When Was The Last Time That The Results Actually Went Down?

Question

Every year we get these reports that the pass rate and results are up on the previous year. Personally I believe that exams are easier to pass and to get higher grades.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/7559063.stm

Answer 1

Don't forget, though, that all A-levels are done as modules, with most students completing most of their modules during the course.

The results that were published today will be for the final one or two modules (out of 6) and the total grade achieved by combining all the module scores.

Students unlikely to gain a pass grade fell by the wayside long ago, when their earlier marks showed they weren't up to the standard, which is why nearly everyone passes A-level.

Those who a few years ago might have worked for 2 years to then fail a single exam, getting nothing for 2 years work (or lack of it!) now drop out much earlier, and never actually get entered for the final exams.

Also, as teachers get more familiar with examination specifications, their teaching and preparing of students for these exams gets better.

So we should actually expect a year-on-year improvement.

Are they actually easier? They are certainly different. I would say that A-levels have changed to be broader (i.e more content), but less deep (i.e. less coverage of 'difficult' concepts). Some would say that this makes them more accessible, some say easier, some say more relevant.

So long as they are fit for purpose, and allow further education establishments to select the right youngsters for their courses, is there any relevance in comparing today's A-level results with the ones I got 30 years ago?

I presume all those saying they are too easy and a monkey could pass them would be willing to subject themselves to sitting these exams to make their point.

Answer 2

Perhaps they are getting easier, I don't know. But the person who said people take 5 or 6 is totally wrong. 3 is the norm, 4 if you are advanced. I'm taking 4 A levels, starting in September, they aren't easy courses and I sure as h**l won't be able to just sail through it.

Does that mean if I get 4 As I haven't worked hard enough, and I'm not clever enough, because I didn't take them 10 years ago?

It is true, that English levels have fallen to abominable levels, but there are some of us teenagers still about that are capable of good standards of spelling and grammar. I passed my English GCSEs with As, does that mean I'm not allowed to be proud of that because it was too easy for me?

It's far too easy to judge the teenagers taking these exams as needing them to be "dumbed down." We don't, and actually the real problem is the courses now available like Golf. Stupid A levels that should never, ever have been introduced.

Answer 3

I haven`t seen an exam paper in years.

However, i definitely think that standards in English have been dumbed down. Spelling and grammar are obviously not being emphasised enough from school, right through to university level.

How many employers, now complain, about the poor standard of English amongst the people they take on. Only the other day, a university lecturer, was saying how tired he was of correcting spelling and basic grammar amongst his students.

Although, i can spell, without the aid of a spell checker, even i am not sure how good my grammar is. This is typical of the politically correct world we live in. No-one is allowed to fail anymore. It doesn`t help anyone. It just lowers standards and exam passes start to become meaningless. I failed most of my O` Levels, because i wasn`t bothered about revising. But, that was my own fault. If i didn`t make the required grade, i deserved to fail. It certainly hasn`t scarred me for life.

Answer 4

Have you seen what passes for the English language these days?  Apparently spelling and punctuation aren't taken into account....

Answer 5

In the late 80s very few would take 4 A-levels.

Now they take 5 and 6!!!

Of course they are easier.

Answer 6

They are definitely easier.  A lot of an exam mark is based on practical course work done throughout the year.  Judging by the number of youngsters that I see come and go at work, a trained monkey could do the exams and get an A.  Most of them can't speak properly, construct a simple letter, spell or have any understanding of basic grammar.  Needless to say, they don't last very long!

Answer 7

if i can get A levels any fool can, no doubt about it, they must be getting easier, how come something like 4 out of 10 kids cant read or write properly when they leave infants school yet by the time they leave high school they're all bloody genius's ?

Answer 8

About the only thing they have not lost this year, kept them secret to the date. Impressed at that at least, I think every student was thinking if they hung around some roundabout are on a train they would have got the papers.  

Answer 9

The results will never go down. It would be seen as a failure and our ever media conscious government would not allow that to happen.

Rather than teach the subject (like they used to do), they'll carry on teaching kids how to pass the tests (like they do now) to ensure that ever more make the grade.

I have a friend who marks dissertations and he says, in some cases, the spelling, grammar and punctuation is awful.