should general studies be voluntary?

Cellardore

i feel that u shouldnt be pushed into doin general studies if u dont want to
half the uni's dont accept it anyway so wots the point in doing it?
i know that it can look gd on ur report but i was talkin to someone who goes to oxford and she said that all she did was turn up for the exam!

is general studies compulsory? my school doesnt even offer this subject

Reply 2

....

1

It was optional at my 6th form.

Reply 3

OP

that is totally unfair!
we have to do it!

Reply 4

TheWolf

Cellardore

that is totally unfair!
we have to do it!

thats abit stupid - i never knew that there is such thing as a compulsory as

Reply 5

LH

Clearing and Applications Advisor

At some schools it's compulsary but it's not compulsary nationally.

Reply 6

PQ

21

It should be compulsory for everyone.

Although it does in some cases simply involve turning up it covers the basic skills and general knowledge of how the world works that should be a minimum standard for higher education - if you cant get a decent grade in it there is something to worry about.

Reply 7

Zapsta

I don't think it should be compulsory. Then again it shouldn't be voluntary either. It just shouldn't be. Would save all the stupid kids who choose to do it from wasting their time.

Reply 8

TheWolf

Zapsta

I don't think it should be compulsory. Then again it shouldn't be voluntary either. It just shouldn't be. Would save all the stupid kids who choose to do it from wasting their time.

why shouldnt it be voluntary?

Reply 9

Zapsta

TheWolf

why shouldnt it be voluntary?

I've said already. It's like making washing soap voluntary at school - a pointless exercise with no reward, but stupid people will still do it. Better off not giving them the option in the first place.

Reply 10

OP

i think its for ppl who are not very cleva anyway...it just boosts their points a little bit, thats why its an easy subject

Reply 11

fifi53

1

Cellardore

i think its for ppl who are not very cleva anyway...it just boosts their points a little bit, thats why its an easy subject

whatever. it tests how much you pay attention to whats going on around you, your abuility to engage in debate and discussion and think up arguments quickly. if it it soooooo easy - whats the problem with doing it? a whole 4.5 hours of your life, you might as well do it. if you could provide your school with a real reason why you shoudlnt do it (like it clashed with another module or soemthing) then they would obviosuly let you drop it. if you think its such a waste of time just dont turn up to the exam.

Reply 12

viviki

14

well I can only comment on how it was in 1998 when I took it, but that wasnt the case at all. Everyone sat the mock at my school then all those who got an E or above could take the proper exam.
Only the people who were doing ok at A Levels (getting grade C or above average) performed well enough to take the proper exam. Out of the GNVQ people none even those getting distinctionsin their GNVQ performed well enough at general studies to take the proper A Level exam and it ended up that only about 12 of us took it so it certainly wasnt an easy option. Neither did it boost the points total as only a few universities accepted it then.

Reply 13

OP

Clearing and Applications Advisor

then how come somw schools dont even bother teaching u it?

Reply 14

PQ

21

Cellardore

then how come somw schools dont even bother teaching u it?

Because it's about general knowledge and the ability to understand and argue a point (as well as a few other specialist things) - not something that is easy to teach or revise.

In fact my teachers suggested the best for of revision was to play trivial pursuit and watch the news/read the broadsheets daily.

Reply 15

viviki

14

Cellardore

then how come somw schools dont even bother teaching u it?

Because its about skills that you should keep up with yourself. The ability to write a coherent argument and to be at a certain level in several subjects and keeping up to date with current affairs.

Some employers regard it as the A level in common sense and I've been told by people that they do see it as a good thing to have when looking for new people to recruit.

Reply 16

Joey_Johns

10

We had to do it up to AS level at my school. It was just another excuse for 'guest speakers' telling us to be moral et al. The thicko's who were planning on going to a crap university carried on with it.

Reply 17

OP