A Level pass rates rise for 17 years - are people really getting more intelligent?

Question

So the pass rates for A levels have once again gone up - and have done every year for the past 17 years. With 96.2% of students getting a pass can people keep getting more and more intelligent? As 22.8% got a grade A, are the teachers going to get a pay rise for this success?

Answer 1

i think the older generation is a little bit jealous.

Answer 2

Not in my experience. unless they have a-levels in being really docile....

Answer 3

Young people always say "no exams aren't getting  getting easier, I worked really hard ect". I am quite young and did exams quite recently and I would say I think they are getting easier. I remember doing past papers when I was studying for my exams and I would be stuck on a question and go and ask the teacher how to do it. The response would always be "oh don't worry that stuff isn't in the course anymore". In other words the hard questions were not in the course anymore. People always say that exams aren't easier but that the standard of teaching has improved. Even if thats true then thats no reason for the pass rates to go up because the exams should be made harder in response to improved teaching. This is because the whole point of A levels is for university's to pick the best candidates and they can't do that if nearly a quarter get the top grade.    

Answer 4

No but people are valuing education more than ever and working harder.

Answer 5

Its absolutely obvious that standards are dropping.  When almost a quarter get an A there is something wrong.  

Answer 6

Nope. The exams are getting easier. If I gave  a GCSE student one of my old O-level papers, the only question they'd get right is their name! In any subject, but particularly maths or science (and what's all this 'triple award' c**p?! I've seen the papers - they're *PATHETIC*! - I could have done them at 7!)

So, all you lot slapping yourselves on the back - you're not getting cleverer, the exams are becoming easier!  

Answer 7

Well I can understand the last few year's rise in numbers as many weak candidates are weeded out with AS Levels and never get to take the full A Level.

I do think that the 'softer option' A Levels are skewing the results though and no I do not think they are more intelligent - but I do think teachers are getting better at getting them through the test!

Answer 8

well I believe that the A levels were about the same as previosu years and I got AAAB.

Answer 9

They are getting easier, especially in maths and the sciences. This is why some of the leading collages are setting their own entrance exams