If someone has a 2:1 English literature degree , would you say they are very intelligent/academic?

[Curiousss]

Just basically this question, curious to know what people think.

I would think that someone with a 2:1 in whatever subject had received a good education. I don’t think it shows whether you are intelligent or not.

About to say these. Early nineties, 2:2 was standard degree, and 2:1,was above average, and a first was for the great and good.

Today, everyone seems to have a 2:1 or first.

I couldn't judge just on that piece of info.

Academic, no. Intelligent - it would depend on other things.

This - There are some highly skilled and intelligent people who never went to university.

Nowadays almost everyone goes and it’s become quite undervalued.

I got a 2:2 in my first degree, in criminology at a shit poly. Mid 90s. My job now is literally being an academic. 😁. I didn’t work at uni at all, pulled it out the bag later on in life though. So I’d say that sometimes degree classification is not indicative of intelligence or academic ability.

The degree I now teach on averages about 70% of students with a 1st class degree.

I think people who got degrees from traditional unis before the big expansion in the 1990s are academically able and found school and exams quite easy. Whether they have the sort of intelligence that breeds success in the real world is another matter. Boris Johnson is clearly academically clever but he comes across as pretty hopeless at life and anything practical.

A lot of us were very good at what we were good at, but mediocre in other subjects. It didn’t seem to matter then, even at Oxford…
But then out of my sixth form of 150 pupils, only 40 went to university. The others got jobs!

I have a 2.1 in this subject and I’m reasonably intelligent, above average I’d say. I have also published a book.

My lovely partner is an academic and undoubtedly smarter (although I am more emotionally intelligent), however from time to time he does demonstrate something of the attitude some posters have here. There can be a sense of snobbery.

I'm exactly the same! 2:2 from a post 92 and now an academic with multiple masters and a PhD.

My issue was I was the first in my family to go to university and I just didn't know how it worked. I just bumbled along with very little support. It wasn't until my second masters that I really got the hang of academia. I work extremely hard though so that has held me in good stead and I've got a lot of common sense. Unlike some of my academic colleagues!!

Unless they were 22 and/or had completed their degree in the past couple of years, I’d assume that somebody who believed their degree defined their intellect and aptitude lacked confidence in their other achievements and experience gained since. Most of us knew the sum total of fuck all in our late teens and early twenties, regardless of the degree we chose. You’re doing your adult self a bit of a disservice if you think it gives much of an indicator of your overall ability.

@mizu I got a 2:1 in English Literature. I would say I am average intelligence and completely agree I gained immense satisfaction from studying the subject. I read book after book and belong to two book clubs and would call myself an enthusiast.

My DD studying a STEM subject is way more intelligent than me; she can turn her hand to anything from complicated formulas to sorting out IKEA flat pack furniture. Just as well I find practical jobs like that very difficult!

I’ve met some really thick people with degrees and some quite clever ones. So who knows.

Can we praise this degree for what it is.
You finished secondary school.
You finished Collage.
You finished Uni.
You have done so well, do not let people put it down as anything less that the major achievement it is and always will be.

They are bright. How bright you would only know if you met them.

I got a 2.1 in English lit in 2004 from a Russell Group uni, my IQ is 120. I think I’m fairly intelligent but nothing to write home about.

OP, what is your purpose in asking this question? Do you think you are particularly intelligent? Or is your intelligence being called into question by someone? To answer your question, based solely on your degree result it is impossible to say how intelligent/academic you might be. For starters, 2009 is 16 years ago. If you haven't picked up a book since graduating or haven't worked, I'd say you would probably struggle to hold up your end in any kind of academic discussion now. On the other hand, if you have spent the past decade in an academic career, read everything you can get your hands on, have several other activities and interests, you probably come across as a well-rounded individual.

Intelligence is, in part, relative - it depends entirely on what sort of circles you move in as well as where the degree comes from.

amongst my school friends everyone has a degree + no one got less than a 2:1 - it wouldn’t be notable at all.

To a lot of the big grad schemes it’s a minimum entry requirement.

if you went to an area where very few people access higher education - then you would both feel more ‘intelligent’ and be perceived as unusual able.

I agree that Universities have really dropped their standards in the last few decades. I have a 2:1 MA in Eng Lit but I doubt very much the subjects I had to cover would be included now. Before the invention of computers, students actually had to read books and study, and write their own essays.

I would say fairly normal - kind of expected/meeting requirements a solid 3 out of 5 possibly pushing to be a high 3

I'd say they are reasonably intelligent, yes.

I graduated last year and had to read books and study and write my own essays. Computers haven't taken that away. 🙄 My husband actually couldn't believe how many books I had to go through in a short time.

AI might be around now but we were banned from using it and it comes with the same sort of punishment as plagiarism when you're found out. And tbh with computers it's easier for that to be checked with some software surely?

Before the invention of computers, students actually had to read books and study, and write their own essays.

They still do!

Yes, I'm being facetious. It does seem that so many students use A1 these days .

I graduated from St Andrews with a 2:1 nearly 40 years ago. There hadn't been a first in the English department for about eight years before my graduating class. I don't feel intellectual.