Whos says A-Levels are getting easier

**Sysman** · 20 August 2009, 17:19

Originally posted by PRC1964 View Post

They got a B and a C and they only took one A level each.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/b...re/8211160.stm

Peter and Paula Imafidon, who attend Calcot Junior School in Reading, took the University of Cambridge's advanced mathematics paper.

...

The paper is more advanced than a basic maths A-level exam and is based on mathematical reasoning.

Ah, that explains why my old school and several others I would have expected to see there aren't in the A-level results league over at the Telegraph.

If I remember correctly the A and S levels I sat were Oxford and Cambridge ones, which were designed to make you think in the exam, and were more highly rated by universities.

**TimberWolf** · 20 August 2009, 17:56

I wonder how long it would take the average person on here to study a subject (not a non-subject) well enough to come away with an A in an A level exam. A month's solid studying?

Presumably they have thought of that and require course work to be included, to help cover how easy it is?

**Zippy** · 20 August 2009, 17:59

Originally posted by zeitghost

According to some Professor or other who was waffling away on the Today prog on R4 this morning, it's all explained by the kids getting brighter...

I guess you are not seeing the evidence?

**expat** · 20 August 2009, 19:19

Originally posted by TimberWolf View Post

I wonder how long it would take the average person on here to study a subject (not a non-subject) well enough to come away with an A in an A level exam. A month's solid studying?

Presumably they have thought of that and require course work to be included, to help cover how easy it is?

I think you exaggerate. I gave our/my partner's daughter homework help/tuition for her A-level maths. It wasn't trivial. I could have sat it myself with confidence, after a month's solid studying, but then I already have a maths degree from the old days. I'd say the average person on here, whose intelligence and ability I do respect, would have a bit more than that to do.

**Cyberman** · 20 August 2009, 22:02

I think Labour have done a great job in making all of our youngsters so intelligent. Even attempted insurance fraudsters in Brazil are law graduates !!

**Bagpuss** · 20 August 2009, 22:03

There was an educationist on Radio 4 this morning who asserted that the average (not sure what average) 11 plus standard child of the 1940s would be considered educationally subnormal by today's standards.

**Cyberman** · 20 August 2009, 22:11

Originally posted by Bagpuss View Post

There was an educationist on Radio 4 this morning who asserted that the average (not sure what average) 11 plus standard child of the 1940s would be considered educationally subnormal by today's standards.

Was he/she a Scot by any chance ?

**Bagpuss** · 20 August 2009, 23:02

Yes his name was Scot a bit like your name but without the r and e

Whos says A-Levels are getting easier