Make science easier, examiners are told

[Bagpuss]

Just reject everybody with GCSEs. Clearly they're too young to have had a good education. O-levels are what to look for.

That means nobody under 36 will get work!

I like it!

[VectraMan]

That means nobody under 36 will get work!

Nothing wrong with that.

BTW I'm 36, and in the last year to do O-levels.

My second year of 6th form the teachers (and the maths teachers in particular) were all complaining that the new batch of students starting A-level (i.e. had just taken GCSEs) were about a year behind where we'd been having done O-levels. Specifically we did calculus in O-level maths, whereas GCSE drongos had never heard of it. So suddenly the amount they had to learn in 2 years went up significantly. Of course then they made A-levels easier to compensate.

[richard-af]

My old Chemistry teacher went into a decline when the new A-Levels began to emerge, in the late 80s. "The sulphate ions aren't going to be covered anymore!" was a memorable lament of his.

[Bagpuss]

My old Chemistry teacher went into a decline when the new A-Levels began to emerge, in the late 80s. "The sulphate ions aren't going to be covered anymore!" was a memorable lament of his.

Maybe this explains why the 11 year old was shot

[richard-af]

Maybe this explains why the 11 year old was shot

????????????

[Bagpuss]

The straw that irrevocably broke the camel's back and resulted in the spiral into social disorder we are today enjoying, and to think you stood back and did nothing!

[wendigo100]

Indeed.

I think this one is #427.26

I see the plan - to produce an unsuspecting generation that knows nothing about outer space.

It might interest you to know the astronomy question on the front page of the Times, which went something like this.

Chei and Jas visit an observatory with their class.

The astronomers who work there show them some instruments they use to find out about stars.

Many people observe the stars using:

a) a telescope
b) a microscope
c) an X-ray tube
d) a synthesiser

Odd names, Chei and Jas.

[Moscow Mule]

The current exams aren't really easier, BUT the level required for the grades has fallen.
In maths GCSE you can get an A with >55%

Twenty years ago >70% would have been needed and 55% would have yielded a C, it depended on how everyone else did though i.e. it was adjusted to a normal distribution of grades. Now it's 55% every year!

I'm of the opinion that you should be measured against a standard, not how well everybody else in your year did.

I'd prefer it is the standard was a little bit higher though.

[richard-af]

The straw that irrevocably broke the camel's back and resulted in the spiral into social disorder we are today enjoying, and to think you stood back and did nothing!

Seems that dropping the Sulphate ion from the Chemistry syllabus has a lot to answer for.

[richard-af]

I see the plan - to produce an unsuspecting generation that knows nothing about outer space.

It might interest you to know the astronomy question on the front page of the Times, which went something like this.Odd names, Chei and Jas.

Most folk, these days, observe the stars in OK! magazine.