Unfair bias against private schools

I don't mean to dig this up again, but it's something which has just been brought to my attention - why is the A level pass rate so much higher? Given that AH is something of a rarity for the few who get excellent Highers here I would expect our pass rate to be the higher of the two, since (not to be taken offensively) the mean intelligence of candidates probably is, but the A level pass rate is 20-25% higher!

What do you need to pass an AH?
A-level scores are A=80, B=70, C=60, D=50 and E=40. It might well have something to do with that, as while it's hard to get an A it's also pretty hard to fail.

What do you need to pass an AH?
A-level scores are A=80, B=70, C=60, D=50 and E=40. It might well have something to do with that, as while it's hard to get an A it's also pretty hard to fail.

Those are moderated scores though. In some subjects you only need 70% raw marks to get a moderated score of 80/100 (and hence an A).

There are a number of reasons why fewer Scottish students get A-grades...maybe more lenient marking in the English exam system, or more exam-oriented English teaching. However I just looked at an AH Maths paper and I don't think it's any harder than an Edexcel one. In fact, I'd argue that it's easier.

I'm sure this happens at A-level aswell, though I would guess not to the same degree since there is more papers to work on. Based on the specimens I've seen anyway it seems to be more about thorough examination of everything rather than differentiating between candidates.

But by thoroughly covered the content they arguably favour the stronger candidates, rather than those who simply got lucky that the topics they studied hardest came up.

They change the raw percentages here instead, but not usually by more than 1-2%, certainly never 10%.

The moderated marks vary quite a lot here...some subjects may want 83% or so for 80/100, and some want quite a bit lower.

It sounds as if the higher number of modules in A-level is an advantage for a lot of students, who find that one strong module can compensate for another weak one. I'd like to know why so many people pass as well, since I've already heard everyone predict even higher pass rates this year, and they're branding A-levels as even more worthless, and results haven't even come out yet!

I'd like to know why so many people pass as well, since I've already heard everyone predict even higher pass rates this year, and they're branding A-levels as even more worthless, and results haven't even come out yet!

I know, they do that every year - the bastards. The morning I went to get my results I turned on the news and they were slating them. Ignore them, they're just bitter cos their grades weren't very good You'd think they could wait until the day after everyone's found out though - talk about insensitive!

I believe I've dealt with all of that already. I agree that there may be areas which we do not cover which are in "ordinary" A level maths but would argue that the ones we replace them with are harder, and based on the fact that these appear in what is often regarded as the hardest A level this appears to be the case.

Since you ask, AH maths is now a pure course, though until last year it was available with mechanics/statistics/numerical analysis as the third unit (remember this is a 1 year course), but this has now become a seperate 3-unit course in applied maths.

I still believe our exam system is definately harder, and is much more like the "old style" of a big paper at the end of the year. I've certainly never heard anyone say exams are getting harder.

The fact that it is easier to get into Oxbridge is also ultimately flawed. I came from a highly regarded private school and we have only had 10-12 Oxbridge offers for a year of 200 recently.