[THRASHx]

I had Maths coursework and I believe that was my downfall
But yeah this idea is ridiculous

[TheSownRose]

(Original post by moregano)
That's ridiculous! They're completely failing to take into account the fact that every candidate is an individual, and doesn't necessarily fall into nice little gender-specific categories.

This.

I have a string of 100% A* modules for science GCSE, along with high A*s for the final exams; my coursework averaged out at a C. I know AQA are saying that candidates can opt to do the 'other' exam, but most people are only fourteen when starting their GCSEs - imagine the ribbing a guy would take for doing the girls' course (and on that note, why 'girls' and 'boys' courses - why not just 'coursework-dominant' and 'exam-dominant'? ) Also, very few students at that age know their strengths, and there's no guarantee the school would make it clear that there was an option.

[Hala.]

AQA is a joke.

[STARMissyB]

I prefer coursewprk anyway, but why say that one course is for girls and the other for boys? Just say that one is 'coursework based' whilst the other is 'exam based'.

[lovely_me]

They're just trying to get even more people to pass. It's silly. OCR all the way

[Clarkkent]

oh good, while they are at it...how about different subjects for races as well, im sure asians do "better" at sciences,blacks excel at music and sport subjects, whites love politics and history, chinese students can do IT and computer courses.....

[perrytheplatypus]

(Original post by llys)
Yes I think it is really STUPID (and insulting to the individual) that they label it according to gender, no matter what the average preference is. Why can't they call it more coursework-based GCSE vs more exam-based GCSE? Then boys who prefer coursework won't be put off from taking a GCSE that suits them by being labeled as "girls" and so on..

I agree

[S_123]

What a piece of ****. Wtf are AQA thinking? If you're good at a subject it shouldn't matter.

[liaf]

(Original post by Jonty99)
Maybe they should have easier exams for the less intelligent pupils aswell...

they do....

[Roobagnall]

Well that's just retarded.

If anything, they should give everyone a variety of different forms of assessment. Some creative, viva voice, formal written examinations and coursework in different forms.

It's learning styles that makes the difference, not sex. Giving everyone different forms of assessment would be so much more beneficial for everyone.

[MewMachine]

This is rubbish. I'm not always of the view that "one size fits all" but in the case of GCSEs/A levels, at the end of the day it has to be so that no one person can be disadvantaged due to whatever course they are doing. If I was put on a "girls" coursework course I would detest it- I'm an exams person, but I accept sometimes I have to do coursework. Simple solution is, if you hate one or the other that much, don't do subjects which involve it too much.

[impossible!]

I read about this. Typical that it's AQA.

Worst idea of the century maybe. Defeats their object since they are allowing pupils to do either one anyway.

AQA are smoking weed perhaps?

[Duckzilla]

(Original post by impossible!)
I read about this. Typical that it's AQA.

Worst idea of the century maybe. Defeats their object since they are allowing pupils to do either one anyway.

AQA are smoking weed perhaps?

However, single sex schools are 99% of the time going to to the boys' course or the girls' course depending on the gender of their school, offering none of the pupils choice, which can and will affect some students quite badly whether they are worse at coursework or exams and will forced to do more of either one of them and less of the assessment material they are better at.

In mixed schools, no boy is going to want to do the girls' course for fear of ridicule, even if the course would suit them better than the boys' course. Either way in a mixed school or a single sex school there will be no physical or social choice for the pupils.

[machiavelli123]

Coursework is a joke. Plus, it is easier for teachers at less reputable institutions to ensure their students get full marks. If you know what I'm saying.

[loonyplatypus]

What? How can they possibly generalise like that? I'm a girl, and I know plenty of other girls who, like me, prefer exams! This is stupid.

[JayDay92]

(Original post by Psyk)
That's exactly what I think. It's fair enough to give students an option to do more coursework or more exams, but there's no reason to specifically aim one at boys and one at girls. It will probably naturally end up with more boys opting for the exams and more girls opting for coursework, but that doesn't mean you should automatically assume boys will do one and girls will do the other.

Agreed. And I suppose this system would put pointless pressure on guys to choose the 'boys' option even in cases where the coursework based one would be more appropriate for individuals.