There are no hard exams.

60 years ago, A levels were hard. Now they are designed so that a lot more people can pass them. Can professionals still be trusted to do a good job if they have not passed hard exams?

Exams have not changed in difficulty. The content in most exams has changed completely since 60 years ago though, especially in the sciences as new ideas and concepts have been introduced in the specification. However, if you take a look at the maths A-level then not much has changed really. We have access to the internet and far more resources than they did 60 years ago and this may also show in improved grades.

And even if you proved me wrong and showed that the exams were harder 60 years ago, you only need like 3 C grades to get into some of the top universities back then. There wasn't much competition and the pressure of getting a job or place at university back then was far lower. Now you have to get a minimum of 3 A grades to get into these same universities and even when you do get in it still isn't enough to get a job anymore.

Also professionals have their own exams which they need to pass and they, as far as I am aware, have not changed in difficulty.

Exams have not changed in difficulty. The content in most exams has changed completely since 60 years ago though, especially in the sciences as new ideas and concepts have been introduced in the specification. However, if you take a look at the maths A-level then not much has changed really. We have access to the internet and far more resources than they did 60 years ago and this may also show in improved grades.

And even if you proved me wrong and showed that the exams were harder 60 years ago, you only need like 3 C grades to get into some of the top universities back then. There wasn't much competition and the pressure of getting a job or place at university back then was far lower. Now you have to get a minimum of 3 A grades to get into these same universities and even when you do get in it still isn't enough to get a job anymore.

Also professionals have their own exams which they need to pass and they, as far as I am aware, have not changed in difficulty.

There are hard exams - otherwise everyone would get full marks.

English Literature A2 contains one of the hardest exams that I have ever come across; 2 and a half hours, 2 questions - closed book, Shakespeare (Hamlet), Blake, unseen and The Revenger's Tragedy - AO1, 2, 3 and 4... this is not an easy exam.

Psychology A2 - ADDICTION, DEPRESSION AND PSYCHOLOGICAL RESEARCH (CONTAINING UNDERGRADUATE STATISTICS) - this is a hard exam.

SCLY3 (Sociology) - Power and Politics - another hard exam.

Geography A2 - Unit 3 (Contested Planet) - learning 6 topics - Biodiversity, water, energy, development gap, technological fix and superpowers. This is another 2 and a half hour exam - learning 6 topics for 3 to come up (7 essays) ... and this is without the 70 mark question that you get in unit 4

Thus... there are hard exams!

Trust me... exams were harder in most cases decades ago. Just compare the old O Level maths from the 60s to GCSE maths now...

There are hard exams - otherwise everyone would get full marks.

English Literature A2 contains one of the hardest exams that I have ever come across; 2 and a half hours, 2 questions - closed book, Shakespeare (Hamlet), Blake, unseen and The Revenger's Tragedy - AO1, 2, 3 and 4... this is not an easy exam.

Psychology A2 - ADDICTION, DEPRESSION AND PSYCHOLOGICAL RESEARCH (CONTAINING UNDERGRADUATE STATISTICS) - this is a hard exam.

SCLY3 (Sociology) - Power and Politics - another hard exam.

Geography A2 - Unit 3 (Contested Planet) - learning 6 topics - Biodiversity, water, energy, development gap, technological fix and superpowers. This is another 2 and a half hour exam - learning 6 topics for 3 to come up (7 essays) ... and this is without the 70 mark question that you get in unit 4

Thus... there are hard exams!