and win votes from those who don't understand

[Sqad]

It looks as though I have the 10 A levels wrong, so ignore my previous posts.

[ummmm]

FF - he said all that. That it doesn't have to be repaid until they earn X amount. But he did say that's how much a uni student can run up.

[naomi24]

Exams are easier. University places are now readily available to people who, not so very long ago, wouldn’t have got past the gate. I also think there’s something in what Ummmm said about technology. That renders dumbed down exams even easier.