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A -levels getting better because of easier subjects?

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  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    I think it depends on individual strengths and weaknesses. Im bad at science, so I didnt take any science subjects. This does not mean Ive done cop-out or easy options, Ive just played to strengths more. And because i passed my exams in subjects I took because I knew I would do better in them, the assumption is made that theyre getting easier.

    And I dont do media studies btw.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    I think exams have got easier, but the older you are, the more apparent this is. Exams had a slightly different style 50 years ago, for example, English was all about grammar, whereas now coursework is involved. To older people, current exams seem easier, because they took harder exams. To students now, exams seem difficult because we haven't been educated to the standard older people have.
    Still, many students have worked really hard for AS/A levels, and it is demoralising when papers claim that A grades are worthless :(
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Originally posted by ElysiumUnknown
    More people are doing A-levels, what is wrong with that? I think it's a good thing personally.

    What do you suggest we replace it with then?

    I did the International Baccalaureate. I think it is much better system. Six subjects instead of 2-3, with an obligation to study a science, maths and a foreign language. Plus the CAS system, which requires that you make a large (time) contribution to the local community and society.

    I'm not the only one who thinks it is a better system. Plenty of independent schools in the UK have switched, and there are serious plans to introduce a UK Baccalaureate.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Originally posted by squat_tom
    I did the International Baccalaureate. I think it is much better system. Six subjects instead of 2-3, with an obligation to study a science, maths and a foreign language. Plus the CAS system, which requires that you make a large (time) contribution to the local community and society.

    I'm not the only one who thinks it is a better system. Plenty of independent schools in the UK have switched, and there are serious plans to introduce a UK Baccalaureate.

    Why should people have to study subjects they don't want to do? I'm not necessarily against increasing the range of subjects but why should I study sciences and maths when I hate them and they have no role in my future career plans? Plus why should part of your academic qualification be based on doing community work when it has little relevance to your academic work? I can see the benefits in it but I don't think it should play a role in the exam system which is primarily an academic tool.

    Just because it's the in vogue system at the moment doesn't make it right, especially the way governments get through educational policies like hot dinners.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Originally posted by kevlar85
    Why should people have to study subjects they don't want to do? I'm not necessarily against increasing the range of subjects but why should I study sciences and maths when I hate them and they have no role in my future career plans? Plus why should part of your academic qualification be based on doing community work when it has little relevance to your academic work? I can see the benefits in it but I don't think it should play a role in the exam system which is primarily an academic tool.

    Just because it's the in vogue system at the moment doesn't make it right, especially the way governments get through educational policies like hot dinners.

    :yes:

    giving people the choice between the BAC and A-Levels is fair enough. But I don't think they should force people to study everything when they know exactly where their interests lie.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    I think everyone always misses the most important point every time this debate crops up. I dont think the exams have got much easier- the new system makes it easier to pass as you can make up crap marks in one module with excellent ones in another, but the exams arent any easier than 10 years ago- but I think the methods of teaching has got more efficient.

    It used to be that A'Levels were about broadening your knowledge, youd read around the subject even if it was not relevant. Now instead of teaching, say, Napoleonic history, teachers will teach the exam of Napoleonic history. same amount of work, same brightness of students, same difficulty of examination, trhe only difference is that students now know how to pass exams, not anything about the suvbject that theyve supposedly studied.

    And its for that reason that the IB now pisses all over the A'Level system.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Originally posted by KoolCat
    giving people the choice between the BAC and A-Levels is fair enough. But I don't think they should force people to study everything when they know exactly where their interests lie.

    Why shouldnt they? Just because you are excellent at, say, chemistry, love chemistry, live to study chemistry, it doesnt mean that you have an education that will equip you in the worklplace, that will actually make you a useful member of society. University is the time to specialise, not schooltime. People should have to learn maths, english, a foreign language and a humanity up until they are 18- how can someone be educated to a good standard if they only learn two or three subjects?
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Originally posted by Kermit
    Why shouldnt they? Just because you are excellent at, say, chemistry, love chemistry, live to study chemistry, it doesnt mean that you have an education that will equip you in the worklplace, that will actually make you a useful member of society. University is the time to specialise, not schooltime.

    this is exactly where my problem lies with all these proposals. they don't take into consideration the needs of the university. If you're going to study more subjects then somewhere down the line something has got to be sacrificed in terms of depth of knowledge. which means that going to university, and jumping from 7 subjects to just 1 (or 2 if you do joint honours I spose) is really hard on everyone.

    I like the system we had. Go from loads of subjects, narrow it down to 3 or 4, then again to the one you want your degree in.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    But why go from 11 subjects to 3? GCSE is a good grounding in everything, but its not enough to say that a student has a wide knowledge base. Narrowing it down to 6 subjects is a logical setp, and then down to one at university, as it gives them enough in-depth knowledge to do well on a university degree but it keeps the knowledge base wide enough to make people useful in more than one area of life. It scares me how many A'Level students can tell you about integrating algebra but cannot tell you why 1066 is quite an important date.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    I don't have anything against increasing the number of subjects in itself but I do object to being forced to do certain subjects because the government says so. Why should I have to study sciences and maths when I hate them and they have no role in my career plans - surely forcing people to do certain subjects will put them off continuing their education if they have to do subjects they hate?
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Forcing within reason is perfectly fair- people should have to learn a foreign language, for instance. But much over and above that it becomes meaningless- a lot of people couldnt do A'Level maths even if they wanted to, in the same way some peoople struggle with History or Geography.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Originally posted by Kermit
    Forcing within reason is perfectly fair- people should have to learn a foreign language, for instance. But much over and above that it becomes meaningless- a lot of people couldnt do A'Level maths even if they wanted to, in the same way some peoople struggle with History or Geography.

    By the same token some people couldn't do French or German or whatever. Everyone is good at different things, that's why I'm against forcing people to do any subjects that they haven't chosen for themselves.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    If everyone in this country spoke French that would be me bang out of a job :p
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