GCSEs

escaped

I think the easiness of any exam depends on the individual. Maybe the format seems easier in certain subjects these days.
As mentioned earlier, it's the huge increase in the number of students achieving these highest grades that is disproportionate.

My DGC are working towards GCSE, so I haven't witnessed exam time yet and can't comment. From what I see, the marking and assessment are far lazier than in the 70's. Most of her homework so far consists of multiple choice answers done on their phones, very little physical writing. I say that because I was one who learned everything by writing it down and referring back.

Have you ever marked GCSE scripts? I was a GCSE marker for about 10 years. "Lazy" is not a word I would use for marking and assessment.

WithNobsOnIt

I did my O levels in 1971 with the dreaded, very pretentious snotty and class conscious JMB. The Joint Matriculation Board.

Really only orientated towards top Direct Grant Grammar and Private Schools.

Sunk without trace. Thank God

I think by then, a U or Unclassified Grade had been introduced. Was less than a 9 and was considered to be the real mark of the no hoper by schools

Rumour had it that you could just get a U for putting your name on the paper.

Sone teachers at some schools woild enter their pupils for O levels at other examining boards such as SEB, Sothern Examining Board. Where the exam questions were more straight forward and pupils achieved better grades.

Eh? JMB was the board controlled by a group of northern universities. Most northern state schools used it. It became part of NEAB, which is now part of AQA, so it didn't sink without a trace. At the time there were a number of alternative boards, but now there are only three in England. They amalgamated to give more consistency.

Is it a huge increaseescaped? I can only see a rise of a couple of points this year? I think I, and others, possibly mean since the 1970s where A grades were very scarce, i.e., for me, and my peers. I don't follow year on year results currently because I'm not in that job, neither have I DGC of that age, but I guess even a couple of points each year will finally lead to an explosion in numbers. (my exaggeration! 💣)

Yes it's a different world now, but if children are being taught more how to perform to achieve higher grades, because we know the tricks, I'm not sure that is necessarily progress.

growstuff

escaped

I think the easiness of any exam depends on the individual. Maybe the format seems easier in certain subjects these days.
As mentioned earlier, it's the huge increase in the number of students achieving these highest grades that is disproportionate.

My DGC are working towards GCSE, so I haven't witnessed exam time yet and can't comment. From what I see, the marking and assessment are far lazier than in the 70's. Most of her homework so far consists of multiple choice answers done on their phones, very little physical writing. I say that because I was one who learned everything by writing it down and referring back.

Have you ever marked GCSE scripts? I was a GCSE marker for about 10 years. "Lazy" is not a word I would use for marking and assessment.

Why would I be marking GCSE scripts? If you look, I'm talking about Year 7 and 8 homework all put into the computer.

I’m just thankful we’re past all this - at least for another 5 or 6 years - eldest Gdc is 10.

growstuff
Re examination boards
They amalgamated to give more consistency
They needed to have more consistency.

Even back when my children were GCSE, and A Level age, there was a difference in the examination boards.
We lived in an area where there were separate boys’ and girls’ schools so I could see what was going on.

The boys read their MFL literature and wrote their papers on that in English. The girls read the literature syllabus books and wrote their papers in the language they were studying.

Allira I was in Hertfordshire

9 was highest grade and anything below 4 was a fail.