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AIBU?

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Original poster

3 CSEs - any good?

132 replies

CheckTrousersBlanco · 29/05/2025 18:17

I was born in 1969 - hence I didn’t do GCSEs. I did all CSEs - no O Levels.

My mum said I did better than my brother a year younger who got no qualifications at all.

So mumsnetters - be honest - do you see 3 CSEs as good ?

OP posts:
Notellinganyone · 29/05/2025 19:39

Born in 1967 went to bog standard rural comp and got 10 O levels. 3 CSEs is very basic education wise. You did ask!

CandyLeBonBon · 29/05/2025 19:32

Presumably you’ve worked throughout your adult life and so clearly haven’t been held back? I was born in the same year and had to do 9 O level at a grammar school, which was pretty hard and was regularly made to feel as thick as pigshit. Not sure at 55/56 it really matters any more if you’ve had a successful life so far?

titchy · 29/05/2025 19:32

Lunde · 29/05/2025 19:09

People were categorised at a young age based on 11+.

If you lived in a Secondary Modern area you might not have even had the opportunity to take O levels because some secondary moderns didn't offer them. - all based on exams you took aged 10 or 11.

Eh? Most schools were comprehensives. Only a few in the 80s (as now) required passing of 11+.

Octavia64 · 29/05/2025 19:28

My mum has no academic qualificarions.

she went to a vocational secondary school and left with certificates in shorthand and typing.

in those days you were allowed to do vocational courses and just not do O levels or CSEs.

she’s one of the most intelligent people I know and is very interested in dark age history and the Roman Empire.

Neededa · 29/05/2025 19:27

As in there were loads of areas that had got rid of grammars in the late70s/80s

Neededa · 29/05/2025 19:25

Lunde · 29/05/2025 19:09

People were categorised at a young age based on 11+.

If you lived in a Secondary Modern area you might not have even had the opportunity to take O levels because some secondary moderns didn't offer them. - all based on exams you took aged 10 or 11.

How old do you think we are? Born in 1966 and went to a comprehensive school

Kendodd · 29/05/2025 19:23

Of course its poor OP
What do you do now though? Did you do well in life?

Vivienne1000 · 29/05/2025 19:20

No - but who cares.
its what you have done since then that matters. I got 10 O levels and I bet you have done as well as me x

dustydvd · 29/05/2025 19:19

AngelinaFibres · 29/05/2025 19:07

It's in the territory my sons would describe as 'thick as mince'.

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That is total bollocks.

I was going to write more but I simply can’t be arsed to reply to someone who’s son knows fuck all. Unless of course he took them and is ‘thick as mince’

inkyfingers · 29/05/2025 19:16

summerscomingsoon · 29/05/2025 19:13

This is an excellent point and one younger people won't realise. Anyone who is 53 plus was categorised at 11.

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Many were, but plenty of comprehensives were around; I was born in 63 and went to 2 in different areas.

AuditAngel · 29/05/2025 19:16

I was also born in 1969. I seem to recall being told, while at school, that the national average was 5 CSEs at grade . So you did not achieve the national average.

My grades exceed the national average,

dustydvd · 29/05/2025 19:15

I too did CSEs and got 1 O level.

I am so old that my school qualifications that I did 50 years ago would be completely irrelevant if I was to be applying for jobs.

cheesycheesy · 29/05/2025 19:14

It’s not great

Mischance · 29/05/2025 19:14

I do not place great importance on these exams. How have you got on in life so far? Has any of this held you back in any way?

summerscomingsoon · 29/05/2025 19:13

Lunde · 29/05/2025 19:09

People were categorised at a young age based on 11+.

If you lived in a Secondary Modern area you might not have even had the opportunity to take O levels because some secondary moderns didn't offer them. - all based on exams you took aged 10 or 11.

This is an excellent point and one younger people won't realise. Anyone who is 53 plus was categorised at 11.

Lunde · 29/05/2025 19:09

People were categorised at a young age based on 11+.

If you lived in a Secondary Modern area you might not have even had the opportunity to take O levels because some secondary moderns didn't offer them. - all based on exams you took aged 10 or 11.

inkyfingers · 29/05/2025 19:08

At that time many pupils left with few or no qualifications and there were still jobs to go to - lots of apprenticeships and opportunities to work your way up if you had the talent - my BIL did just that and now earns a fortune. But times changed and everything was about the grades - they merged to GCSEs and the grades got easier.

Original poster
CheckTrousersBlanco · 29/05/2025 19:07

AngelinaFibres · 29/05/2025 19:04

Are you drunk? Your replies are really odd

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Chance would be a fine thing!

I was being asked if I was old enough to buy alcohol in supermarkets when I was still in my late 30s - I’ve not been asked now for alcohol ID for over 15 years tho (not for want of trying)

I don’t think of myself as in my 50s!

OP posts:
AngelinaFibres · 29/05/2025 19:07

Hesma · 29/05/2025 19:05

Honestly, I say 3 CSEs was shit

It's in the territory my sons would describe as 'thick as mince'.

Hesma · 29/05/2025 19:05

Honestly, I say 3 CSEs was shit

AngelinaFibres · 29/05/2025 19:04

CheckTrousersBlanco · 29/05/2025 18:55

As I was still being ID’d for alcohol in supermarkets up til 2009 - I’m having difficulty accepting being in my 50 Grin

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Are you drunk? Your replies are really odd

Original poster
CheckTrousersBlanco · 29/05/2025 19:00

Babbits · 29/05/2025 18:59

3 CSEs is pretty poor, I'm afraid. Are they Maths, English and a Science?

One is English

OP posts:
Babbits · 29/05/2025 18:59

3 CSEs is pretty poor, I'm afraid. Are they Maths, English and a Science?

shellyleppard · 29/05/2025 18:59

I got 4 cse's in 1985, took GCSEs at night school. Failed the maths but passed the English lol. Had to take a math's course when my son started school as I didn't have a clue how to help him.

summerscomingsoon · 29/05/2025 18:56

Why is it bothering you now . I was the second year to do gcse.

My siblings all did o levels or cse. Cse was the thing people did if teachers didn't think they'd pass o levels.

Though let's be fair if you did gcses now you would probably pass. Children haven't suddenly got cleverer or teaching better. It is easier to pass nowadays. More higher grades are given out.

In 1988 42 percent got a to c in gcse.
In 2023 it was over 68 percent.
Same with a levels. In the late 80s just over 10 percent got an A. In 2023 in was nearly 30 percent fir A and A star. It is easier now.

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