ARE GCSE's too easy!?

Does it matter? I did average by TSR standards (A*AAAABBBBCC) and I am doing fine on my completely-unrelated-to-most-of-the-GCSEs-I-took degree at a world top 10 university. If anything I think that it is good that they have gotten easier because you don't need to be learning calculus at GCSE if your aspirations are to be an English teacher. Hell you don't even need to learn calculus at GCSEs if you plan on becoming a mathematician. Why? Because you will learn it eventually. If you didn't go to school in 1970 and missed out on advanced calculus GCSE you can take an A level maths course and catch up. Even if you don't bother with doing A level maths and go straight to university if it is a mathematical course a maths catch-up module will be offered. I struggled with GCSE maths at school. I worked hard, passed and did A level maths. Found it a lot easier as I had by then gained more mathematical skills. Now I do a lot of maths as part of my course at uni and I am doing great. It took a little more time than my peers but I got there. So there's nothing wrong with taking things slowly. If I had been thrown into 1970s style GCSE maths back when I was 15 I would of failed, gotten disheartened and the scientific community would of lost out on another budding recruit. TBH I think GCSEs are at just the right level now. Easy enough to pass for someone who just wants to get the hell out of school and get a job provided they work hard and hard enough so that those same pupils will have gained a useful and relevant education for the world of entry-level work. Remember that even with these "piss easy" GCSEs half the country is still getting all Ds and below.

But the fact that calculus is no longer in the GCSE syllabus means it has to be in the A level syllabus, which means that there is less time in A levels to be learning other things.
Of course, if you just chucked an O level paper at people at the end of year 11, they would all fail. Thats because everything has been getting easier, topics have been steadily pushed back or removed, everything is taught in bite sized chunks... We cant just make GCSEs harder without changing the way they and everything before them is taught is the problem. :L

Reply 121

Dalek1099

21

Original post by FrogInABog

I can only compare what I've seen, and on that basis, I think they are.

I did GCSE Latin (I know, I know...) 2 years ago, and my teacher showed me an old O-Level text, which was far harder than anything I had to do. A girl in my class who consistently got 90-100% in GCSE practice papers could only manage a B, which would suggest it is pretty tough.

Also, I know people work hard today, but I really can't believe that people 30 years ago were all complete slackers. Working harder can't account entirely for the difference in grades achieved.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/education/education-news/almost-50-per-cent-of-adults-cant-do-basic-maths-that-means-half-7469119.html

17 million people can't do average literacy skills of 11 year olds and this proves that people are getting more intelligent and i think the difference between O-Levels and GCSEs is that they teach completely different areas of a subject and you'd struggle answering something that is in an area you haven't been taught in and i have read an article saying that GCSEs are harder than O-Levels and kids are jumping before they leap.

Reply 122

S4INTY

I was arguing about this with my parents the other day, who couldn't stop going on about their 'O Levels' :s-smilie:

tbf I'm not sure if GCSEs prepare you for A levels very well. I don't really remember seeing many marks going for analysis or evaluation in those exams, when perhaps just a little prep on those areas would've been nice. Maybe I'm just looking for a scapegoat to blame for why I did perfectly fine at GCSE and then faceplanted when we got into A levels :P

Reply 123

just george

Original post by Dalek1099

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/education/education-news/almost-50-per-cent-of-adults-cant-do-basic-maths-that-means-half-7469119.html

17 million people can't do average literacy skills of 11 year olds and this proves that people are getting more intelligent and i think the difference between O-Levels and GCSEs is that they teach completely different areas of a subject and you'd struggle answering something that is in an area you haven't been taught in and i have read an article saying that GCSEs are harder than O-Levels and kids are jumping before they leap.

ahahaa. Please come back when you either:
1. have any idea what you're talking about. or
2. have seen an o-level paper.

And for the record, of course a lot of adults are going to forget maths when they spend decades not ever using maths.
and also, did you know that there are still plenty of kids coming to secondary school who cant read or even count to 10..
how you can even say people are getting more intelligent like that is just ridiculous.. :L

Reply 124

Harveys

Here are a couple of O'level maths Questions, sorry GSCE's are far easier

sorry not sure how to make image bigger on here, click it to see full size

(edited 12 years ago)

Reply 125

Dalek1099

21

Original post by Harveys

Here are a couple of O'level maths Questions, sorry GSCE's are far easier

Attachment not found

sorry not sure how to make image bigger on here, click it to see full size

You will only find these questions hard because you haven't been taught those areas of the subject.Same at GCSE,I looked at Unit 2 and thought the questions were hard but once you have studied the areas they are easy.O-Levels and GCSEs covered different areas of the subject.I also disagree with the fact that adults forget their maths skills because they don't use them,you have to use maths in life because how would you calculate what to spend on things and budget your wage and many basic jobs(shop workers)often need basic maths .

Reply 126

098

7

I think both GCSEs and A Levels are difficult in the wrong way; you have to learn and regurgitate a lot of information with very little emphasis being placed on independent learning, engaging with the material, originality, debate, creativity, appreciation of plurality of opinion ... all of which are the most enjoyable aspects of learning and are key to studying well at university.

So, yes, the qualifications need to be changed because in a sense they are 'too easy' in that you are not challenged to think for yourself: this is most plainly demonstrated through the existence of 'official' AQA-sponsored textbooks which you basically just have to learn by rote to 'hit the assessment objectives'. However, I would never belittle the hard work/achievement of young people who are currently studying for these qualifications and are encouraged to play this crazy system.

So let's make GCSEs and A Levels 'easier' in the sense that we should expect less of pupils in terms of remembering information without engaging with it, 'more difficult' in the sense that we should expect more of pupils in terms of creative thought... and by doing so make these qualifications all the more enjoyable and beneficial.

Reply 127

just george

Original post by Dalek1099

You will only find these questions hard because you haven't been taught those areas of the subject.Same at GCSE,I looked at Unit 2 and thought the questions were hard but once you have studied the areas they are easy.O-Levels and GCSEs covered different areas of the subject.I also disagree with the fact that adults forget their maths skills because they don't use them,you have to use maths in life because how would you calculate what to spend on things and budget your wage and many basic jobs(shop workers)often need basic maths .

Well most shop workers have a thing called a till. And tbh i think what is classified as the mathematical ability of an 11 year old means they can still add and subtract to the level you would have to do with money, but ok lets agree to disagree on that point.

I have now been taught those areas of the subject, the first question looks like FP1, q11 looks like C4, but i havent actually tried them so there could be more to it than that. The questions still look harder than anything on any of my A level maths papers.. the difference is they just give you a huge question and you have to work out how to tackle it, whereas now even at A level each question is spoon fed to you in bite size chunks. GCSE is even worse in that respect. The questions are so much harder than anything on a GCSE paper nowadays i genuinely dont understand how you cant see that :L

Reply 128

Harveys

Original post by Dalek1099

You will only find these questions hard because you haven't been taught those areas of the subject.Same at GCSE,I looked at Unit 2 and thought the questions were hard but once you have studied the areas they are easy.O-Levels and GCSEs covered different areas of the subject.I also disagree with the fact that adults forget their maths skills because they don't use them,you have to use maths in life because how would you calculate what to spend on things and budget your wage and many basic jobs(shop workers)often need basic maths .

Nope i dont considering i did them at O'level, got a grade B.
PS then did Alevel pure maths and stats only got a grade d

Sorry GSCE Maths are easier than O'level. Why I know because i am returning to To get my Degree in Sept. And I have been Brushing up etc on my maths since i havent used it in 27 years.

Tried a 2009 maths paper after brushing up got 87%.

Anyone want to see A'level maths as well

(edited 12 years ago)

Reply 129

sexbo

Original post by just george

But the fact that calculus is no longer in the GCSE syllabus means it has to be in the A level syllabus, which means that there is less time in A levels to be learning other things.
Of course, if you just chucked an O level paper at people at the end of year 11, they would all fail. Thats because everything has been getting easier, topics have been steadily pushed back or removed, everything is taught in bite sized chunks... We cant just make GCSEs harder without changing the way they and everything before them is taught is the problem. :L

What else needs to be learnt in A level maths? You do the calculus and you are good to go for your future science degree. Anything extra can be taught as the uni as it was with me. In first year physics/chem/bio you don't need any maths that's beyond A level maths/further maths and by second year you will ahve done the relevant prerequisite maths modules. As for a maths degree it's a bit like how you don't need a law or economics A level to do law or economics. The whole point of being at university is that you eventually learn everything you need to know about the subject there. I have heard stories of Cambridge lecturers teaching the class everything thing about maths (starting from 1+1 =2 ) right up to A level in one hour as a first day show-off demonstration. Indeed I have found that lecturers are remarkably more efficient at teaching A level subjects than schools are. My school barred me from doing A level further maths because they said they needed a specialist to teach it and I would be too slow and waste the specialists time. When I got to uni they taught me the whole of AS further maths in ONE term.

Reply 130

just george

Original post by sexbo

What else needs to be learnt in A level maths? You do the calculus and you are good to go for your future science degree. Anything extra can be taught as the uni as it was with me. In first year physics/chem/bio you don't need any maths that's beyond A level maths/further maths and by second year you will ahve done the relevant prerequisite maths modules. As for a maths degree it's a bit like how you don't need a law or economics A level to do law or economics. The whole point of being at university is that you eventually learn everything you need to know about the subject there. I have heard stories of Cambridge lecturers teaching the class everything thing about maths (starting from 1+1 =2 ) right up to A level in one hour as a first day show-off demonstration. Indeed I have found that lecturers are remarkably more efficient at teaching A level subjects than schools are. My school barred me from doing A level further maths because they said they needed a specialist to teach it and I would be too slow and waste the specialists time. When I got to uni they taught me the whole of AS further maths in ONE term.

The whole of AS further maths = fp1 i assume? because yes i learnt that for a january entry last year.. i.e. 1 term :L

in physics i learn about cosmology, doesnt mean im going to use that knowledge when i do automotive engineering. i still thinks its good to teach anywau, since when does knowledge have to be taught on a 'need to know for my future course/job/life' basis?

Well if you want to be so specific, i think logic should be taught in a level maths, perhaps complex numbers too seeing as they were in olevels..

But this has gone a bit off topic hasnt it :smile:

Maths is compulsory at gcse so obciously there will be people who couldnt give a xrap and will give up if things like calculus were in the syllabus, but i dont see why that should hold up the entire education of others just because not everyone there need to know it.

Reply 131

deniu3545

OP

3

Original post by Harveys

Here are a couple of O'level maths Questions, sorry GSCE's are far easier

sorry not sure how to make image bigger on here, click it to see full size

or there just old methods that seem hard now as we no longer study them?

Reply 132

f1mad

13

Original post by Dalek1099

...

Even if you were taught the content, these olden-style types of questions require a lot more thinking- something which your average joe wouldn't get.

Reply 133

f1mad

13

Original post by just george

I have now been taught those areas of the subject, the first question looks like FP1, q11 looks like C4, but i havent actually tried them so there could be more to it than that.

If you're referring to that image, I suggest you take another look.

They are basic C1/C2 questions.

Reply 134

anonymouspie227

20

Original post by scottstacey

the problem with this country is that mediocrity is praised a C is not a good grade and neither is a B, it's shameful. If he worked his arse off to get those grades he has issues.

Your response is disappointing. I think you're trolling. I'm not feeding this troll. Find your food elsewhere.

What did you get in your results?

Reply 135

Jecaw

Original post by f1mad

If you're referring to that image, I suggest you take another look.

They are basic C1/C2 questions.

And C1 & C2 are AS modules which are no longer compulsory..... What does that tell you??

GCSEs are definitely easier than the O-level, and there is no differential between those who achieve 90% + and those who are achieving around 70% - they all come out with A/A*. This is especially apparent in Maths and the three Sciences.
To those who say that there are plenty of people who get Ds, the pass Rate is much higher now than a few decades ago, not to mention the fact that the whole point of exams is to differentiate between the academically strong and those who are not....At the moment, all GCSEs do is encourage people to learn the mark scheme....

Reply 136

just george

Original post by f1mad

If you're referring to that image, I suggest you take another look.

They are basic C1/C2 questions.

Yeah looks like the image has been changed since i posted, the original had complex numbers and compound angle formulae :L perhaps it was additional maths and the new image is a standard maths paper?

Reply 137

Dwayne Hicks

2

Original post by matthurry

Hey. I am in year 12 currently studying Bio, chem, maths, and economics.
It don't know about anyone else, but i get pretty ****ing sick of people banging on about how easy GCSE's are, anyone can pass etc. I consider myself as pretty smart, and i worked my ****ing ass of to achieve my 7a's, 3B's and a C. So did many other people i know, but are constantly being put down by ***** who took their GCSE's about 300 years ago, and are sour that people are passing more now then when they were a kid.

I find it a ****ing joke that people who AREN'T doing GCSE's get to moan how easy they are, and a consequence, they are made harder!?

P.S, rant over, sorry for posting this in the wrong thread, feel free to move. :motz:

It's all just relative for your age at the time. You are being conditioned to undertake larger and larger work loads.

Reply 138

Harveys

Original post by just george

Yeah looks like the image has been changed since i posted, the original had complex numbers and compound angle formulae :L perhaps it was additional maths and the new image is a standard maths paper?