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.

[Moonhead]

I agree. Did you see that "That'll Teach 'Em" On Ch4 last night? Those kids couldnt even point to Liverpool, Manchester, Birmingham etc on the map, and were supposed to be GCSE level educated! These kids will probably go on to study A-Levels now, and pass those as well. Its awful.

[derbyram]

The whole point of exams is to allow people to differentiate between individuals abilities at a given subject. It is irrelevant whether exams are getting easier or students are getting smarter - the current exams are failing in their task of providing a graded indicator of a students abilities relevant to their peers.

[undercovers]

the amount of complaining about exams getting easy has risen by 25%, this proves that the answerbanks participants are getting older (jumpers for goal post) - carry on discussing

[derbyram]

In light of Moonhead's point I have a more personal annecdote which happened only yesterday. My sister-in-law is training to be a teacher (English A-level standard pupils) - yesterday she was attempting to measure a shelf for her bedroom - I had a spare one in the garage and asked her what size she needed - 26foot came the reply. I queried this measurement but she was adamant that she was correct even when I asked her how tall she was and she replied 5foot 7. She then went on to speculate that maybe the feet used in building measurements were different from those used to measure people whilst I just sat in the corner wetting myself. I have asked to go with her to B&Q tomorrow for when she orders the wood.

[derbyram]

...she showed me the measurement on the tape that she used and yes, she did mean 26 inches - The tape measure does say feet on it foolishly assuming that people will know the smaller gradation is inches.

[derbyram]

exactly how old do you think we are undercovers? I have taken O'levels and GCSE's and I know which I prefer (and which I got the higher marks in - and it wasn't O'levels)

[undercovers]

whats an O level, feet and inches arrgh "i see old people" - "when?" - "all the time". I can only assume that your sister in law was trying to use the ancient measuring techniques used in the dark ages to make you happy my dear old man

[number8]

Yes of course they are getting easier: I took 3 A Levels 14 years ago and scrapped the grades I needed to enter my university of choice - only the most exceptionally bright sixth formers attempted a fourth A Level. We now regularly hear of kids taking 6 A Levels and achieving high grades in each, and this is proof positive that they must've become easier. Quite simply, children are not intrinsically more intelligent than those who took their exams 15-20 years ago, and as an employer I tend to ignore exam results and prefer setting an aptitude test.

[SuzeB]

Please excuse my ignorance if I get this totally wrong but what I think is farcical is the lack of a universal exam board in England. This results in exam boards, which are private companies, competing with eachother to sell exam papers to schools under normal competition rules. And I take it under these rules there is only so much regulating the goverment can exercise over them? Schools will want the easiest papers so they can attract more pupils and therefore more funding. With the growing trend in schools acting more like businesses it's no wander papers are easier and results higher regardless of falling standards.

[derbyram]

undercovers how tall are you? How much do you weigh? If you are honest and not trying to be a smart ar$e you would answer in feet and inches and stones and pounds.

[molly]

I'm probably going against the grain here, but the fact that more people are passing their exams does not necessarly mean easier exams. when I was at school (ok, old person talking here) the methods of teaching were very poor compared with today. I've seen my own kids going through school and wished I had been taught the way they have. Lessons are made in a way that they are so much easier to understand, and more interesting. Today help is available through the internet, extra classes videos etc, etc. Generally teachers seem to be more enthusiastic (though I admit there's a few bad ones) Kids can get moved to different teachers if they don't get on with them. The list is endless when it comes to the help kids get to day compared with my day. There would be something far wrong if standards are not better today than they were a generation ago.

[undercovers]

grumpy - believe it or not i am completely metric, though i can approximate these figures in ye olde measuring techniques, although i don't think the point of this thread if for me and you to discuss the length and weight of stuff (oohhher missus)

[BenDToy]

undercovers - no-one in this country can be completely metric. The most basic of measurements are available only in imperial. I refer of course to roadsigns, and odometers in cars. You cannot, without a lot of arithmetic, which I am confident is beyond most people below the age of about 18, calculate your car's fuel consumption, or road distances, in anything other than imperial, or a bizarre mixture of imperial and metric. And if you were "completely metric" then you would be unable to do the conversion anyway.

[Greedyfly]

Discuss - hmmmmmm... yes father

[Jilly]

One of the funniest things I have heard was the quote that Stuart Wilson's (Big Brother) 4 grade A Alevels were proff that A levels have gotten easier!

[ludwig]

Thanks for all the answers. I actually feel a bit sorry for the people taking exams these days. They work their arses off, get good results and then have to listen old gits like me moaning about how they don't deserve it cos it was a doddle. It's not their fault that it's all rigged. I blame league tables. By the way, degrees are the same. Thirty years ago you had to be pretty clever and work hard to get a degree. When I did mine (10 yrs ago) you basically just had to turn up. God knows what it's like now.

[derbyram]

bah humbug. I'm off to sit down in front of the wireless and listen to the Home service with my pipe and slippers - I might slip on a bit of the streets on my gramaphone afterwards.

[WoWo]

I totally agree with derbyram on this, the whole point of exams is to separate the wheat from the chaff. If every body gets grade A then its been completely pointless. We hear that schools are seriously failing to teach young people decent writing and arithmetic skills yet they all pass a level's. My feeling is its a bit of both easier exams but better teaching.

[Pinotage]

The education system has had the students since they were 5 years old, they've been taught by professional teachers for over 10 years with the intention of sitting A levels. The schools will not enter students for the exam unless they feel they've a good chance of passing.

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The question should be, why isn't there a 100% pass rate???

[RHCP rule]

I am completely disgusted with the way everyone seems to believe A-Levels are getting easier, no they are not I AM CURREBTLY DOING MY A-LEVELS, i have the stress, not only is there a surplus in demand to get into universities (2005) because of higher fees the grades are becoming ever unreachable. I feel sad that this country has less NHS facilities and the 'NHS is going down' so why are the grades so high to do medicine? Im sure if all of you who disagreed re-went through higher education you would change your tune. Please consider us as students how diminishing it feels to be told that the A you worked soooooo hard for is nothing but a meaningless grade as the education system grades are getting much easier PLEASE REPLY