What do you think of CLOSED BOOK exams?!
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WhiteyBread101
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#1
The Government have made new GCSE English Lit exams closed book rather than open book, so you can't take your texts into the exam with you and have to learn the quotes.
A petition with over 100,000 signatures went to the government, lobbying for open book exams to come back and this was the response they gave:
"GCSE English literature content requires students to read the full texts of the books and poems they study. Students will not need to remember the exact words of poems by heart in order to succeed." (Read the full response here)
The House of Commons has been talking to TSR and wants to know your opinions!!
Give us your thoughts on these questions before Wednesday 12th April to have your voices heard!
- How will closed book English exams affect you and your mark?
- What do you think about the Government's response to the petition?
- How do you think GCSE English Lit exams should be assessed?
- If you were an MP taking part in the debate, what points would you raise and what would you ask the Government?

A petition with over 100,000 signatures went to the government, lobbying for open book exams to come back and this was the response they gave:
"GCSE English literature content requires students to read the full texts of the books and poems they study. Students will not need to remember the exact words of poems by heart in order to succeed." (Read the full response here)
The House of Commons has been talking to TSR and wants to know your opinions!!

- How will closed book English exams affect you and your mark?
- What do you think about the Government's response to the petition?
- How do you think GCSE English Lit exams should be assessed?
- If you were an MP taking part in the debate, what points would you raise and what would you ask the Government?

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faloodeh
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#2
WhiteyBread101
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faloodeh
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#4
It also depends on how nasty the questions will be

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username1221160
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_gcx
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#6
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#6
- How will closed book English exams affect you and your mark?
- What do you think about the Government's response to the petition?
- How do you think GCSE English Lit exams should be assessed?
- If you were an MP taking part in the debate, what points would you raise and what would you ask the Government?
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lemonandlime1
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#7
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#7
Don't see the problem, I'm in year 13 now but I did "closed book" English gcse exams. Not like you need to learn the book word for word just pick out a few key points lol
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Dan11235
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#8
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#8
I remember English lit GCSE and I would have struggled if it was closed book. You already had to remember the pages and area of the book the quotes were in and the rough wording but to get the full quote I think the book is needed. You can't write in the book, it has to be a fresh copy anyway so I don't think there is any benefit to removing the book. In my opinion, it will just make people have to learn quotes off by heart which will add no lasting value to their education.
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Good bloke
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#9
The only think more ridiculous than complaining that the government has seen sense and turned back the clock to saner times is thinking that the matter could be worthy of sensible debate.
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_gcx
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#10
(Original post by Good bloke)
The only think more ridiculous than complaining that the government has seen sense and turned back the clock to saner times is thinking that the matter could be worthy of sensible debate.
The only think more ridiculous than complaining that the government has seen sense and turned back the clock to saner times is thinking that the matter could be worthy of sensible debate.
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username1751857
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#11
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#11
This petition will have no impact on those sitting it in 2017, it's too late to change the papers. All they can do is offer help to make sure we are prepared for the exam. I also see nothing wrong with closed book examinations, we should be spending time on answering the question and not flicking through pages trying to look for quotes - challenging, yes, but necessary reform.
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chris2791
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#12
Im dyslexic and my school dosent support me memorising is like memorising different languages and then asked to speak fluently so open book exam will help many unprivileged children like me who do not have that "natural" talent in the arty subjects
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Luke7456
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#13
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#13
(Original post by Quantex)
If you can't memorise a few pokey quotes then God help you in the adult world.
If you can't memorise a few pokey quotes then God help you in the adult world.
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richpanda
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#14
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#14
It's the same for every single student, it's important to remember that. Work hard and make the best of your situation.
There will always be perennial moaners who love to complain.
Good on the Government for not bending the knee.
There will always be perennial moaners who love to complain.
Good on the Government for not bending the knee.
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Airmed
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#15
If I remember correctly my English Lit GCSE was closed book. Was it a bother? Nope.
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999tigger
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#16
Agree with the same for everyone view. I thought all exams used to be closed book. At some point in exams there was a lot more continuous assessment and open book. How much easier do students want it? No wonder people talk about grade inflation.
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CraigBackner
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#17
(Original post by Quantex)
If you can't memorise a few pokey quotes then God help you in the adult world.
If you can't memorise a few pokey quotes then God help you in the adult world.
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old6h
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#18
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#18
I did my English Lit GCSE last year, but I still had to do it closed book. The closed book exam is annoying, more than anything else. Learning quotes just adds another level of stress to the entire exam, and I do not believe that your ability to memorise a few quotes reflects your true ability in the subject. Revising the quotes takes time away from perfecting the more important skills required in the exam.
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.A_C.
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#19
Okay, lets get things straight here - Your exam grade depends on which marker's desk it lands upon, not how much you can regurgitate from Shakespeare.
The problem is *subjective marking*. I can give a paper to 5 different markers and they can all come back with different grades in different bands (ie- A,B,C etc). This is a major issue for exam boards and Universities across the globe.
In another words, I don't trust them. And you shouldn't either.
The problem is *subjective marking*. I can give a paper to 5 different markers and they can all come back with different grades in different bands (ie- A,B,C etc). This is a major issue for exam boards and Universities across the globe.
In another words, I don't trust them. And you shouldn't either.
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Good bloke
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#20
(Original post by 999tigger)
No wonder people talk about grade inflation.
No wonder people talk about grade inflation.
Universities and employers would know that someone with an A was in the top 5% for that subject in their cohort and there would be complete consistency - and the exam system would be fit for its intended purpose in helping to make selections again.
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