Are exams getting easier?

[Gibbous Moon]

Are exams getting easier or are the large amounts of money spent on schools, the increasing professionalism of our teachers and the darn hard work of our kids paying off with better grades?

[The Colonel]

No, they aren't getting easier.

Some of the questions my kids have had to answer for GCSE's and A-levels are far harder than I had to do - and I went to a Public School.

However, I dislike the wording of modern questions.

In my day, they'd ask a question directly, such as:

Explain the workings of the heart

Now it seems to be:

Mohammed and Isobel wanted to investigate the workings of the heart. Mohammed said that the heart was made by Allah. Isobel said F*** off. Which is correct?

OK - I know those examples were piss poor, but basically there is too much crap in the questions. Just ask a plain simple question!

[The Chairman]

No, they aren't getting easier.

Some of the questions my kids have had to answer for GCSE's and A-levels are far harder than I had to do - and I went to a Public School.

However, I dislike the wording of modern questions.

In my day, they'd ask a question directly, such as:

Explain the workings of the heart

Now it seems to be:

Mohammed and Isobel wanted to investigate the workings of the heart. Mohammed said that the heart was made by Allah. Isobel said F*** off. Which is correct?

OK - I know those examples were piss poor, but basically there is too much crap in the questions. Just ask a plain simple question!

Isobel.......bless her....

[The Colonel]

No, they aren't getting easier.

Some of the questions my kids have had to answer for GCSE's and A-levels are far harder than I had to do - and I went to a Public School.

However, I dislike the wording of modern questions.

In my day, they'd ask a question directly, such as:

Explain the workings of the heart

Now it seems to be:

Mohammed and Isobel wanted to investigate the workings of the heart. Mohammed said that the heart was made by Allah. Isobel said F*** off. Which is correct?

OK - I know those examples were piss poor, but basically there is too much crap in the questions. Just ask a plain simple question!

Isobel.......bless her....

[Winston Smith]

Mohammed and Isobel wanted to investigate the workings of the heart. Mohammed said that the heart was made by Allah. Isobel said F*** off. Which is correct?

That's just about the funniest thing you have ever posted.

Whilst I don't think exams are getting easier, I do think the marking has become more lax. Spelling and grammar are being ignored as well. I just find it odd that my wife has to deal with university graduates who have no idea how to do simple arithmetic and are not able to compose a simple letter. There must be something fundamentally wrong somewhere.

[JamesofKent2]

Are exams getting easier or are the large amounts of money spent on schools, the increasing professionalism of our teachers and the darn hard work of our kids paying off with better grades?

I don't understand the question.

[Fred75]

Are exams getting easier or are the large amounts of money spent on schools, the increasing professionalism of our teachers and the darn hard work of our kids paying off with better grades?

I don't understand the question.

But in all honesty professors of higher education have been complaining for 20 years that students are dumb now.
Liberal school systems no longer teach critical thinking when it comes to right from wrong and good from bad.

[JamesofKent2]

Fred...what the hell is happening? Are you and I getting on today??

I think the crumbling of capitalism and the socialist streak being shown by Bush are clouding your judgement. Here this one's on me, but I think it should be your last today!

[Fred75]

Fred...what the hell is happening? Are you and I getting on today??

I think the crumbling of capitalism and the socialist streak being shown by Bush are clouding your judgement. Here this one's on me, but I think it should be your last today!

I don't think so.
I'm basing my opinion on the youtube video reference How the Modern Liberal Thinks for my position.
In it he states that a professor says today's youth and society are idiots because of the modern Liberal agenda.
It's why they want Obama!
Penalize the rich for working hard and elect a black man solely to prove were not racist!

[H. Franklin Layne]

Are exams getting easier or are the large amounts of money spent on schools, the increasing professionalism of our teachers and the darn hard work of our kids paying off with better grades?

I don't understand the question.

But in all honesty professors of higher education have been complaining for 20 years that students are dumb now.
[b]Liberal school systems no longer teach critical thinking when it comes to right from wrong and good from bad.[/b]

Because republicans cut funding for schools, supplies and teachers! Unless the schools are elitist republican havens for bigotry and greed!

I missed you yesterday Fred, gotta make up for lost time, buddy!

[Aqua]

Mohammed and Isobel wanted to investigate the workings of the heart. Mohammed said that the heart was made by Allah. Isobel said F*** off. Which is correct?

That's just about the funniest thing you have ever posted.

Whilst I don't think exams are getting easier, I do think the marking has become more lax. Spelling and grammar are being ignored as well. I just find it odd that my wife has to deal with university graduates who have no idea how to do simple arithmetic and are not able to compose a simple letter. There must be something fundamentally wrong somewhere.

I agree with Winston. I've witnessed both college and university graduates whose grasp of spelling and grammar is simply appalling. I'm not suggesting mine is the best, but I've lost count the number of occasions I've had to go at the back of them and edit their reports.

My boyfriend's eldest daughter only sat four Highers in her 5th year at High School, topped up with a couple of Advanced Highers in her sixth year, and managed to get into St. Andrews University. What's that all about? I did five Highers in fifth year, and had I not chosen to leave on the first day of my sixth year (personal circumstances), would have sat two additional Highers (without having sat the O'grades) and two SYS.

[The Colonel]

My eldest got into Cambridge this year with 5 A-levels at grade A.

I know how hard he worked for them (certainly harder than I did) so I suppose it comes down to individual bits of "this and that".

It does annoy me that some people get into Oxbridge with a C among their grades. But I still think there are those with intelligence and those without (mostly because they fail to use it, not because they haven't got it).

Rather than slam the students who do work to better themselves and do something for this country - the media should slam those teenagers who do sod all for the country or themselves.

[The Colonel]

Mohammed and Isobel wanted to investigate the workings of the heart. Mohammed said that the heart was made by Allah. Isobel said F*** off. Which is correct?

That's just about the funniest thing you have ever posted.

Really? It wasn't one of my best!

[Fred75]

Are exams getting easier ?

In a modern Liberal societies school they have to be!
Take for instance the Liberal position that everyone is equal...
Well, that mentality has to lower the bar so everyone can get a good passing grade.
IE gold medal Olympians are not to be role models because they excel.

[H. Franklin Layne]

Are exams getting easier ?

In a modern Liberal societies school they have to be!
Take for instance the Liberal position that everyone is equal...
Well, that mentality has to lower the bar so everyone can get a good passing grade.
IE gold medal Olympians are not to be role models because they excel.

Oh Freddy! Coming from a family of educators, do you know who usually presses the school boards to put their special needs children in mainstream classrooms? Conservative parents. They take the same philosophy as you, the struggle will build character. They also harbor a secret shame that they could produce a defective child. If schools were allowed to run properly, emotionally impaired kids, special needs children would be in a tailored program to help them learn their way. Not by some standardized test, engineered by conservative consultants to rig the numbers rather than fix the root problem. You want smarter kids? You want future generations able to think on their feet? Get out your checkbook! Schools and well trained teachers cost money! They are certainly worth more than what they get paid by "smaller government." Every time you vote down a millage because you don't want higher taxes, children pay the price; entire communities pay the price when high school seniors can smile and offer fries with an order simultaneously, but CAN'T fill out a tax form.