[EMPStudent]

(Original post by chrislpp)
It is ''hard'' because its probably the hardest thing you have done academically so far in your life when you're just getting base knowledge most of which has at the minimum, been well known for decades.

It is all subjective, A levels aren't exactly the forefront of human research and intelligence

Kids aren't getting smarter, don't flatter yourself, kids like Justin Bieber, Katy Perry and Nikki Minaj so go figure. They are getting easier, or teachers are just getting better...either way, don't flatter yourself. Even undergraduate level work isn't 'hard'.

What undergraduate degree did you find easy, Dr Chris?

What arrogance.

[Jodie_668]

AS years are great, I mean how depressing to be stuck with a subject you weren't too keen on for TWO years!
Though, I do think the removal of modules may be a good idea, as I do feel that my lessons are too focused on 'you must know a, b and c for the upcoming exam', rather than just for the interest in learning about the subject

[Id and Ego seek]

Is this a slow convergence towards the Scottish system? Especially that Gold Standard qualification.

[manupalace]

As someone who took all exams at the end of 2 years apart from my standalone AS which I took at the end of Y12 (policy at my sixth form) I think people may overestimate the difficulty, especially in the sciences and maths. In maths and science subject everything (or almost everything) in A2 builds upon knowledge in the AS (I'm sure anyone who took or retook C1/C2 at the end of Y12 would understand this). Doing the course in the way I did means that the syllabus can be taught in a more logical order and time isn't wasted by revision periods before AS exams or module exams.

Also the idea is that you know/understand all of what you have been taught at the end of your A levels, so it should not make a difference when you take your exams (though of course pressure makes a difference, and I don't want to disregard this, but the pressure is there with final A2 (and retakes) exams anyway).

I personally think that at the very least the modular system should be scrapped. People should take AS at the end of Y12 and A2 (possibly retaking AS) at the end of Y13.

[sconter]

i dont remember any of the specifics from AS level. i dont really remember most of what i had to know last week for exams, because i know if i nerd it for a week i can learn what i need to pass the exam.

the way things are, u learn stuff just to pass the exam, i think it does need changing.

[techno836]

linear is also aproaching to GCSE's (mostly science as it changes to linear next year and most maths courses are linear ) aswell ..but i seem to think that the government is going to see it as a 'trial-run' on the matter, i do agree that really they should be more focussing on the syllabus of the courses though and the standard of teaching (i dont care about the new ofstead scheme tbh ) but stuff like this needs to be sorted FIRST ... we all know the jum from A-levels to uni is a massive one , so it makes sense to just improve what is taught at GCSE's and A-levels to bridge the gap .......

i hope that made sense :L

[tj hughes]

I don't get it - if A-levels are too 'easy' why don't they just decrease the number of students getting As etc. and scale the grade boundaries accordingly.

Grade boundaries vary because a set proportion of candidates are supposed to achieve each grade - yet A-level results are rising... this makes no sense?

Surely if they want to make A-levels harder, increase the grade boundaries - isn't it simple?

Obviously in some subjects (e.g. maths) they are v.high already, but in biology and history, I've known 60 and 70% boundaries for As respectively

[carnationlilyrose]

(Original post by tj hughes)
I don't get it - if A-levels are too 'easy' why don't they just decrease the number of students getting As etc. and scale the grade boundaries accordingly.

Grade boundaries vary because a set proportion of candidates are supposed to achieve each grade - yet A-level results are rising... this makes no sense?

Surely if they want to make A-levels harder, increase the grade boundaries - isn't it simple?

Obviously in some subjects (e.g. maths) they are v.high already, but in biology and history, I've known 60 and 70% boundaries for As respectively

Because none of this is being done for any actual academic reason. It's being done to further a poltician's career by allowing him to claim he's being tough on falling standards. If you shout it loudly enough, eventually people believe it's true.

Forgive me. I am a cynical old bag.

[cl_steele]

(Original post by tj hughes)
I don't get it - if A-levels are too 'easy' why don't they just decrease the number of students getting As etc. and scale the grade boundaries accordingly.

Grade boundaries vary because a set proportion of candidates are supposed to achieve each grade - yet A-level results are rising... this makes no sense?

Surely if they want to make A-levels harder, increase the grade boundaries - isn't it simple?

Obviously in some subjects (e.g. maths) they are v.high already, but in biology and history, I've known 60 and 70% boundaries for As respectively

i know what you mean with politics for instance i got like 2/3 of the marks and came out with 90 ums marks for the thing and a splendid A, i wasnt exactly complaining but it was rather odd considering some other subjects have such nasty grade boundries like classics, which i also found out to my suprise -_-

[cl_steele]

(Original post by carnationlilyrose)
Because none of this is being done for any actual academic reason. It's being done to further a poltician's career by allowing him to claim he's being tough on falling standards. If you shout it loudly enough, eventually people believe it's true.

Forgive me. I am a cynical old bag.

Tryed to rep this but apparently i've already repped you to much ?

[carnationlilyrose]

(Original post by cl_steele)
Tryed to rep this but apparently i've already repped you to much ?

Well, I wouldn't know, as I can't see who does it, but I'll take the will for the deed and thank you.

[Ice Constricter]

(Original post by tj hughes)
I don't get it - if A-levels are too 'easy' why don't they just decrease the number of students getting As etc. and scale the grade boundaries accordingly.

Grade boundaries vary because a set proportion of candidates are supposed to achieve each grade - yet A-level results are rising... this makes no sense?

Surely if they want to make A-levels harder, increase the grade boundaries - isn't it simple?

Obviously in some subjects (e.g. maths) they are v.high already, but in biology and history, I've known 60 and 70% boundaries for As respectively

In psychology for the A2 modules all you need is about 44 out of 83 to get an A. But maybe that's because you need to memorize 24 different essays ha. I'm not complaining though.

[dtin]

I think the AS-levels are a great idea not because they allow you to drop a subject at the end of year 12 but also if you get good ASs then (for some courses) universites may make you a lower offer.
Another Good reason is that they are easier than A2s (obviously) my teachers have said to try and get as many marks as you can on the easier modules so you'll have less to worry about in your final year.

and for the record as someone who started their A-levels this September who ever writes A-levels off as 'easy' clearly needs to re-think. From what I have found in my first term, they aren't.

[dtin]

I don't actually mind the scrapping of January exams because in all the subjects I am going to carry on for A2 there are either no exams in january or for the ones where there are you'd be better off re-sitting in the May/June anyway

[Darkphilosopher]

(Original post by xoxAngel_Kxox)
I could only assume that you'd pick your subjects with the view to completing the full course. So people would either only do three in the first place, or continue the full four. As you said it would be a complete waste of time to do another and drop it with nothing to show for it.

At my sixth form we had to take 4 subjects both years. After the first year I dropped English because I really hated it (despite enjoying it before I started) and took up Electronics which I really enjoyed