There are some exams where the pass mark has been set at 30%, or even as low as 16%. Plus there is a trend for students to take 'easier' subjects such as Geography and avoid some of the sciences. Many employers are now having to send new intakes to classes in reading, writing or numeracy classes.
2006-09-11 11:01:06 · 8 answers · asked by Transuranic 2 in Education & Reference ➔ Standards & Testing
Yes, and the GCSE too.
I see all the results in the newspaper and thing back to how many of my class got 10 A'S at O level - none.
Yes the inclusion of coursework in the final grade is a factor, but how should that result in a higher grade than the original Benchmark?
Does that mean all of our grades should be increased for a valid comparison, as by rights I got 157% in the final test.
2006-09-13 03:06:42 · answer #1 · answered by 'Dr Greene' 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There has been a change in teaching methods and one of the most important is to replace the single examination with one which takes into account COURSE WORK.
To compare A-Levels of today with those of 20 to 30 or more years ago is a bit of a minefield.
Primary schools in general prepared the prospective A-Level candidate with a sound knowledge of the three Rs.
Modern Primary schools have had to cope with a new generation of children who are not amenable to discipline.
In addition there has been too much interference from the Government with its Educational Directives, reforms, targets and insatiable demands for league tables and constraining curriculums. Form filling and 'training' take up much valuable time.
School Development Plans (over 100 pages generally) have to be produced which must be couched in gobbledygook; algorithms, statements, priorities, monitoring, evaluation, resources, aims, targets, criteria, tables, performance, co-ordination, assessment, finance, reviews, phases, initiatives, clusters and so on!
Performance Management Policy is a separate area requiring the production of yet more bumf.
Add to this the production of a, 'Parents' Handbook'.
To raise A-Level standards the foundations must be laid by Primary and Secondary schools allowed to get on with the job of TEACHING and not be burdened with the Educational 'Ivory Tower' nonentities interference.
2006-09-12 02:19:56 · answer #2 · answered by CurlyQ 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, America is being dumbed down in the name of tolerance. I have even heard that some schools don't give out grades or pass/fail marks. They simply send home "progress reports". They won't give out grades because they don't want to emotionally upset anyone with bad grades or make the kids feel like they have to compete with others and fall behind. WAKE THE F UP! Life is a competition! Guess what kiddies, you losers are the ones that will still be serving my burger at the drive-thru when you are forty years old.
2006-09-11 12:30:09 · answer #3 · answered by doubletap_downzero 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When I was at school (back in the day) A levels were much harder and only academic students would be encouraged to take them and proceed to University. Now all children are encouraged to take them and this means they have to lower the pass mark - otherwise the governing bodies would look like they are not doing their job. It looks great for their own statistics, it looks great for the government but it's not so great for the employers who end up hiring these youngsters and they can't perform basic numeracy and literacy.
2006-09-11 11:17:10 · answer #4 · answered by marliboco 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes,I agree,and this could be because the government or education authorities do not want to see drop-outs,so dumbing down the A levels might be a useful alternative.On second thought,it is unfair though....
2006-09-12 16:40:01 · answer #5 · answered by fadly j 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
aaah, rocks for jocks. true there is a dumbening effect going on right now. most people only care for the GPA since that's what most employers will look at, not necessarily their curriculum. Ifan employer is more than willing to send less than dumber fokl BAC to college to brush up then that's on them. personally it's waste of time and money. give the jobs to those who deserve it and quit hand holding those ignants that can barely function in the workplace.
2006-09-11 11:08:11 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I can only agree
It's not so strange when you look at all the other meddling the government has done to try to make us look good (even if in our own eyes)
2006-09-11 11:09:06 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I CERTAINLY AGREE--LOOK HOW MANY PEOPLE ON THIS SITE CANNOT SPELL SIMPLE WORDS.
2006-09-13 04:06:39 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋