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Original poster

Dumbed down national exams? What do older people think?

177 replies

Lucia39 · 07/04/2009 16:01

To get an A* pass for GCSE English Literature now requires a mere 56%!

How do those old enough to have taken 'O' levels feel about this?

Is the Government right and are 16-18 year olds getting brighter year on year? Or have the powers-that-be simply dumbed down the GCSEs and 'A' levels thereby allowing candidates who would have failed 'O' levels (i.e. not gained a grade C) to now believe they are actually competent in their subjects?

OP posts:
scienceteacher · 07/04/2009 16:16

Well, you have to look at grade boundaries, not just raw %.

English/English Literature were the only GCSEs that my DS didn't get an A in (he got As). I was a bit shocked because I thought his writing was excellent. When I looked up data for how many students were awarded A in English, it turned out that only 1% of boys received A*. I didn't feel so bad for my DS.

jujumaman · 07/04/2009 16:13

They've dumbed them down, of course they have

It's insulting to those who might score really top grades - over 75 per cent but will rreceive no recognition for outstanding pperformances and just been dumped in with the herd,

Ooh, the educational system in this country

BTW, thanks for reminding me I'm an "older" person

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