A-Levels getting easier... shocker!

[Phube]

I hear they are gonna give them out with breakfast cereal next year!

Oh, BTW congrats to those that get their wanted results today!

[AjcW]

The wankers who say that want to try taking them!

Just does my head in every year that someone has to shit all over our celebrations.

[Libertine]

The wankers who say that want to try taking them!

Just does my head in every year that someone has to shit all over our celebrations.

Ignore the banter?

[Asha]

Fantastic.

[Heart-Shaped Fox]

Just got mine today, well AS anyway.

Wouldnt say they are easy.

[Finnegan]

I hear they are gonna give them out with breakfast cereal next year!

Oh, BTW congrats to those that get their wanted results today!

Given how especially thick you can be at times and that you've presumably got decent A-Levels and a degree I'm not sure how much right you've got to be smug.

[dandannieldanok]

The wankers who say that want to try taking them!

Just does my head in every year that someone has to shit all over our celebrations.

Agreed, just ignore them mate and if you get what you want enjoy the moment.

It's all well and good people just meaning it light-heartedly and as banter, but it's just not funny and usually smacks of jealousy. A levels are the hardest thing I've ever done so I'm very happy that the hard work has paid off today.

[James.]

People who are getting offended shouldn't do. It's not a dig at you. You can only sit the exams that are put in front of you and if you worked hard and got the results you want then it doesn't really matter what people say - you can now push on and achieve even more.

However, the bottom line is that the exams probably ARE getting easier. When I did mine back in 2000 the same claims were being levelled then. And when you see some example questions (admittedly this was GCSE) then it's actually quite surprising what kind of standard is now expected.

[breadandcheese]

...erm... but the standards at A-Level are falling, or rather grade inflation has eaten up the system.

Academics say it, schools say it, universities say it. It's unfortunate but it's true. The fact that some public schools are now taking international baccaulaureats or other qualifications is evidence of this.

Let's be honest, is today's generation that much more intelligent than their parents? Are they better critical thinkers? Are they more capable of digesting knowledge and applying it? The answer is we're the same, so how are today's 6th formers scoring better results than ever?

I'll never forget when I went to university 8 years ago and one of the modules we had to take was a module on how to write an essay, with a lecture on common spelling and grammar mistakes. This was the only time I got a warning from the university when I didn't bother doing any work for the module. I had to see the head of the department who agreed with me, that this was not a university subject. He told me that students were coming to university without basic skills and that it was lamentable. I think I answered that I'd learnt how to spell tomorrow and how to use an apostrophe when I was 10.

I went to a traditional red-brick Russell Group university.

[C-man]

They've definitely got easier since I took mine.

[Guest Bilo]

I hope I don't end up sounding like a smug tosser here, but I'm going to put in my two pennies worth.

I very nearly went to uni after my A Levels in 2003, but circumstances intervened and I only started last year at DMU. I actually got a B in my English Literature A Level, and several of my friends got the same 5 years later. My friends and I often look at each other's essays (checking for errors and whether it 'reads well' before we hand em in) and some of the grammar and spelling leaves a lot to be desired. These aren't stupid people, a B in English Lit is considered to be a decent grade yet simple rules of English do seem to be difficult to grasp for some. The overall arguments within essays tend to be strong, but I can't help feeling that some of the emphasis on decent grammatical English has fallen by the wayside for some. I admit that DMU isn't renowned as a great bastion of academia, but these are surely basics for any undergraduate, especially in English. Like breadandcheese, I think I was still in primary school when I learned how to use an apostrophe and rules such as 'i before e'. This isn't meant as a dig at teaching standards or indeed those who have achieved good results today, it's simply an observation I've made over the year. I really couldn't say whether this is indicative of a drop in standards or simply a shift in emphasis away from the English language and more towards analytical thinking but I personally find poor grammar bloody infuriating.

[FilboFox]

As someone who took the IB just a few years ago in a school where A-Levels were being taken by many of my friends as well, I wholeheartedly agree with the statement that not only are A-Levels getting easier, they are actually piss easy in comparison the IB.

Just to put this into context, I ended up getting 33 points in the IB, slightly disappointing as I hoping for more, but nevertheless it was fine for getting into the course at University I'm doing. The A-Level equivalent of those 33 point is AAAB if not AAAA.

During the IB course, we HAVE to take 6 subjects for the entire 2 years, we have TOK (Theory of Knowledge) and CAS (Community, Action, Service), two parts of the course that require a lot of extra time and work to be put into them and over the course of a 2 week period, we would have approximately 9-10 free periods.

In comparison, the A-Level bunch take 4 subjects for the first year, can drop one for the final year, have MASSES of free periods, nowhere NEAR as much work to do and by the sounds of it, their exams are a hell of a lot easier as well.

University's though, still fail to recognise that the IB is harder, still ask ridiculous minimum points and accept any old dross that has achieved an average amount in their A-Levels... an example being my friend who is light-years behind me in terms of intelligence, I'm no genius I'll accept that, but this person is nowhere near as good as me, yet because he got fairly average to good marks in his A-Levels, he managed to get straight into a law course, a course that asks 38 points in the IB, equivalent to AAAAA at A-Level.

Well done to anyone who's got good A-Level grades in the past or this year but I'm sorry because regardless of how much anyone argues that they are just as difficult or challenging, they are completely and utterly wrong.

[Bellend Sebastian]

I did mine in 1993 and they were pretty easy.

Then again, I am very, very clever

[FilboFox]

Oh and just to add, though my rant was seemingly about IB in comparison to A-Levels, it is obviously clear that A-Levels are getting easier in general... just look at some of the dross that makes it to University these days... it's absolutely shocking how these people even made it through school at times.

[Asha]

Oh and just to add, though my rant was seemingly about IB in comparison to A-Levels, it is obviously clear that A-Levels are getting easier in general... just look at some of the dross that makes it to University these days... it's absolutely shocking how these people even made it through school at times.

Fair enough if you think that, but there will probably be people who are really disappointed with their results on here, and being told they're fooking easy isn't really what they'll want to hear.

[Katy]

Fair enough if you think that, but there will probably be people who are really disappointed with their results on here, and being told they're fooking easy isn't really what they'll want to hear.

Well said Nuss.

[FilboFox]

Fair enough if you think that, but there will probably be people who are really disappointed with their results on here, and being told they're fooking easy isn't really what they'll want to hear.

Well to those people I'm sorry it didn't work out. But my sister has just busted a gut to get her marks in her IB studies, is very intelligent, got 6 A*'s, 3 A's and a B at GCSE level and found out that because she 'only' got 37 points in her IB, she can't get into the Uni to do the course she wants... despite this being equivalent to a ridiculously high amount of A's at A-Level...

[Milans Foxes]

This really pees me off every year! Its not that there getting easier, its just that the subjects are more varied. It is far easier getting an A in something like Photography or Communication studies (no disrespect) than it is in Chemistry or Physics, hence the reason for more A grades being achieved. If you look at the grades achieved in Chemistry, Physics, Maths etc, only a relatively smaller percentage of people get A's.

I think it also depends on quality of teaching. I went to a really poor school at its time and I'm pretty sure that if I had gone to a private school, I would have got much better grades

[Pricey]

I don't think it's fair to say they are getting easier. People who have done them in the past can't say they are, just due to the fact more people are getting higher grades. There could be a number of reasons, for example students are taught better exam techniques. I'd admit some newer subjects such as media studies (no offence to anyone doing it) are relatively easy to acheive high grades, but if you do traditional subjects such as maths, they are definately far from easy. My geography teacher, who is usually unsympathetic and uncompramising to us, even said how he thought it was rubbish people saying A levels have become easier.

[Guest Bilo]

Well to those people I'm sorry it didn't work out. But my sister has just busted a gut to get her marks in her IB studies, is very intelligent, got 6 A*'s, 3 A's and a B at GCSE level and found out that because she 'only' got 37 points in her IB, she can't get into the Uni to do the course she wants... despite this being equivalent to a ridiculously high amount of A's at A-Level...

Based on your logic, this means fook all as exams are definitely getting easier anyway.

I'm leaning more towards the emphasis in exams changing rather than them getting easier.

[dandannieldanok]

As someone who took the IB just a few years ago in a school where A-Levels were being taken by many of my friends as well, I wholeheartedly agree with the statement that not only are A-Levels getting easier, they are actually piss easy in comparison the IB.

Just to put this into context, I ended up getting 33 points in the IB, slightly disappointing as I hoping for more, but nevertheless it was fine for getting into the course at University I'm doing. The A-Level equivalent of those 33 point is AAAB if not AAAA.

During the IB course, we HAVE to take 6 subjects for the entire 2 years, we have TOK (Theory of Knowledge) and CAS (Community, Action, Service), two parts of the course that require a lot of extra time and work to be put into them and over the course of a 2 week period, we would have approximately 9-10 free periods.

In comparison, the A-Level bunch take 4 subjects for the first year, can drop one for the final year, have MASSES of free periods, nowhere NEAR as much work to do and by the sounds of it, their exams are a hell of a lot easier as well.

University's though, still fail to recognise that the IB is harder, still ask ridiculous minimum points and accept any old dross that has achieved an average amount in their A-Levels... an example being my friend who is light-years behind me in terms of intelligence, I'm no genius I'll accept that, but this person is nowhere near as good as me, yet because he got fairly average to good marks in his A-Levels, he managed to get straight into a law course, a course that asks 38 points in the IB, equivalent to AAAAA at A-Level.

Well done to anyone who's got good A-Level grades in the past or this year but I'm sorry because regardless of how much anyone argues that they are just as difficult or challenging, they are completely and utterly wrong.

Are you purposely being a **** or does it just come naturally? Millions of people, including myself, have worked their fingers to the bone throughout the last couple of years to get these results only to be undermined by arseholes like you.

Well done to everyone who got their results today, A levels are a great achievement.

[James.]

From what I know about the IB (my girlfriend did one) I would say it is definitely a better, more rounded qualification than A-Levels.

People should try not to get so defensive. I too worked VERY hard for my 3 A's at A-Level back in 2000 but I'm also willing to accept that even back then standards may well have fallen.

If people can't take a bit of criticism (which isn't even personal, more general) then they're going to struggle big time when they leave school.

[Katy]

From what I know about the IB (my girlfriend did one) I would say it is definitely a better, more rounded qualification than A-Levels.

People should try not to get so defensive. I too worked VERY hard for my 3 A's at A-Level back in 2000 but I'm also willing to accept that even back then standards may well have fallen.

If people can't take a bit of criticism (which isn't even personal, more general) then they're going to struggle big time when they leave school.

I think it's just the general pissing on peoples chips that's getting people down, just let people who have done well be pleased with themselves and celebrate.

[Koke]

People should try not to get so defensive. I too worked VERY hard for my 3 A's at A-Level back in 2000 but I'm also willing to accept that even back then standards may well have fallen.

I generally concur with this. I also admit when I did my A-Levels back in 2002 the standards probably had fallen. It didn't make my hard-work and achievements any less worthy, IMO, but I'm willing to accept that the standards may not have been what they used to be.

Either way, I usually try and avoid getting into these kinda discussions every year cos I end up pissing on people's pies unintentionally.

[dandannieldanok]

If people can't take a bit of criticism (which isn't even personal, more general) then they're going to struggle big time when they leave school.

Why? I'll take criticism when I've done something wrong or done something a lot worse than I could have done it, why should people get criticised for gaining qualifications. This country is full of miserable ****ers, why should achievement not be recognised. Look at what mess the people who did "really super hard " qualifications decades ago have got the country into.