‘When I done my degree….’

Firsts, like any other grades, are not in the gift of individual lecturers. There are checks and balances to prevent people taking it upon themselves to decide who gets what, and people don’t get to set standards of their own.

This applies within modules where there are different staff marking assignments, across different modules on courses and between different degrees. There is internal moderation at assignment levels, and External Examiners moderate between universities to ensure fairness there, too. If there is grade inflation (and I would agree that there has been) it is a sector-wide phenomenon.

I have had colleagues who liked to think that they could withhold marks, as in their heads their standards were somehow superior to others’, but they had to get off their high horses and accept that the system wouldn’t let them.

When it comes to regional ways of speaking, the chances are that non-standard English would be marked down in an essay, but much like on here, (where, for example, the use of ‘uni’ instead of ‘university’ is tolerated), in general conversation it doesn’t matter.

There will always be those in any walk of life who cling to anything that gives them a perceived advantage, and mocking others for syntax errors, and assuming that this denotes a lack of intelligence is a cheap way of doing so. One of the advantages of going to university is usually that students meet and mix with people from outside their ‘bubbles’ and learn to respect differences, but there are always those who are too set in their ways to benefit.

biglouis You had to work your ass off to get a first from me.... or be supremely and exceptionally talented, presumably.

I had a great friend who sailed through her first (undergraduate) degree nearly as easily as A levels.
She did work very hard (always) but probably didn't actually need to.

I think, as you probably do, that there are far too many firsts given out now.
In "our day" they were rare and precious things.

When I did my first degree (1980s) I could not believe how low the standard of English was among home based students. Many of them had enjoyed far more in the way of advantages than I had. Grammar schools, private tutoring and so on. When I later began working at the uni I was told off for marking too strictly. You had to work your ass off to get a first from me.

Everyone has to do English in year 12 hear, but. Youse can study up the paddicks if youse wants.

Joseann

Fleurpepper

Germanshepherdsmum

Which universities accept such low grades?

Sorry, do not understand your question. To apply to Uni you have to achieve a 'C' for GCSE in English and Maths - and then whatever grades required at A'Level.

If you fail to achieve a 'C' in maths or English, you can then re-take in Year 12 whilsts doing A'S levels in 4 subjects.

So you may be required to get, as an example, 2 A's and 1 B' in the subjects you are going to study at Uni, and a 'C' at GCSE in English and maths (as a minimum. Of course this would not be applicable if you applied to do English or Maths. That is in England and Wales, not Scotland with Highers.

We don't normally use the letters for GCSE grades any more. They are numbers these days, and the old C at GCSE is a Grade 4.

We don't normally use the letters for GCSE grades any more. They are numbers these days, and the old C at GCSE is a Grade 4

That has really upset me. ☹

Our GCEs were graded from 1 - 9 years ago, 1 being the highest pass (probably what some may think of as A*)
My 1s sound like fails!!

You Grans, you have writ it wrong.

Sago

A graduate I met had an English degree, a masters and a PGCE.
She was struggling to get a teaching post, I suggested a couple of ideas that may have helped her.
She said “was you a teacher”.
I despair.

Maybe Sago, she should have wait while Monday for your answer.

My daughter's teachers weren't at all pleased when she decided to take A Level English Language along with her Biology and Chemistry. They didn't think she would get very far in science without 3 science A Levels (this was the 90s) In fact she got a place through clearing without even an interview and went on to get a 2.1 and a PhD and has worked ever since.

In fact she found the English A Level was a great help with her own writing and with helping her students to produce their dissertations. Not so much help is needed by the foreign students who tend to have a better grasp of English grammar. After all this she still rings me from time to time to ask the difference between affect and effect!

Fleurpepper

Germanshepherdsmum

Which universities accept such low grades?

Sorry, do not understand your question. To apply to Uni you have to achieve a 'C' for GCSE in English and Maths - and then whatever grades required at A'Level.

If you fail to achieve a 'C' in maths or English, you can then re-take in Year 12 whilsts doing A'S levels in 4 subjects.

So you may be required to get, as an example, 2 A's and 1 B' in the subjects you are going to study at Uni, and a 'C' at GCSE in English and maths (as a minimum. Of course this would not be applicable if you applied to do English or Maths. That is in England and Wales, not Scotland with Highers.

We don't normally use the letters for GCSE grades any more. They are numbers these days, and the old C at GCSE is a Grade 4.

Fleurpepper

Students normally take 4 AS Levels in Year 12, and 3 A'Levels for year 13. Only a tiny minority takes English at A'Level, and when they do, it is mostly litterature.

As opposed to Langguage?

I would dispute the “tiny majority” observation!

Germanshepherdsmum

Which universities accept such low grades?

Sorry, do not understand your question. To apply to Uni you have to achieve a 'C' for GCSE in English and Maths - and then whatever grades required at A'Level.

If you fail to achieve a 'C' in maths or English, you can then re-take in Year 12 whilsts doing A'S levels in 4 subjects.

So you may be required to get, as an example, 2 A's and 1 B' in the subjects you are going to study at Uni, and a 'C' at GCSE in English and maths (as a minimum. Of course this would not be applicable if you applied to do English or Maths. That is in England and Wales, not Scotland with Highers.

😊😊😊 This thread made me chuckle even as it made me wince.

Not arf.

You's is all eeleetis an biarsed

Charleygirl5

I would put money on it that it was for media studies.

Don’t you mean meedya?

There are less people ……aaargh ……there are fewer people who understand the difference between less and fewer.

Made me shudder!

Couldn't believe it when an advertisement regarding money said 'save pense'........

25Avalon

Don't fret - I'm good!

25Avalon

Callistemon21

Blondiescot

Let's hope it wasn't an English degree...

He should of got a first.

You mean should have.

The grammar police on here will take you to task😂😂

😂😂😂

I'm escaping, I'm just on the boarder now .....

Well I hope the lecturers that learned them and give them it know what they done.

Which universities accept such low grades?

Students normally take 4 AS Levels in Year 12, and 3 A'Levels for year 13. Only a tiny minority takes English at A'Level, and when they do, it is mostly litterature.

Sadly, the A'Level system is so so narrow- and the only requirement to go to University, is to have a C at GCSE, and then never study English again, unless you choose A'Level English, which the vast majority does not.

What about “can I get….?” And “…off of…”?