A Level results
17 August 2007, 03:34 PM
#31
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There used to be a grade N too. I should know I've got a couple 
17 August 2007, 03:43 PM
#32
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Who cares really? A levels mean jack **** anyway these days. It certainly doesnt give you a better footing for a job so its all useless and just a way of helping you into Uni for higher education.
My parents seem to think my brother is really clever, he managed a C at A level maths, I was never deemed clever enough to do that although my HNC/HND covered A level maths in half the time its took him to get his C than it did for me to get it
Thats what I said to them 
My parents seem to think my brother is really clever, he managed a C at A level maths, I was never deemed clever enough to do that although my HNC/HND covered A level maths in half the time its took him to get his C than it did for me to get it
Thats what I said to them
17 August 2007, 03:46 PM
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That's the point I've been trying to make. A levels used to be a distinguisher and certainly good ones. A degree and you were looking at being a high flyer. Now, with NL equality for all, almost anybody can get a degree and it's now almost the base level requirement for many jobs that would have accepted good O or A levels 10-15 years ago.
17 August 2007, 03:59 PM
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Some of us got an o level pass in the odd one,think that was one above the unclassified grade
Common sense rules I say
(2 A levels and bitter and twisted)
Chap I went to school with is now one of the million pound a year top lawyers.He was the only one who got 3 A's (we only did three in those days),not the whole sixth form
Common sense rules I say
(2 A levels and bitter and twisted)Chap I went to school with is now one of the million pound a year top lawyers.He was the only one who got 3 A's (we only did three in those days),not the whole sixth form
17 August 2007, 04:40 PM
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17 August 2007, 04:43 PM
#39
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Some of us got an o level pass in the odd one,think that was one above the unclassified grade
Common sense rules I say (2 A levels and bitter and twisted)
Chap I went to school with is now one of the million pound a year top lawyers.He was the only one who got 3 A's (we only did three in those days),not the whole sixth form
Common sense rules I say
(2 A levels and bitter and twisted)Chap I went to school with is now one of the million pound a year top lawyers.He was the only one who got 3 A's (we only did three in those days),not the whole sixth form
18 August 2007, 09:14 AM
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The pressure to get good grades is too high on the schools/staff at the moment. It is not seen as acceptable if a student fails, regardless of how stupid (sorry, not PC) they are and whether or not they should have been allowed on the course in the first place. Consequently a lot of students are getting perhaps 'more help' than they should be getting with their coursework, this happens at a lot of schools and it's not something that I agree with.
It needs to become 'ok' and expected for some students to fail, only then will the teachers stop giving extra help to increase how the school looks to the public. Plus if you remove this one-to-one help it puts all the students back on a level playing field again, surely If everyone that takes the qualification passes then that de-values the qualification?.
We need to remove all traces of coursework. Then it is just the student and the exam, only then can results be compared from one school/college to another and then can we begin to trust the results.
It needs to become 'ok' and expected for some students to fail, only then will the teachers stop giving extra help to increase how the school looks to the public. Plus if you remove this one-to-one help it puts all the students back on a level playing field again, surely If everyone that takes the qualification passes then that de-values the qualification?.
We need to remove all traces of coursework. Then it is just the student and the exam, only then can results be compared from one school/college to another and then can we begin to trust the results.
19 August 2007, 12:48 PM
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That's the point I've been trying to make. A levels used to be a distinguisher and certainly good ones. A degree and you were looking at being a high flyer. Now, with NL equality for all, almost anybody can get a degree and it's now almost the base level requirement for many jobs that would have accepted good O or A levels 10-15 years ago.
It should be accepted that academics do not suit everyone, we are all different as far as our talents are concerned, and if standards had been kept at the earlier levels, those who it suited would learn considerably more from their education, and the standards to which they were educated would also be far higher. The examinations would show that and then future employers would have a better idea of what they are getting in the first place and those students would be far more capable too.
Those students who did not achieve those results would almost certainly be far more suited to vocational studies and would find it more interesting and useful too. They are the ones who would do well in an apprenticeship which were also available in past years as well. That also seems to have gone to the wall!
The important thing is that all pupils should have the chance to prove that they were suited to higher education and that is where the eleven plus exams brought in by Attlee's Labour government was such a good institution. This also includes the great worth of grammar schools.
At the moment we seem to be at a grey level of so many sub standard students with a poor education in the very basics who if they do go to a university will get a low grade degree which is basically useless and who still do not even know how to read,write, spell and express themslves properly in English. They are then landed with an enormous debt which they are stuck with paying off.
We should not be aiming to send everyone to university to get a poor degree but only those who are really suited to it and they should not have to pay for the course either.
Les
19 August 2007, 02:55 PM
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Certainly I think the standards of English have deteriorated markedly. I have a feeling that if say, you sit a science exam then as long as you convey the correct answer the English and spelling you use is not felt relevant.
Perhaps every exam should have some marks attributed/deducted for correct use of English - say 15% of overall mark available per exam? dl
Perhaps every exam should have some marks attributed/deducted for correct use of English - say 15% of overall mark available per exam? dl
19 August 2007, 03:50 PM
#43
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im sick of hearing about them every bloody august
nobody really cares and the only thing they show is somebodys ability to learn something id rather have some one with experidence any day rather than a folder full of certs
nobody really cares and the only thing they show is somebodys ability to learn something id rather have some one with experidence any day rather than a folder full of certs
19 August 2007, 03:51 PM
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im sick of hearing about them every bloody august
nobody really cares and the only thing they show is somebodys ability to learn something id rather have some one with experidence any day rather than a folder full of certs
nobody really cares and the only thing they show is somebodys ability to learn something id rather have some one with experidence any day rather than a folder full of certs
19 August 2007, 07:23 PM
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19 August 2007, 07:40 PM
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I havent got any and am making alot more money than my friends that do. Only point in doin a-levels is as a easy way to get into uni without having to leave your comfort zone of secondary school.
19 August 2007, 07:48 PM
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19 August 2007, 07:53 PM
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apprenticeship. 4 years of plumbing/gas qualifactions banged out in 2. Got all C's in GCSE which must have pissed alot of people off who I ashamedly hassled in school, as I was one of those who did not bad considering I was never in class. I used to be a good boy, but the secondary school environment threw me off track. Then once I started college/work I was back on course
19 August 2007, 08:17 PM
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apprenticeship. 4 years of plumbing/gas qualifactions banged out in 2. Got all C's in GCSE which must have pissed alot of people off who I ashamedly hassled in school, as I was one of those who did not bad considering I was never in class. I used to be a good boy, but the secondary school environment threw me off track. Then once I started college/work I was back on course
19 August 2007, 08:55 PM
#52
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The whole point of exams (as opposed to education in general) is to grade the quality of the student. Anything that levels the playing field unrealistically is a waste of everybody's time.
It really doesn't matter how clever you are, it matters that you are cleverer than the competition. That's how you get on in life. End of story.
Put another way, in the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king. Corny, but true.
Richard.
It really doesn't matter how clever you are, it matters that you are cleverer than the competition. That's how you get on in life. End of story.
Put another way, in the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king. Corny, but true.
Richard.
20 August 2007, 08:42 AM
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20 August 2007, 01:07 PM
#55
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The whole point of exams (as opposed to education in general) is to grade the quality of the student. Anything that levels the playing field unrealistically is a waste of everybody's time.
It really doesn't matter how clever you are, it matters that you are cleverer than the competition. That's how you get on in life. End of story.
Put another way, in the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king. Corny, but true.
Richard.
It really doesn't matter how clever you are, it matters that you are cleverer than the competition. That's how you get on in life. End of story.
Put another way, in the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king. Corny, but true.
Richard.
Les
23 August 2007, 09:51 AM
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Just a warning that O level (GCSE) results are out today and the pass rate is expected to be 99%! 
But please remember, these exams are no easier than they used to be, this is due to kids being much cleverer now and also improved teaching!
But please remember, these exams are no easier than they used to be, this is due to kids being much cleverer now and also improved teaching!
23 August 2007, 11:37 AM
#60
I feel sorry for the kids taking these exams as they are being done an injustice by the system. With such a high level passing the exams it makes a mockery of the whole thing. 