Make science easier, examiners are told

[BoredBloke]

"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."

How do you write an exam paper which is equally as hard as the ones which went before it? If the pass mark is fixed, then surely the constant has to be the difficulty of the paper sat. Surely it is better to use the old method if setting an exam and determining the pass marks based on the performance of the group - i.e. so only the top x% get an A

[wendigo100]

I think exams can determine two things about a given year group:

1. How each pupil rates against the average

2. Those who achieve a given standard

Number 1 is a more reliable indicator, and is virtually independent of the standard set, but never reduces the number of "failures"

Number 2 is unreliable, if the standard is set low enough everyone will achieve it, but what has anyone gained (the pupils, universities or employers)?

[scooterscot]

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.

What about this one?! Brain washing at an early age for why ID cards are a good thing?!!! How could they?!

Question 7: People's eyes are used as personal idenification?

A: in hospitals
b: at airports
c: at school
d: at home

[wendigo100]

Indeed.

I read it yesterday morning. People often use Xray tubes to look at the stars, but tend to die of radiation poisoning.

Sad really.

I didn't know that. Very sad.

I'm still concerned at who Chei and Jas are. Pseudonyms for Chaz and Dave perhaps? Nothing but voyeurs anyway.

[BoredBloke]

In the recent A levels results, a graph on the BBC indicated that only 3% now fail (U grade). That isn't an exam.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/bsp/h...l_subjects.stm