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Original poster

Exams aren't fit for purpose

103 replies

littlequestion · 24/05/2023 09:09

I have two DC and both are doing exams - one A levels and one GCSEs. The older only had a few, low-key exams for his GCSEs so this is the first time for proper exams in my house.

I honestly can't believe how dreadful, stressful and ultimately pointless these exams are - they are not fit for purpose.

The amount of content they have to learn is insane. What on earth is the point of learning 15 poems almost off by heart? What skill does that teach? Most importantly, how is it useful for life?

My other bugbear is that the exams just don't give them enough time. If you've studied a subject in massive depth for two years, why not give candidates enough time to write a considered essay instead of having to rush it and decide what are going to leave out? Why not give them enought time to check their work?

That's what I do in my job - I don't just dash something off and hope for the best. I don't mean exams shoiuld take half a day, but an extra half-hour of planning/ checking time built in would make the world of difference.

OP posts:
GayPareeee · 24/05/2023 09:22

I also have 2 sitting exams, for the A level DC these are their first ever public exams.

DC2 has 23 separate GCSE exams and has already done a GCSE (state secondary) last year, there is no way I'd want the papers to be longer than they are.

I worked, however, like them mixed up a bit more, today she has 2 essay subjects, tomorrow only Physics, be nice if it could have been swapped for one of today's.

I agree the account of quotes for English they need is bonkers, DC A level Classics demands silly amount of quotes/citations too

NowZeusHasLainWithLeda · 24/05/2023 09:15

PS, students are advised to devote a certain percentage of the time they have for planning and checking. In my experience most do neither.

NowZeusHasLainWithLeda · 24/05/2023 09:14

Nobody should be learning anything off by heart. If your children's teachers are encouraging that, the problem is there, not with the exam system.

Regarding time management, students are given X amount of time to do Y piece of work, because that's how much time (with leeway) that the average student would need to produce a good piece of work. It's not just an arbitrary number plucked out of nowhere. If they were given more time, the work wouldn't be concise and they'd go off-piste, etc etc.

Students will have been trained to complete the tasks in the amount of time given. (though I do find that a lot will finish early- if I had a fiver for every time I have to say "there is ALWAYS something more you can do", I'd be a very rich woman.

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