Exams getting easier?
Discussion for GCSE students, including those studying for IGCSEs and O Levels.
-
- Reputation:
- Thread Starter
- Junior Member
- Posts: 39
Exams getting easier?I'm just finishing the last of my GCSEs.
I took:
English Lit, English Lang, Maths, Accelerated French, Spanish, Latin, Geography, Art, ICT (short), RE (short), Biology, Chemistry and Physics.
I'm predicted As and should get at least seven or eight A*s.
However, I'm worried that I'm only getting good grades because the exams are getting easier, if Gove is to be believed. I've always been at the top of the tier (that sounds arrogant, and I apologise) but I'm now not sure if it's just that I'm quite thick really but nothing is required to pass.
Anyone else have the same worries? -
- Reputation:
- Adored and Respected Member
- Posts: 571
Re: Exams getting easier?You know the thing being is that the maths exams that took place a couple of weeks ago for those who failed to get at least a C during the exams in march, have got a lot harder.
My friends had to retake and it's definitely become a lot more worded to make it seem more complicated. I'm not really sure if GCSEs have got easier, I personally believe those who find it easy are the ones who do the revision to find it easy.
And I don't really think they will be getting easier, Infact there's been thoughts of making them harder.. -
- Reputation:
- Junior Member
- Posts: 43
I disagree, yes you can retake but that doesn't make the exams easier. If you don't do any work or aren't that intelligent you wont get the grades. Also the fact people are getting better grades in often down to the fact they work harder, my sister (10 years older than me) has commented on how much work I and others my age seem to do in comparison to people her age. We're under more pressure to achieve as the world is getting more competitive and this motivates people to study harder.
This was posted from The Student Room's Android App on my SK17i -
- Reputation:
- Exalted Member
- Posts: 296
Re: Exams getting easier?Making secondary education a whole lot harder is for the better!
http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/show....php?t=2038278 -
- Reputation:
- Thread Starter
- Junior Member
- Posts: 39
Re: Exams getting easier?yes, I appreciate that, but are my A*s worth very little? Do they represent in any way my ability or intelligence?(Original post by recurring500)
Making secondary education a whole lot harder is for the better!
http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/show....php?t=2038278 -
- Reputation:
- Exalted Member
- Posts: 296
I wouldn't say they reflect your level of intelligence, as I don't think that's really their purpose. However, they give you the opportunity to go on and do things that will reflect your intelligence.(Original post by JaguarCello)
yes, I appreciate that, but are my A*s worth very little? Do they represent in any way my ability or intelligence?
This was posted from The Student Room's iPhone/iPad App -
- Reputation:
- Exalted Member
- Posts: 309
Re: Exams getting easier?An A now may not represent the exact same level of ability as it did in the past. But at A*, you couldn't do any better - so getting an A* just says you're *at least* this smart, just like getting a U doesn't say how badly you did, it just says you did below a certain level. The other grades are more accurate since they have a maximum and minimum.
A*s aren't as 'amazing' as they used to be, perhaps, but they are still good and you can't be looked down upon for having A*s.. You couldn't do any better. If you're getting A*s you should continue on in education until you reach the point where you aren't achieving the best results: do A levels, and if you do well there continue to university.
GCSE's aren't a good representation of ability for people who are able to get A*s. -
- Reputation:
- Exalted and Worshipped Member
- Posts: 951
Re: Exams getting easier?I think it might be because teachers have become better trained and well-rounded to teaching the GCSE courses because they have been around for a while now and better teaching methods for students to excel at used.
Some teachers may have even sat GCSEs themselves so know what it's like to be in the position of the student and therefore be able to help more (if you know what I mean).
Plus why make them harder by making a two tiered system? And what about iGCSEs? The idea of one exam board seems beneficial though.
OP, do not worry. Your grades are great and you will still be considered 'intelligent' by people since everyone else has also sat the same types of exams as you at the moment so it's still all fair for now
-
- Reputation:
- Benevolent Member
- Posts: 743
Re: Exams getting easier?There is a thing called a 'ceiling effect', which i think applies. You can only perform as well as the exams demand, so for example, you are getting all A*s, so you can't physically do any better than that, and it is not your fault if the paper is not 'difficult enough' for you.(Original post by JaguarCello)
yes, I appreciate that, but are my A*s worth very little? Do they represent in any way my ability or intelligence?
If they make GCSEs harder, thats fine, but they then can't derogate those who took 'easy' ones, as they did the best they could in that situation.
I'm not sure if that makes sense... -
- Reputation:
- Overlord in Training
- Posts: 2,828
Re: Exams getting easier?Am retaking Science and judging by the past papers, the OCR exams definitely have not gotten any easier. If anything the questions have become more ambiguous which pisses me off; the questions should be about scientific facts not ideas and opinions.
