Exams and tests galore!

[Emperor Oli 0]

17th August was my AS-results day, and I got 5 A grades, and one B. The B I was a bit disappointed with (in Maths) but heigho. Today was also my driving test date, which I passed with four minor mistakes. All in all rather a good week!

[TomGoodheart 402]

Hey ! Congrats Oli! Sickeningly good results and great about the driving test too!

(Of course - these things are much easier than they were in my day !!)

[Chris Perkins 228]

(Of course - these things are much easier than they were in my day !!)

They absolutely are, not that I'm saying Oli isn't a clever stick. How on earth is it possible that each year, higher than ever numbers of the proletariat are able to get A Levels until they come out of their ears and Degrees in tricky subjects such as Leisure and Tourism?

People can't actually be getting on average cleverer, can they, at such an alarming speed?

[Geordie582 18]

Nice results all round, Oli. Congratulations! Keep it up when you enter this big bad world of work and, hey!, you could wind up in charge of the country! I'd vote for you!!

[TomGoodheart 402]

People can't actually be getting on average cleverer, can they, at such an alarming speed?

Well, I certainly feel that I'm getting dumber at an alarming speed AAAArgH! (and the years seem shorter too - now how does that work...? )

[Hussulo 6]

Congrats oli!

[Guest Guest]

Excellent results Oli.....Well done.

[Peter 615]

Doh....I hate not logging in.

[Emperor Oli 0]

Thanks everyone! Whilst I agree that the exams are perhaps easier than they used to be, the driving test certainly isn't. You've got to do a theory test which you never used to have to do, and since it's been spun off to the DSA, examiners have been very picky. They even ent through a phase of failing drivers who clipped the white of a mini roundabout!

ps My economics teacher says that degrees now are like old A-levels, and A-levels now are like old GCSEs!

[TomGoodheart 402]

Yeah, I'd hate to have to take a 'new style' driving test. Especially with my recent dizziness and high blood alcohol levels...

(No I REALLY shouldn't joke should I? - don't even have the one drink - ever)

[Coppers 58]

Congratulations, Oli! You did great!

[Peter 615]

The driving test today should be fairly easy.

When I passed my test the driving school car was a Sunbeam Talbot with the smallest bite on the clutch possible.

Luckily my Dad let me borow his brand new Datsun Bluebird with a clutch like butter.

Hence a first time pass followed by a gallon of homebrew...which made me sick.

[Chris Perkins 228]

I was unlucky the first 2 times on my driving test in cousin Victor's newish Fiesta. The first time was mainly because the Police had my provisional driving licence at the time, but that's another story! The 2nd time I had the same examiner and I'm sure he remembered and failed me again.

I passed on the 3rd go in my 1974 Triumph Toldeo. You could coast that thing all day, and unlike screaming modern cars the re-engagement never made a sound!

[Guest Tall Toccara]

how come I'm not able to get notifications in my email box when someone replies here..?

[Sylvester 15]

Congrats Oli!

6 AS Levels? Jeeze... that's alot of AS levels. Back in my day we did four. Although actually my day and yourday is still the same, because i was in the first year to take these new A-Levels. Experimental batch you might say.

I didn't find them particularly easy, regardless of what people say about exams dumbing down 6 AS must have been tough timewise!

How many are you taking through to A2? Four i presume?

[Emperor Oli 0]

Congrats Oli!

6 AS Levels? Jeeze... that's alot of AS levels. Back in my day we did four. Although actually my day and yourday is still the same, because i was in the first year to take these new A-Levels. Experimental batch you might say.

I didn't find them particularly easy, regardless of what people say about exams dumbing down 6 AS must have been tough timewise!

How many are you taking through to A2? Four i presume?

This year I did Politics, Economics, Maths, German, General Studies, and Critical Thinking. General Studies was only timetabled for an hour a week which was a bit of a joke as we didn't do much in the lesson either. Critical Thinking was optional and perhaps one quarter of the year did it (that was only one hour per week too). About analysing arguments and logic, things like that. I'm dropping German next year, and Critical Thinking isn't offered at A2 so I'm carrying on with Politics, Economics, Maths, and General Studies.

[Sylvester 15]

Ah General Studies well... that figures!

Every year people complain about how pointless that subject is, most universities don't take it as a qualification either.

Yes critical thinking, rather you than me, i went to an open day on that and came out totally baffled. Not my strongpoint at all.

[Emperor Oli 0]

Ah General Studies well... that figures!

Every year people complain about how pointless that subject is, most universities don't take it as a qualification either.

Yes critical thinking, rather you than me, i went to an open day on that and came out totally baffled. Not my strongpoint at all.

General Studies really is a complete waste of time. Multiple choice for one paper and the rest is extended writing which isn't particularly challenging. I don't know why they don't do away with it.

Critical thinking was a bit of a bore but I'm glad that I did it. We had to learn flaws in arguments, weight of evidence, things like that. In the exam those things were applied to various scenarios; for example, a plane crashed and there were two conflicting reports of what happened. You had to weigh up both sides and come to a judgement.

[Rob 3,152]

Ah General Studies well... that figures!

Every year people complain about how pointless that subject is, most universities don't take it as a qualification either.

Yes critical thinking, rather you than me, i went to an open day on that and came out totally baffled. Not my strongpoint at all.

General Studies really is a complete waste of time. Multiple choice for one paper and the rest is extended writing which isn't particularly challenging. I don't know why they don't do away with it.

Critical thinking was a bit of a bore but I'm glad that I did it. We had to learn flaws in arguments, weight of evidence, things like that. In the exam those things were applied to various scenarios; for example, a plane crashed and there were two conflicting reports of what happened. You had to weigh up both sides and come to a judgement.

Surely General Studies could be one of the most useful indicators of a person's ability to learn and think if judged in relation to the subjects studied to A level. Multiple choice for any subject is a waste of time, but the requirement to provide reasoned answers to topics outside of a student's core subjects shows a grasp of the outside world which many people seem to be sadly lacking. e.g. A 3 hour exam where you have to write 6 short pieces on say a science, a religon, a foreign country, literature, economics and recent history would quickly indicate those who have a wider appreciation of the world around them. This in itself is an essential attribute if you intend to be an integral part of the greater global society. Given the ease with which students are able to get straight A's by being taught to a syllabus which clearly lays out in advance the topics to be tested and schools which for the past 20-30 years have chosen the examination board to be used based on what is likely to give the best pass rates for their pupils, an examination on topics unknown in advance would be very informative. It would also give the opportunity to identify those who are able to communicate in their own language. Like it or not, we are not all equal and you do need to identify the better candidate for the job in question.

[Sylvester 15]

I'm not arguing against that Rob, i think it has it's uses as far as that goes. Why i said it was pointless is because universities just don't recognise it like they do other A-Levels. It all depends why you do A-Levels, if you are doing them for their own sake and you don't intend to go further (and what with the new University fees i can see this becoming more popular), then general studies is fine.

If you do A0Levels as a passport to university, like i did, then general studies is almost on a level with key skills. Do it for fun (or torture where key skills is concerned), but don't expect it to go anywhere.

[Rob 3,152]

I'm not arguing against that Rob, i think it has it's uses as far as that goes. Why i said it was pointless is because universities just don't recognise it like they do other A-Levels. It all depends why you do A-Levels, if you are doing them for their own sake and you don't intend to go further (and what with the new University fees i can see this becoming more popular), then general studies is fine.

If you do A0Levels as a passport to university, like i did, then general studies is almost on a level with key skills. Do it for fun (or torture where key skills is concerned), but don't expect it to go anywhere.

Therin lies the rub. General Studies is currently viewed as a Mickey Mouse subject because universities don't recognise it as a valid A level, but given that everyone doing A levels takes it anyway means that the opportunity could and should be taken to use this apparent waste of time for a better assessment of the individual. An ability to absorb a broad range of information unrelated to coursework is likely to be a very good indicator of a student's ability to think across subjects if the questions are phrased appropriately, as well as absorbing information. I can't think of any subjects which do not require a certain degree of lateral thinking encompassing other disciplines.

At the very least it could be used to assess the candidate's literary and communicative abilities. It appears that only foreigners learn English these days, and then they will probably have difficulties understanding what a native of this country is trying to say. Key skills such as literacy are the things that appear to be singularly lacking in many people - cue as seen in eBay listings. The odd mistake is acceptable, but when a 12 year old child turns round to you as has happened and says "Caw, yaou dun ahf talk funny mite", a few seconds translation time is required. Init.

[Sylvester 15]

That's different that's accent/dialect.

I think regional diversity and accents should be promoted. So it doeasn't bother me when i hear someone speaking like that. Nor would it bother me so much if they spelt like that either. I think the standardisation of the language in the late 18th century was a very bad move. Spoken discourse changes with each generation, it always has (and every previous generation frowns at it!).* The written discourse prior to standardisation wasn't far behind with the adaptation. When you standardise you're in danger of doing a Latin. That said English isn't bad in that respect. The French well they are their own worst enemies.

The crux for me is not whether it's 'proper grammar', but rather is it understandable? If it's understandable then has it not served it's purpose?

I knew what you meant though.

*In the 1967 there was a big uproar about the degradation of the English Language. The catalyst was, wait for it... Star Trek. William Shatner's uttering at the beginning; "to boldly go where no one has gone before" didn't go down too well. Back then it was a sin to split the infinitive. Today no one thinks twice about it.

Fings change t'otherwise we'd be using the medial 's', þ, ð and à still, to say nothing of connexion and shewn.

[Geordie582 18]

Having tried (and failed) to read 15th century English, I think the standardisation was a good thing. Everyone using their own spelling would just cause dangerous misunderstandings. Lets face it, disputes and even wars have resulted from incorrect interpretations. I have great trouble with this terrible 'Text Speak' - but then I'm old!

[Rob 3,152]

That's different that's accent/dialect.

I think regional diversity and accents should be promoted. So it doeasn't bother me when i hear someone speaking like that. Nor would it bother me so much if they spelt like that either. I think the standardisation of the language in the late 18th century was a very bad move. Spoken discourse changes with each generation, it always has (and every previous generation frowns at it!).* The written discourse prior to standardisation wasn't far behind with the adaptation. When you standardise you're in danger of doing a Latin. That said English isn't bad in that respect. The French well they are their own worst enemies.

The crux for me is not whether it's 'proper grammar', but rather is it understandable? If it's understandable then has it not served it's purpose?

I knew what you meant though.

Sorry Sylvester, I digressed into an area I have difficulties with in the last paragraph which rather diverted the topic away from the original one of A level General Studies. No marks for me for failing the objective argument/discussion test.