Originally Posted by auzdafluff (Post 9582642)

They haven't been dumbed down. The tests themselves are still as difficult as they always where.

What HAS happened from my own personal experience, as well as those of my friend's siblings who recently took them, through to those who sat them many years ago, is the way we were taught our A level, and indeed GCSE subjects.

I – and everyone younger than myself, as well as some a little older – have been taught in a way that emphasises how to pass the test. Not to understand why things are happening, but how to figure out the patterns and use those patterns to get the question right.

They know what the right answer is, how to work out the right answer, but they have no idea WHY it is the right answer.

That's why when you take them out of that setting, they have no idea.

For example, I got an A, A, A, B, and E (Geography, English, Business Studies, Music Technology, and Law – though I was surprised to pass Law at all to be honest) at A Level (2003).

Yet despite getting an A in English, I didn't actually learn, and therefore understand, how grammar actually works until my first full-time job in the media (i.e. not freelancing).

And it's not just the fault of Labour and its league tables, though they did exacerbate the problem. No, the root of the problem lies with universities and employers who demand certain grades to qualify for whatever they are offering (university course, or graduate course etc).

It's the emphasis on grades, rather than the understanding of the subjects, that has led to today's problems.

Originally Posted by auzdafluff (Post 9582642)

I – and everyone younger than myself, as well as some a little older – have been taught in a way that emphasises how to pass the test. Not to understand why things are happening, but how to figure out the patterns and use those patterns to get the question right.

They know what the right answer is, how to work out the right answer, but they have no idea WHY it is the right answer.

Originally Posted by The Dean (Post 9584515)

You're not going back far enough to get a meaningful comparison.

Originally Posted by Hello.Kitty (Post 9572860)

What I can't get over is the way English people (gross generalisation) often don't know how to put together and articulate an argument - nothing's clear, there's no progression or conclusion and they have only a very loose understanding of punctuation and paragraphs. Even some of the allegedly published academic stuff I'm forced to endure is quite frankly rubbish... worse than rubbish.

Originally Posted by Meow (Post 9586161)

The rot set in when O-levels were scrapped. The GCSE was a combination of an O-level and the much easier CSEs, so had to be easier than O-levels for most people to pass them.

The whole system has done teenagers a disservice since then.

Originally Posted by Scamp (Post 9586216)

Personally I think it's less the content of the exams but the exams being sat.

Last year, my old Grammar came no.1 in the country based on the English Bacca that's been devised - the staple parts of a rounded education. This was partly aimed at stopping expensive public schools from putting rich ****wits through a cooking GCSE to get good grades.

My A-Levels were in English Language, Economics, Law and Psychology. Aside from Psychology which is borderline, they are all proper subjects as far as I'm concerned.

My 6th Form College however, was full of people doing shite A-Levels; Media Studies, Sociology, Business Studies, Photography, Film Studies.

They all generate great results and passes because you curl something out your arse that warrants an A*.

Thats my thoughts anyway, less what's in the exam but more about what is being sat.

Originally Posted by auzdafluff (Post 9586589)

I wouldn't describe photography and business studies as shite. Business Studies is essentially an MBA-lite in the sense that it gives people a basic understanding of many principles of modern business. To call it shite is to say MBAs are shite too.

As for photography, it's definitely not shite, but it is much more practical and hands on than most other A Levels. I didn't do it at A Level, but I would bet that there's a fair whack of theory in there.

Originally Posted by The Dean (Post 9586601)

MBAs are shite...........

Remember: MBA = Means Bugger All

Originally Posted by The Dean (Post 9586601)

MBAs are shite...........

Remember: MBA = Means Bugger All

Originally Posted by jackthehat (Post 9586760)

I am with you 100% I put them in the same category as 'Life Degrees!' - Could not get a 'Real One!'

Originally Posted by auzdafluff (Post 9586589)

I wouldn't describe photography and business studies as shite. Business Studies is essentially an MBA-lite in the sense that it gives people a basic understanding of many principles of modern business. To call it shite is to say MBAs are shite too.

As for photography, it's definitely not shite, but it is much more practical and hands on than most other A Levels. I didn't do it at A Level, but I would bet that there's a fair whack of theory in there.

Originally Posted by Meow (Post 9587886)

Scamp

Are you suggesting that being a photographer is not a proper job??