Government spin AGAIN

[minestrone]

I would assume that GCSE science is a subject for the spuds? Do you not split to physics, chemistry and biology when you are 12?

[Moscow Mule]

Originally Posted by minestrone

I would assume that GCSE science is a subject for the spuds? Do you not split to physics, chemistry and biology when you are 12?

It was the only option at my school, but it was supposed to be equivalent to two GCSEs.

No idea what it's like these days. There are so many exam boards, it could be anything.

[Mich the Tester]

In 1988…

- anything below a ‘c’ was considered a fail
- you had to have 5 ‘c’s including maths and English to go into higher education
- revision was for dimwits and girls
- we thought it was easy
- our parents thought it was easy too

...and you try telling that to young people today and they won't believe you!

[Mich the Tester]

Originally Posted by sasguru

Why not use the crappy educational system to your advantage? Getting an MBA or MSc (distance learning or part time) for anyone educated in science, maths or engineering in the 80s or previously is a piece of cake.

This is a particularly good option when you are travelling on contracts. Gives you somefink to do in the evenings, innit?

I agree, but I'm not doing a business oriented Masters; I'm doing a geology (volcanology) masters as I hope to return to academia in the future. I tried a business studies course but I'm afraid I just couldn't retain consciousness while reading about six sigma business process improvement and so on.

[expat]

Originally Posted by Mich the Tester

I agree, but I'm not doing a business oriented Masters; I'm doing a geology (volcanology) masters as I hope to return to academia in the future. I tried a business studies course but I'm afraid I just couldn't retain consciousness while reading about six sigma business process improvement and so on.

Ding! The only science that has changed since the 60s (plate tectonics)

[Bagpuss]

Originally Posted by Mich the Tester

In 1988…

- anything below a ‘c’ was considered a fail
- you had to have 5 ‘c’s including maths and English to go into higher education
- revision was for dimwits and girls
- we thought it was easy
- our parents thought it was easy too

...and you try telling that to young people today and they won't believe you!

GCSEs are easy, I did O levels, no coursework, less multiple guess, 55% got you a C, not an A

[TykeMerc]

I wonder how long the actual exam would be for a paper like that, I'll have to check with my eldest who took his GCSE's the year before last.
Having taken quick a scan through his A level text books I'm convinced the level of difficulty is lower than when I took mine.

Despite the fact that the last time I took a science based exam was over 20 years ago it took me next to no time to answer all of the questions. I had to remember the odd equation and work a couple of things out from basic principles to be sure of my answers and I used mental arithmatic not a calculator.

[minestrone]

In Scotland you split into the three main sciences when you were 12 but the real spuds were forced to do 'General Science' where they pondered 'how home insulation works' and 'why you don't take your hair dryer into the bath' etc.

[DodgyAgent]

Originally Posted by minestrone

In Scotland you split into the three main sciences when you were 12 but the real spuds were forced to do 'General Science' where they pondered 'how home insulation works' and 'why you don't take your hair dryer into the bath' etc.

I thought the main science in Scotland was Social Security Science

[sasguru]

Originally Posted by Mich the Tester

I agree, but I'm not doing a business oriented Masters; I'm doing a geology (volcanology) masters as I hope to return to academia in the future. I tried a business studies course but I'm afraid I just couldn't retain consciousness while reading about six sigma business process improvement and so on.

Good thing about an MBA (and I agree its boring as hell) is that you can get a cushy job by bandying about the correct business bulltulip phrases. And if you can back it up with the "can do" rigour learned in a proper hard degree, that makes you stand out from virtually everyone else with a business "qualification".