I am all for high academic standards. But it seems to me that the approach to maths and English at GCSE is a bit puzzling.
I think the issue with maths is that the exams are set at such a high level that only the most mathematically gifted students can do the hardest questions so you end up with very low grade boundaries. Targeting so many questions at such a high level can quite off putting to many students.
For English, both English literature and English language are really quite similar in that it’s all about analysis, which seems very narrow. It seems to suit people who can just waffle on in a meaningful way, under exam conditions, but really English is so much more than that…
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GCSE maths and English - why so hard?
Notcontent · 20/05/2022 12:00
DrDreReturns · 28/05/2022 17:55
@Bovrilly I got 10.91, which is approximately similar to your answer. I didn't use surds 😀
I think that's a really hard question for a GCSE. I'm out of practice (I last did maths in an OU course 15 years ago) but even so I found it really challenging.
DrDreReturns · 28/05/2022 16:11
@Bovrilly do you know the answer to that question? I think I've worked it out but it would be nice to have it confirmed.
It took me ages to figure out how to do it!
ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 25/05/2022 17:35
My dd and her friends thought the English paper was horrible (AQA)
CornishGem1975 · 25/05/2022 06:45
I'd be happy with just a pass too but unfortunately a 4 in maths or English doesn't get DD into 6th form and they won't allow retakes. All she wants is to go to there so I really want her to get her 5!
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Bovrilly · 24/05/2022 12:36
They have adopted that policy in Wales, two separate GCSEs in maths and numeracy. Lots of people do both but some just do numeracy. Gove is such a twat.
I was reading about this the other day and saw this headline which made me laugh
Almost 50 per cent of adults can't do basic maths (that means half)
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