A-Level Results Day 2008
Yesterday was results day across England. And my opinion of the debate over exam simplicity is that of course the science exams are easier now, as they have taken more and more stuff out of the Maths and Chemistry A-Levels over the last few years. Look at what now gets taught in Further Maths - my dad learnt some of it for O-Level! It is a fact that among science subjects exams are now easier, but among arts subjects, slightly less has changed, in my experience.
Anyway, I ended up with 5 A grades, including my History grade that was bang on the borderline for an A grade - 480/600. So off to Cambridge (Queens' College!) in October, when all the paperwork gets sorted.
All in all, a rather successful day yesterday!
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3 comments:
Yay! And other intellectually stimulating expressions of joy. Well done.
Also, you're quite right about O-levels and the science/art dichotomy.
Well done on your grades and I wish you every success at Cambridge!
I certainly think that there are many dimensions to the exam results issue. For one, how are subjects examined? I'd love to see an old style maths paper, for example, and compare it to the ones now. In chemistry before, did papers only test recall?
The other thing that I am curious of, and I'm sure we'll find out when we go to uni is how international students compare to us. I think that comparison will tell us if it really matters whether the exams have become easier or not... which then opens up a whole new can of worms about whether exams test intelligence or not.
No, chemistry papers previously were basically maths in a chemical setting, so you would be differentiating rate equations and generally doing much more maths.
I am sure that the international student match-up dimension will be fascinating, although I would hate to see the IB introduced, as its idea on compulsory subjects is ludicrous. Why should I be forced to study English, which I hated at GCSE? GCSEs are supposed to give you a well-rounded education, there is no need for another diploma instead of A-Levels to give me another one.
I do not object to having a diploma of six subjects, I just want complete freedom to choose my subjects.
See how I can digress wonderfully from the main issue!
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