2006-08-11 08:24:18 · 13 answers · asked by cognito44 3 in Education & Reference ➔ Primary & Secondary Education
Or are children getting stupider?
2006-08-11 08:37:02 · update #1
Statistically, it is much easier now to get high grades than even 15 years ago (almost twice as easy). The exams are no longer norm referenced to ensure consistency, which means that everybody passes (OK, well, only 96% last year, but close) this compares to about 80% pass rates in the 1980s. Universities are now offering remedial classes in basic skills because entrants no longer come equipped with the necessary academic standards. Meanwhile, some courses are now longer because they have to cover so much of the curriculum that used to be covered at high school level. Internal government enquiries say they aren't being dumbed down, but are tackling breadth of content rather than academic depth. Employers and the business world, along with universities, whose results are driven by the calibre of the candidates they inherit from high school, are finding this a considerable problem.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/education/1495184.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/education/4158268.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/education/4153816.stm
It's easy to be emotional about this topic, but statistically, there is no reason to believe children are more or less smart than in previous decades. It's just a measure of the increased political will to send people to university, resulting in a truncation of the grading curve. The answerer above is correct in saying that it's too hard to distinguish the bright from the very bright in this system, which explains why some very academic schools are now moving towards the International Baccalaureat instead of A levels.
2006-08-11 17:37:04 · answer #1 · answered by mel 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I don't know how old you are but before you ask this question maybe you should try sitting a couple of A level papers yourself. I did A levels when I was thirty and now work in Higher Education. I can assure you that they not easier. If anything they are harder given the way in which they are assessed.
What has changed is the culture and the economy in which we live. Kids are definitely not any more "stupid", but they are under a lot of pressure to achieve both academically and in the jobs market.
2006-08-11 08:55:40 · answer #2 · answered by sleepyredlion 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No. Universities are increasing their entry requirements all the time as more people are passing their A-levels and this is only because more people are putting in the hours to get the A-levels they want. Also there is more help and support out there now than there was before which does help with the number of people passing.
2006-08-15 03:59:11 · answer #3 · answered by MKV 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Hellll no! They are as difficult as ever, and i have found this to be such a challenge for me to this day, i just hope i passed, and if i do, i just hope people dont degrade my hard work and effort by saying things like they are becoming too easy, because i find them not to be as such
Im going into my second year of A level and then maybe uni, but all i can say is that all those unis look for A's and B's....and it is hard enough to get C's as it is!
I find it a real shame that people misinterpret all of our hard work in A levels and think they are easy - they are not
2006-08-11 08:31:43 · answer #4 · answered by Miss Terious 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Youre one of those people are you! A levels are definately not easy. Students cant win can we, we do bad and get call stupid or thick. We do well and you people still moan on and say that the exams are too easy.
Why dont you try and do an A level, a lot harder than they were in your day probably!!!
2006-08-11 09:07:26 · answer #5 · answered by mipmip22 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Definately, the fact that these kids can do 4 or 5 at a time means they have got to be easier. Plus some of them are course work and not exams, what is that all about!!
2006-08-11 08:56:11 · answer #6 · answered by stormlover106 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, I'm doing mine now and would never call them 'easy'. Obviously I can't compare them to previous years, but the last word I would use to describe them is 'easy'. I do not find them difficult, but alot of people I know do- the majority of people do not find them a walk in the park.Now, GCSE's are another matter...
2006-08-11 08:31:13 · answer #7 · answered by ? 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Not the science based ones. I think there are too many variations of syllabi and content, but it's a shame to slag them off when kids like my nephew work so hard trying to get them.
2006-08-11 08:34:26 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Easy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! No, they are far from easy. Just finished mine and I am currently waiting for the results. Did History, Government and Politics, English Lang/Lit and Psychology. iT WAS NOT EASY and this stupid myth that it is will not devalue the grade that i get... in my eyes anyway.
2006-08-11 08:37:14 · answer #9 · answered by Quiet Storm 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
God no! I did English Language, Biology, Chemistry and Maths - really difficult!
2006-08-11 08:30:52 · answer #10 · answered by northukstudent 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋