Really annoyed about criticism of A-level grades.?

Question

Perhaps the reason that A-level grades are becoming devalued is because of their constant criticism by mainstream media. Not a single one of these papers have cited an increase in pupils as a reason for the increase in A grades. Nor have they cited better educational practices. Rather than focussing on how "easy" A-levels have become, perhaps they should take time to pause for personal reflection and ask:

"Did I do badly at school because the exams were harder, or is it because I'm just a lazy a**hole"

Probably the latter. And how do they know they're harder, if they're yet to take them to provide contrast.

Answer 1

Quite simply you cannot compare the exams of previous decades with those today because you would not be comparing like with like. Many people make the mistake of just comparing the examination papers but this is very misleading because there is a whole range of other factors at work, such as the setting of grade boundaries and the effect of coursework.



Having said that, two things about A Levels which have a very important impact on the year on year rise in top grades are:



(i) Before 2000, all A Level exams were taken at the end of the Upper Sixth year (Year 13). Nowadays A Levels are "modular" i.e. split into units. Each unit can be taken and re-taken an unlimited number of times and the student keeps their best result. This undoubtably makes it easier to get higher grades.



(ii) Before 2000, each unit of the A Level was A Level standard. Nowadays, only half the A Level is A Level standard and the other half is the "AS Level", which is a standard half-way between A Level and GCSE. To this extent at least, it it difficult to deny that the A Level has been "dumbed down".

Answer 2

My first point is that you can only pass what is put in front of you. So assuming you have done well, be proud of yourself.



Now whether or not "A" levels have got easier, The following is a statement of fact.



"The percentage of students passing 'A' levels has risen year on year for the last 27 years."



This year 27% of examination entries achieved the highest grade possible with one in eight students getting straight As.



Employers must rely on the public examination to do two things, The first is to establish that a student has reached a standard of knowledge about a particular subject. The second is where a problem now exists, which is to help distinguish between candidates. At present our "A"level system does not do this.It should and the press should be shouting about this failing.



There have already been several very good comments on why more people are achieving these grades. The only one I can think of which may have been missed is this. There are three main examining boards which compete for entries. Whether they make money is entirely dependent on whether schools choose their syllabuses. Schools are under a constant financial pressure to achieve the highest grades and will choose the syllabus that they think will give their students the best chance of passing. So, the entire financial pressure of the schooling systems is on exams getting easier. Sadly in my experience if the financial pressure is for something to get easier, it probably will.



My last comment, every generation that has sat "A" levels has worked incredibly hard. Don't kid yourself otherwise.

Answer 3

Thepawnbroker makes some good points. Then there are the continual complaints from universities about lower A level standards and the remedial teaching they now have to do. The creation of Pre-Us wouldn't have been necessary if A Level standards hadn't dropped so far.



Personally I haven't looked at any A level material to compare with when I took them, but I have looked at some GCSE science papers and OMG they were pathetic! Seriously, multiple-guess and ... well, I'm almost at a loss for words to say how badly they compare to O Levels. Some of the questions were general knowledge not even real science!



So, yeah, it sucks to be you but you should be directing your aggravation at the government and the exam boards, not the people who are pointing out what's happened. Name calling at the messenger isn't going to change anything other than to make you look whiny. Like, you got an easy ride in your A Levels AND you're still complaining.

Answer 4

Actually it is because the marking system is different - it used to be percentage of the entire examining body so 35% failed and only the top 10% would get As (for example) where as now it is percentage of the marks so the top 10% marks instead of people - so in the new system everyone who took the exam could pass if they got over the 35% in the exam - and noone would fail - in the past no matter what you could get - if you got 95% but the rest of the people got 99% and you were in the bottom 35% then you would fail, even though you got 95%. - So more people are passing but it is not nesc. easier - just the marking system is different. (In the past you could also get 20% in the exam but as long as it was higher than everyone else you would still get an A)

Answer 5

whilst your aunts criticize you touching directly to the form you cope with your nephew this is simply by fact they think that they have got extra adventure than you do. So i could take it with a grain of salt . sure, you're astounding that your mom could enable you recognize in case you have been doing something incorrect. so which you preserve doing the super job which you have have been given been doing. stable luck!

Answer 6

It's the same old story every year, also the one about not having enough uni places. Celebrate your grades and ignore the media.

Answer 7

should do what im doing

taking NVQ's & Diplomas at college.



you can do alot more with them then A levels.

:)

at least you'l be qualified to do something