A-Levels

Old Aug 16th 2007, 9:50 am
  #16  
Lost in BE Cyberspace
 
Madam Medusa's Avatar
 
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 18,187
Madam Medusa has a reputation beyond reputeMadam Medusa has a reputation beyond reputeMadam Medusa has a reputation beyond reputeMadam Medusa has a reputation beyond reputeMadam Medusa has a reputation beyond reputeMadam Medusa has a reputation beyond reputeMadam Medusa has a reputation beyond reputeMadam Medusa has a reputation beyond reputeMadam Medusa has a reputation beyond reputeMadam Medusa has a reputation beyond reputeMadam Medusa has a reputation beyond repute
Default Re: A-Levels

oh it's ludicrous to say that standards haven't slipped - the A-level pass rate this year is almost 97%, compared with 68% in 1982. The proportion of pupils achieving A grades is expected to rise to 23% this year, compared with 8.6 per cent in 1982. Now there is no way that kids are significantly brighter or more hard working now than they were a few years ago...so what other explanation can there be than that the exams are easier!!

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main...14/nexam14.xml

MM, xx
Madam Medusa is offline  
Old Aug 16th 2007, 9:51 am
  #17  
BE Forum Addict
 
Cham128's Avatar
 
Joined: Jul 2007
Location: London and Dubai
Posts: 1,072
Cham128 is a splendid one to beholdCham128 is a splendid one to beholdCham128 is a splendid one to beholdCham128 is a splendid one to beholdCham128 is a splendid one to beholdCham128 is a splendid one to beholdCham128 is a splendid one to beholdCham128 is a splendid one to beholdCham128 is a splendid one to beholdCham128 is a splendid one to beholdCham128 is a splendid one to behold
Default Re: A-Levels

Originally Posted by rebeccadubai
The majority of students still come out with 2.2's. That is the average grade I think. You have to work really hard for a 2.1 and getting a first is rare.
its very true and 3rds are becoming very popular now as well... but then you have to realise that more people are going to university because they feel they have to.

the worst part about my a-levels is that they realised they were being criticised for being easy so they made two of the ones i took extremely difficult that year... and only 35% of people passed... so they changed it back the year after... doh!
Cham128 is offline  
Old Aug 16th 2007, 9:53 am
  #18  
BE Forum Addict
 
Paidtoplease's Avatar
 
Joined: Jul 2007
Location: dubai
Posts: 2,674
Paidtoplease has a reputation beyond reputePaidtoplease has a reputation beyond reputePaidtoplease has a reputation beyond reputePaidtoplease has a reputation beyond reputePaidtoplease has a reputation beyond reputePaidtoplease has a reputation beyond reputePaidtoplease has a reputation beyond reputePaidtoplease has a reputation beyond reputePaidtoplease has a reputation beyond reputePaidtoplease has a reputation beyond reputePaidtoplease has a reputation beyond repute
Default Re: A-Levels

Originally Posted by Madam Medusa
oh it's ludicrous to say that standards haven't slipped - the A-level pass rate this year is almost 97%, compared with 68% in 1982. The proportion of pupils achieving A grades is expected to rise to 23% this year, compared with 8.6 per cent in 1982. Now there is no way that kids are significantly brighter or more hard working now than they were a few years ago...so what other explanation can there be than that the exams are easier!!

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main...14/nexam14.xml

MM, xx
Guess it's because they don't need to worry about tieing shoe laces since Velco came into play, so more time studying
Paidtoplease is offline  
Old Aug 16th 2007, 9:55 am
  #19  
BE Forum Addict
 
Cham128's Avatar
 
Joined: Jul 2007
Location: London and Dubai
Posts: 1,072
Cham128 is a splendid one to beholdCham128 is a splendid one to beholdCham128 is a splendid one to beholdCham128 is a splendid one to beholdCham128 is a splendid one to beholdCham128 is a splendid one to beholdCham128 is a splendid one to beholdCham128 is a splendid one to beholdCham128 is a splendid one to beholdCham128 is a splendid one to beholdCham128 is a splendid one to behold
Default Re: A-Levels

Originally Posted by Madam Medusa
oh it's ludicrous to say that standards haven't slipped - the A-level pass rate this year is almost 97%, compared with 68% in 1982. The proportion of pupils achieving A grades is expected to rise to 23% this year, compared with 8.6 per cent in 1982. Now there is no way that kids are significantly brighter or more hard working now than they were a few years ago...so what other explanation can there be than that the exams are easier!!

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main...14/nexam14.xml

MM, xx
well there are things that are concentrated on in school anymore... ask a kid his 12 times tables and they'll stare at you blankly... but then they concentrate on passing exams rather than have the emphasis on real life application. So the exams arent' getting easier, they're just getting easier to prepare for.

Otherwise I think i'd hold off on my MBA for another 10 years lol
Cham128 is offline  
Old Aug 16th 2007, 10:03 am
  #20  
Not an evil hypnotist
 
typical's Avatar
 
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,975
typical has a reputation beyond reputetypical has a reputation beyond reputetypical has a reputation beyond reputetypical has a reputation beyond reputetypical has a reputation beyond reputetypical has a reputation beyond reputetypical has a reputation beyond reputetypical has a reputation beyond reputetypical has a reputation beyond reputetypical has a reputation beyond reputetypical has a reputation beyond repute
Default Re: A-Levels

Cham128 has hit the nail on the head. Schools are spending a lot more time teaching to the test now (as you'd expect had you studied the effect of rewarding by target achievement, when the target is but an approximate proxy of what you really want).

Also, there is a much wider variety of courses now. Maybe some are Mickey Mouse but nevertheless it does keep some of the students more interested!

I don't believe exams are getting significantly easier, but they're certainly getting broader and much less deep in some areas. And the new science curricula are rubbish!

(A Levels done between 1995 and 1996 here)
typical is offline  
Old Aug 16th 2007, 10:05 am
  #21  
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Thread Starter
 
Inselaffen's Avatar
 
Joined: Jun 2007
Location: Dubai
Posts: 13,547
Inselaffen has a reputation beyond reputeInselaffen has a reputation beyond reputeInselaffen has a reputation beyond reputeInselaffen has a reputation beyond reputeInselaffen has a reputation beyond reputeInselaffen has a reputation beyond reputeInselaffen has a reputation beyond reputeInselaffen has a reputation beyond reputeInselaffen has a reputation beyond reputeInselaffen has a reputation beyond reputeInselaffen has a reputation beyond repute
Default Re: A-Levels

Originally Posted by typical
Cham128 has hit the nail on the head. Schools are spending a lot more time teaching to the test now (as you'd expect had you studied the effect of rewarding by target achievement, when the target is but an approximate proxy of what you really want).

Also, there is a much wider variety of courses now. Maybe some are Mickey Mouse but nevertheless it does keep some of the students more interested!

I don't believe exams are getting significantly easier, but they're certainly getting broader and much less deep in some areas. And the new science curricula are rubbish!

(A Levels done between 1995 and 1996 here)
of course they are getting easier;

"More than one in four UK A-level entries were awarded the top A-grade this year, results show.
Figures from the exam boards showed 25.3% of entries were graded A, up from 24.1% last year.

The national pass rate rose for the 25th year in a row, with 96.9% of exams being marked A to E, up from 96.6% last year."
Inselaffen is offline  
Old Aug 16th 2007, 10:06 am
  #22  
Forum Regular
 
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 55
rebeccadubai is just really nicerebeccadubai is just really nicerebeccadubai is just really nicerebeccadubai is just really nicerebeccadubai is just really nicerebeccadubai is just really nicerebeccadubai is just really nicerebeccadubai is just really nice
Default Re: A-Levels

Originally Posted by Cham128
well there are things that are concentrated on in school anymore... ask a kid his 12 times tables and they'll stare at you blankly... but then they concentrate on passing exams rather than have the emphasis on real life application. So the exams arent' getting easier, they're just getting easier to prepare for.

Otherwise I think i'd hold off on my MBA for another 10 years lol

Knowing how to sit an exam, as in, what type of answers you should give, how to be critical and how to analysis the question is important. I think people are better prepared for exams and therefore do better.

And, I know my 12 times table, but have never used it in real life, my good grades however have helped me get where I am today.
rebeccadubai is offline  
Old Aug 16th 2007, 10:07 am
  #23  
BE Forum Addict
 
Paidtoplease's Avatar
 
Joined: Jul 2007
Location: dubai
Posts: 2,674
Paidtoplease has a reputation beyond reputePaidtoplease has a reputation beyond reputePaidtoplease has a reputation beyond reputePaidtoplease has a reputation beyond reputePaidtoplease has a reputation beyond reputePaidtoplease has a reputation beyond reputePaidtoplease has a reputation beyond reputePaidtoplease has a reputation beyond reputePaidtoplease has a reputation beyond reputePaidtoplease has a reputation beyond reputePaidtoplease has a reputation beyond repute
Default Re: A-Levels

Originally Posted by Inselaffen
of course they are getting easier;

"More than one in four UK A-level entries were awarded the top A-grade this year, results show.
Figures from the exam boards showed 25.3% of entries were graded A, up from 24.1% last year.

The national pass rate rose for the 25th year in a row, with 96.9% of exams being marked A to E, up from 96.6% last year."
Yea but a Typical said ...how would you fair if told to study and learn ''this page'' rather than study and learn '' these 15 books''
Paidtoplease is offline  
Old Aug 16th 2007, 10:12 am
  #24  
Not an evil hypnotist
 
typical's Avatar
 
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,975
typical has a reputation beyond reputetypical has a reputation beyond reputetypical has a reputation beyond reputetypical has a reputation beyond reputetypical has a reputation beyond reputetypical has a reputation beyond reputetypical has a reputation beyond reputetypical has a reputation beyond reputetypical has a reputation beyond reputetypical has a reputation beyond reputetypical has a reputation beyond repute
Default Re: A-Levels

Originally Posted by Inselaffen
of course they are getting easier;

"More than one in four UK A-level entries were awarded the top A-grade this year, results show.
Figures from the exam boards showed 25.3% of entries were graded A, up from 24.1% last year.

The national pass rate rose for the 25th year in a row, with 96.9% of exams being marked A to E, up from 96.6% last year."
Wield Occam's Razor as much as you like, but that doesn't actually prove anything about whether the exams are getting easier.
typical is offline  
Old Aug 16th 2007, 10:20 am
  #25  
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Thread Starter
 
Inselaffen's Avatar
 
Joined: Jun 2007
Location: Dubai
Posts: 13,547
Inselaffen has a reputation beyond reputeInselaffen has a reputation beyond reputeInselaffen has a reputation beyond reputeInselaffen has a reputation beyond reputeInselaffen has a reputation beyond reputeInselaffen has a reputation beyond reputeInselaffen has a reputation beyond reputeInselaffen has a reputation beyond reputeInselaffen has a reputation beyond reputeInselaffen has a reputation beyond reputeInselaffen has a reputation beyond repute
Default Re: A-Levels

there are students now getting 6-7 A Grades. That was unheard of. even the very top students back in the 80's could only manage 4.
Inselaffen is offline  
Old Aug 16th 2007, 10:23 am
  #26  
BE Forum Addict
 
Paidtoplease's Avatar
 
Joined: Jul 2007
Location: dubai
Posts: 2,674
Paidtoplease has a reputation beyond reputePaidtoplease has a reputation beyond reputePaidtoplease has a reputation beyond reputePaidtoplease has a reputation beyond reputePaidtoplease has a reputation beyond reputePaidtoplease has a reputation beyond reputePaidtoplease has a reputation beyond reputePaidtoplease has a reputation beyond reputePaidtoplease has a reputation beyond reputePaidtoplease has a reputation beyond reputePaidtoplease has a reputation beyond repute
Default Re: A-Levels

Originally Posted by Inselaffen
there are students now getting 6-7 A Grades. That was unheard of. even the very top students back in the 80's could only manage 4.
My nephew and his friends averaged about 5-6 between them.... And as much as I love him, he really is as thick as mince sometimes.
Paidtoplease is offline  
Old Aug 16th 2007, 10:26 am
  #27  
Not an evil hypnotist
 
typical's Avatar
 
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,975
typical has a reputation beyond reputetypical has a reputation beyond reputetypical has a reputation beyond reputetypical has a reputation beyond reputetypical has a reputation beyond reputetypical has a reputation beyond reputetypical has a reputation beyond reputetypical has a reputation beyond reputetypical has a reputation beyond reputetypical has a reputation beyond reputetypical has a reputation beyond repute
Default Re: A-Levels

Originally Posted by Inselaffen
there are students now getting 6-7 A Grades. That was unheard of. even the very top students back in the 80's could only manage 4.
Sorry, but that's rubbish. It was unusual but it certainly happened - and inspired me to my own clutch of A grades in the mid-90s. More than 4, thanks for asking.
typical is offline  
Old Aug 16th 2007, 10:27 am
  #28  
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Thread Starter
 
Inselaffen's Avatar
 
Joined: Jun 2007
Location: Dubai
Posts: 13,547
Inselaffen has a reputation beyond reputeInselaffen has a reputation beyond reputeInselaffen has a reputation beyond reputeInselaffen has a reputation beyond reputeInselaffen has a reputation beyond reputeInselaffen has a reputation beyond reputeInselaffen has a reputation beyond reputeInselaffen has a reputation beyond reputeInselaffen has a reputation beyond reputeInselaffen has a reputation beyond reputeInselaffen has a reputation beyond repute
Default Re: A-Levels

Originally Posted by Paidtoplease
My nephew and his friends averaged about 5-6 between them.... And as much as I love him, he really is as thick as mince sometimes.
The whole point about A'Levels is that they are supposed to differentiate between the thickos and not so thickos. Its time to return to a system where only the top 10pct got A Grades and the bottom 30pct failed.
Inselaffen is offline  
Old Aug 16th 2007, 10:30 am
  #29  
Lost in BE Cyberspace
 
Madam Medusa's Avatar
 
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 18,187
Madam Medusa has a reputation beyond reputeMadam Medusa has a reputation beyond reputeMadam Medusa has a reputation beyond reputeMadam Medusa has a reputation beyond reputeMadam Medusa has a reputation beyond reputeMadam Medusa has a reputation beyond reputeMadam Medusa has a reputation beyond reputeMadam Medusa has a reputation beyond reputeMadam Medusa has a reputation beyond reputeMadam Medusa has a reputation beyond reputeMadam Medusa has a reputation beyond repute
Default Re: A-Levels

Originally Posted by Inselaffen
The whole point about A'Levels is that they are supposed to differentiate between the thickos and not so thickos. Its time to return to a system where only the top 10pct got A Grades and the bottom 30pct failed.
but that is the point Inselaffen...there are no thickos now...everyone is equal, everyone deserves A levels and degrees...tis the law...!

MM, xx
Madam Medusa is offline  
Old Aug 16th 2007, 10:32 am
  #30  
BE Enthusiast
 
Border Reiver's Avatar
 
Joined: Jan 2005
Location: Dubai
Posts: 888
Border Reiver has a reputation beyond reputeBorder Reiver has a reputation beyond reputeBorder Reiver has a reputation beyond reputeBorder Reiver has a reputation beyond reputeBorder Reiver has a reputation beyond reputeBorder Reiver has a reputation beyond reputeBorder Reiver has a reputation beyond reputeBorder Reiver has a reputation beyond reputeBorder Reiver has a reputation beyond reputeBorder Reiver has a reputation beyond reputeBorder Reiver has a reputation beyond repute
Default Re: A-Levels

Have to agree, any exam that 97% of candidates pass has to be looked at. I'll bet the 3% that failed this year feel really sick!
Border Reiver is offline  

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.