exams

[ludwig]

The recently published A level results (showing record numbers of grade As for the 22nd year running), prove that exams really are getting easier, to the point that it's just becoming farcical. Discuss.

[Robinia]

Are you doing English A level RHCP rule?

[Gef]

Enough said, especially if RHCP got an A in English.

[Elfin]

Aw you lot are being a bit heartless! Attaining good A levels (especially academic ones) still takes 2 years of regular attendance/paying (a reasonable amount of) attention/writing long assignments at a time when they would all rather be out having fun socially. In that respect, nothing has changed. And realistically, kids who are illiterate and innumerate (?) DON'T all go on to pass A levels, as suggested - they wouldn't even get on the course now would they... I do agree that all examinations are designed to sort out the wheat from the chaff however. If that objective is not being met, then changes must be made. But give the kiddies a break - it's irresponsible of us (embittered "don't know they're born"-spouting oldies) to mar the achievements of those teenage years, that we each only have once in a lifetime. It's not their fault any more than it was ours when we sat them!! My older brother got 4 A grades at A level (a school record then) in the late 70s and he's actually a right tw4t! Nuff said.

[saffstar]

With regard to the examples given of A-level holders being 'thick' - A levels are a measure of how well an individual can learn and understand a specific subject - not how globally intelligent they are. Also, what is the point of trying to improve teaching standards and methods if it isn't to see an improvement in exam results? When I did my A levels (8 years ago), a large portion of the biology curriculum was stuff that my teacher hadn't studied until his second & third years at Uni. Also, I was talking to a colleague yesterday who informed me that, when she sat her A levels 32 years ago, there was a quota - so only a certain percentage of students could ever get an A, no matter how many achieved the standard. Perhaps the removal of this quota system has something to do with the increase in top grades. Having said all that, I think that it's time to review the grading system - the best option to me seems to be giving students a score rather than a grade, to make it obvious who the highest acheiving students really are.

[Sky]

i think more and more people are studying media studies, and other such B$ subjects, hence the higher amount of A grades.

[Sam172]

Sky, that is very true. I'm doing my AS levels starting in september and my brother has gone through A levels already. Poeple see media studies, film studies, sociology and other easier subjects. To them it's a choice of going for subjects like chemisty + maths they may not like....and probably doing okayish in them....or going for media + film studies which they enjoy and are almost guaranteed an A in. Okay, I personally think they have been made easier a bit, but a lot is due to pupil discression in what subjects they choose. Also, if a pupil is going to fail, often the school doesn't put them in for the test. It just makes the school look worse. It's all about pupils taking the easier route out, schools being made to look better and better at the pupils expense. The problem is, the people who do take the harder route often end up looking worse compared to the pupils who took the easy route. Basic standards have slipped though, I can't even multiply very well yet I can do complicated mathematics i'll never need for the career I want. I know almost nothing about British history, minus WWII and I couldn't tell you where Manchester or Birmingham are if you gave me a week to try :-(. To be honest, it's a disgrace.

[saffstar]

I definitely agree with Sky & Sam. When I did my A levels, the students doing sociology all got As & Bs, without actually having to do much work. Their tutor even gave them a virtual walkthrough of their exam a couple of days before (not sure how he got away with this). However, when it comes to traditional (or 'hard') subjects, I stand by my earlier post.

[Drewhound]

It must be difficult to listen to RHCP rule but how can universities and employers select the best if so many have the same results? I think there are two issues here. Firstly the apparent dumbing down of the courses. I'm sure teaching methods are better now but this morning I hear one exam board doesn't require maths students to study calculus. I find that pretty damning Secondly the number of students who are taking easier courses and then find they have a useless degree, at least in the sense of being employable. It does nothing for the stature of the exams when so many students take things like media and environmental studies

[woofgang]

I do think that however it has been done, it is now easier for students to get more exam passes and higher grades. I do not say this to downgrade the kids who have worked hard. THEY are the victims of this. School exams are not an end in themselves, but, as others have said, are supposed to be a means for sorting out comparative ability. One thing that none of the "oldies" have pointed out is that the relevance of GCSE and A level grades is time limited. Once people get to an age where they should have taken other training and assessments, then the number and grade of your school exams becomes irrelevant. NOBA if they then decide to pursue a training as a mature student, they will usually be asked to do an access course or more exams to demonstrate the ability to apply scholastically before joining the course.

[woofgang]

if the improvement in GCSE and A level grades is due to smarter kids and better teaching, how come the primary school literacy and numeracy standards aren't showing a similar improvement??

[CARLOVER]

Could it just be perhaps that the testtakers are just getting smarter?

[Atukas]

Hello people! I'm 18 years student from Lithuania i'm starting A levels in UK on 4th of September. I always thought that UK educational system is perfect as compared to Lithuanian it's students has more free time ,studies aren't very hard as it's possible to take 3-5 A levels and still get into university. In Lithuania students has to take 5 subjects( these subjects just must be Math,English,Mothertounge,chemistry,physics they are compulsary almost for all universities for most of degrees) in higher level and 6 in normal level in the end of the last year students must sit 3-5 exams so from this point i can agree that A levels in UK are easy as Lithuanians has to learn much more subjects. Probably this is the reason why our students know history of Lithuania and all the world at least most important things and they can show where is Lverpool or Bimingham or any other larger town of the world. But to achieve this students must learn learn learn...
While students in UK can go out side and get expieriences which are more important than knowing where capital of Russia is:)
All in all you all should be happy that you have such a great educationl system which is famous all over the wold and still attracts students from various countries such as Lithuania,China,Russia,Poland ect...

P.S this year maybe only the year which had many smart youngsters:
P.S.S sorry for mistakes i'm still learning this language :D