97 % pass rate for A-Levels ; how did that happen?

[m1m1rie]

I took my A-levels in 1989 and passed all three, and was in the minority amongst my peers. Most people failed at least one and only the really, really clever ones could achieve A-grades. Now, with so many passing and record numbers achieving A-grades how do we differentiate between those who are genuinely talented and those who are not? A girl I know has just passed 3 A-levels. She spends her days chatting on her mobile, obsessing about herself and often didn't bother going into college if she didn't feel like it. She even turned up late for one of her exams. As far as being 'clever' is concerned, she couldn't hold a conversation with you unless it was about celebrities or herself, and yet she has managed to pass all three A-levels. I am dumbstruck. I find it demeans those who do put effort into learning as they will all just be lumped in together now and treated with disdain by those who think that all kids are thick and only have A-levels because the exams are easier to pass now. Whatever is going on with the current system, it's not doing anyone any favours, it only serves to make Government stats look good.

I disagree with 'teenagers working harder in general' tbh. My top set kids get A grades often with a day of two of revision. That wasn't the case when I did my O levels. The trouble is that that you can't* do that at A level, if you try you crash and burn. You tell them and they don't belive you!

In addition they never want to find out for themselves. TBH we only have ourselves to blame for this as they are 'prepared for KS1 SATs KS2 and KS3. We spoon feed the stuff into them and they churn it out....we are he one to blame. So they get to GCSE level and can't even be arse to look up a definition in a bllk....they demand to be told the page (actually they only ever do that once with me! )

This is 'No shit sherloc' stuff. A question on last years intermediate AS level maths paper. What is the cube of 3? Granted they couldn't use a calculator and it was the first 'noddy' question to calm them down , but WTF?

hunker - I remember gdg coming home from school and saying they had been practising with old 'lower end' GCSE papers and she (at 15) was gobsmacked.

there was a picture of a ball, a cone, a rectangle and questions asked 'which shape is a sphere'! FGS! we were doing that at 11+

martian

Is the aim of the present system to teach kids to pass exams or to arm them with knowledge of the subject that enables them to pass the exams. Discuss.

to teach kids to pass exams - end of discussion

trouble is - they MUST come unstuck in the workplace?

hmmmm, now therin lies at least one PhD thesis

Or should we .....heaven forbid , actualy teach the little buggers to think and evaluate information!

bit of topic but dh has always had this moan about teaching people to drive - he insists they are taught to pass not to drive

off

Jools fails English

I think we live in a country that doesn't celebrate intelligence, it panders to morons.

That's a shame.

Actually that should be behave think and evaluate

Joolstoo: funnily enough, that's why I preferred BSM when I did some refresher sessions. He told me about what was needed had I been going for my test, but also told me lots of general info stuff and tips for actual confident and competent driving.

Wish I'd paid for BSM when I was actually going for my test originally... would have been worth it.

I agree. As one astute MN recently listed as one of her pet hates in Room 101, just listen to Radio One's 'Down With The Kids' news bulletins. Why do they have to be so puerile? Why can't young adults be treated as though they had some understanding of words other than slang?

I loathe with a passion teaching kids to pass exams and that is one of the reasons I teach the subject I do and do it with such passion.

I tend to avoid exam teaching if i can or I try and teach bottom sets as you are then not forced to teach to the exam and can actually help your pupils understand your subject.

Agree with MB that a lot of the failings are to with lower down in the system we do spoon feed kids through their GCSE's whihc makes it very difficult for them to attempt and academically rigourous a level.

But I am proud to say that in my subject in my classroom kids are taught to think, they are not spoonfed, they are challenged and they thrive on it.

Twinset, I hope you are a teacher at the school my DD is transferring to in Sept! P.s You don't teach maths, do you...?

No I teach religious education

I would have TSAP and MB as teachers for my DSs any day - you both inspire me with confidence that there are some good ones out there!

There are loads of good passionate teachers, my school is full of them I feel so proud to work there. It pisses me off that the likes of the Daily Mail convince everyone that all kids are thick and that all teachers are in it for the long holidays and that we don't care.

off hand twinset, I can't think of any teacher that I know that likes to teach kids to just pass exams.

God mb I know a few!

The long holidays are rather nice though, aren't they

Really? They like the dull repaptive stuff?

I know pleantly who do it, but none that like it!

funny that, the Daily Mail has never convinced me of any such thing.

I love my long holidays but I am still in work for a full day at least once a week and am still doing planning in the evenings or while dd is at nursery. Not that i mind as I love my job and know that if I am to achieve what I want to achieve I need to put the hours in.

My dd has just passed all 4 of her A levels and worked bloody, relentlessly, conscientiously hard for two years to get the grades for each unit that made up her overall grade. I am very proud of her and of all her friends who have also now secured their higher ed places.
My 3 A levels back in 1985 were of the old fashioned kind and suited me well as a photographic learner and a good crammer, but I would hate to have the non-stop pressure of today?s teenagers. Well done to all of them.