Have GCSE grades been watered down since labour came to power?

Question

I read that some schools are now setting up their own exams because they think that the gsce exams have become to easy to pass.
In my local bank I know of a young worker with a gcse a stars in maths but needed a calculator to subtract £185 from £200,when I paid a few bills recently.

Answer 1

I managed to get an A in GCSE maths in 1996 without using a calculator (I did not even take one to the exam). I am dyslexic and find the calculator harder to use than working out things in my head or with pen and paper.
Even though I can multiply and divide 4 figure numbers without a calculator I think that any maths exam where someone can pass without a calculator is too easy.

Answer 2

Teaching methods have changed, coursework and related exams have altered, results have been manipulated to promote policies so I think it is a comination of things not just a watering down process.

I think overall this has been a trend for a lot of things.

Personally - secretaries used to need to have shorthand, audio, good gcse grades, LCCI private & exect sec's dip etc, now the nhs accept stage 2 word processing and 5 gcse's - standards are dropping. However, this is across the board, and demonstates a cultural shift. We are more accepting of certain behaviours, which years ago, we would not have accepted. There is a culture of acceptance.

L

Answer 3

Everything been watered down since Labour came to power. NHS, Police efficiency, Taxation up by the back door (stealth taxes.) Student's leaving Uni with £15000 debts at 21
and likely to go up with the vast majority now having to pay Tuition fees, Flight taxes, Company Pensions definitely watered down through taxation. The list is endless.

Answer 4

Nothing!Except to show the innocent population who were take in by them!Just like me! How bereft they are of serious internal and foreign policies!When it comes to the likes of Robert Mugabe to accurately sum up Gordon Brown that he is just a little dot on the Worlds Political Scene! Says it all for me!Getting back to the question!They have achieved getting innocent pensioners into the poverty trap by 'dipping' into the pensions funds! and abolishing the 10p tax band!If Gordon Brown is the best they can up with!What is the worst like?I would like to be a 'fly on the wall'!When those Labour MPs who are in marginal constituencies get together!!

Answer 5

They were watered down well before that

Answer 6

Well how else does he manage to have a result that is any where near good form his Education, Education,Education.

Answer 7

No kids have just become cleverer.