GCSE passes go up to 97%..........

[swiperfox]

They are being taken by 6 year olds who are passing them!!!!!!

[beatie]

I agree that it cannot be nice for hard working teenagers to have their glory stolen from them on the day they receive their grades. They have no choice to work within the system that is offered to them.

I think the system is failing the brightest and the least able pupils. There are many kids who leave school without the standard 5 grades A-C and what are they supposed to do?

There are also many children who now get A grades who probably would have got C grades 10 years ago. It seems unfair that there is no differentiation between those and the brightest of pupils.

Isn't there something wrong when you only need to get 57% of your answers correct to obtain an A grade in Maths? So you can get 43% of your answers wrong and still get an A!

[Aragon]

Apologies if anyone felt I was having a go - I wasn't. I'm just frustrated that the youngsters who have worked so hard are being told yet again "well actually you may have passed but don't celebrate because anyone could do it"

All I meant was "let them celebrate and congratulate them"

The system may well need changing (I'm not qualified to comment on the system) but at least lets celebrate the achievements of those who have studied the syllubus and come up trumps.

I DO feel strongly about this, surrounded as I am by friends with children all getting results from GCSEs and A Levels. They are all kids who are going to go on and contribute something to society - lets say "Well Done" and leave the debate about the system to another time.

[Xanthe]

There's no doubt that exams have been "dumbed down" in recent years. At the school where I work, one of the teachers admitted that the level of questions being set at A Level nowadays would have been set at O Level 20 years ago.

As for coursework - I have sat through classes where the students have been spoon fed by the teacher and all they have to do is copy the work from the board. In some cases this course work counts for 20% of the final GCSE mark, which is outrageous if it is not the pupils' own work.

There are loads of bright kids who are being let down by the mediocrity of the present system. No wonder there is so much disruptive behaviour in classes. If the children aren't being stretched enough, it's no wonder they start to get bored.

[skeptic]

I'm not sure if I'd have got great grades with the amount of course-work they have to do nowadays.

[PeachyClair]

In the ten years from when I sat my A-Levels to when I went back to study, I was amazed at the changes. The students now are foar more motivated, industrious and focused. I'm not surprised more pass, and I congratulate every one of them!

[skeptic]

Congratulations to everyone who got the grades they wanted .

Even G's are an achievement for some kids. The exam candidates didn't create the system, and all they can do is their best within it.

[swiperfox]

i give up with this place.

[Aragon]

Please, please debate this another time. FGS these kids have just got their results and are celebrating as we did when we passed. Give them some credit for what they have achieved and debate the rights and wrongs of the GCSE/GCE ALevel system at another point.

I agree it may need changing but lets just say "WELL DONE" to those who have got their grades and are happy. Debate the concerns at another time.

Sorry - rant over

Check out this

[Ameriscot2005]

But a "pass" is anything from a G upwards, right?

I think it is pretty sad that someone could study and be spoon-fed for 2 years and not pass, tbh.