Exam grade inflation

[Bald Rick]

Seeing as it’s now 44.8% getting A or A* results, I fear that a lot of these students are going to be very disappointed when they get to university and realise that they are perhaps not up to snuff

I blame Tony Blair

 

[arcobob]

Seeing as it’s now 44.8% getting A or A* results, I fear that a lot of these students are going to be very disappointed when they get to university and realise that they are perhaps not up to snuff

I blame Tony Blair

Then the pressure will tell, many will drop out , some will have breakdowns or worse. No wonder the world is full of head cases.

 

[Bald Rick]

Then the pressure will tell, many will drop out , some will have breakdowns or worse. No wonder the world is full of head cases.

You forgot the student loan burden too when they do drop out

 

[Bongodog]

Its *** ridiculous. daughter has today received her results A* A* A. Well done to her she worked hard.

The issue however is that despite only being one grade away from perfection she will be going to her 4th choice university as 1, 2 & 3 all said no despite her original A* A A prediction. She attended the top rated state 6th form in England but this still wasn't good enough for her top choices.

There was an article in the Telegraph at the weekend saying that top universities are introducing entrance exams as the A level results don't distinguish between the good and execeptional candidates. It seems that at present they are faced with a deluge of applications with similar predictions and just have to make very arbitrary choices over who to make offers to. The admission system is so useless that candidates are chosen without any form of interview, rejections are generally made without any explanation as to why. The only University that took the trouble to even write her a paragraph explaining their decision was Oxford.

We have a relative who spent three years at University and graduated. Two terms as a trainee teacher and couldn't cope (we knew it would be a disaster) so now working part time at a safari park and going to do a masters in something useless. I can guarantee that she will never pay off a penny of her student loan

 

[arcobob]

Its *** ridiculous. daughter has today received her results A* A* A. Well done to her she worked hard.

The issue however is that despite only being one grade away from perfection she will be going to her 4th choice university as 1, 2 & 3 all said no despite her original A* A A prediction. She attended the top rated state 6th form in England but this still wasn't good enough for her top choices.

There was an article in the Telegraph at the weekend saying that top universities are introducing entrance exams as the A level results don't distinguish between the good and execeptional candidates. It seems that at present they are faced with a deluge of applications with similar predictions and just have to make very arbitrary choices over who to make offers to. The admission system is so useless that candidates are chosen without any form of interview, rejections are generally made without any explanation as to why. The only University that took the trouble to even write her a paragraph explaining their decision was Oxford.

We have a relative who spent three years at University and graduated. Two terms as a trainee teacher and couldn't cope (we knew it would be a disaster) so now working part time at a safari park and going to do a masters in something useless. I can guarantee that she will never pay off a penny of her student loan

I hate to sound cynical but the teacher/assessors are covering their own backs.

 

[arcobob]

Its *** ridiculous. daughter has today received her results A* A* A. Well done to her she worked hard.

The issue however is that despite only being one grade away from perfection she will be going to her 4th choice university as 1, 2 & 3 all said no despite her original A* A A prediction. She attended the top rated state 6th form in England but this still wasn't good enough for her top choices.

There was an article in the Telegraph at the weekend saying that top universities are introducing entrance exams as the A level results don't distinguish between the good and execeptional candidates. It seems that at present they are faced with a deluge of applications with similar predictions and just have to make very arbitrary choices over who to make offers to. The admission system is so useless that candidates are chosen without any form of interview, rejections are generally made without any explanation as to why. The only University that took the trouble to even write her a paragraph explaining their decision was Oxford.

We have a relative who spent three years at University and graduated. Two terms as a trainee teacher and couldn't cope (we knew it would be a disaster) so now working part time at a safari park and going to do a masters in something useless. I can guarantee that she will never pay off a penny of her student loan

My younger daughter graduated with an honours degree in biochemistry in 1998 and decided to go into teaching. She lasted two weeks into her practical placement and ended up as a number cruncher for Norwich union Insurance. Finally she ended up doing my accounts. What a waste of talent.

 

[Lowland1]

It’s all about money. Universities are big businesses the more students the more money they make. They don’t care if the degrees they offer are worthless and they don’t care if the students they admit are capable or not as long as they get paid. We’ve seen this through Covid as they demand full fees but provide a lot less than they should.

 

[teslacoils]

When 360 drivers / roofers are on £25+ an hour, you have to wonder why any really want to go to uni (apart for a doss) unless it leads directly to a career.

 

[wanton dwarf]

Seeing as it’s now 44.8% getting A or A* results, I fear that a lot of these students are going to be very disappointed when they get to university and realise that they are perhaps not up to snuff

I blame Tony Blair

Probably due to the education sector trying to ensure there are plenty of candidates to refill the coffers ?

Certainly going to be some disappointment when it comes to trying to get a job - if they all get a degree.

 

[arcobob]

To get a good degree is a very tough ask but if it is worth nothing at the end it is a very expensive disappointment.. I would rather employ one rounded person with some practical skills than a thousand egg heads with no common sense

 

[Lowland1]

To get a good degree is a very tough ask but if it is worth nothing at the end it is a very expensive disappointment.. I would rather employ one rounded person with some practical skills than a thousand egg heads with no common sense

Actually for kids nowadays it’s really tough everyone goes to University and if you don’t you are at a disadvantage. It’s a brave kid now who goes against the system.

 

[arcobob]

Actually for kids nowadays it’s really tough everyone goes to University and if you don’t you are at a disadvantage. It’s a brave kid now who goes against the system.

And so the system has favoured a (large) minority but if the prize is worthless why bother?

 

[arcobob]

My degree obtained in 1966 was a passport to any job for which I wanted to apply. Today it would be practically worthless.

 

[Lowland1]

And so the system has favoured a (large) minority but if the prize is worthless why bother?

Probably because there aren’t the clear career paths there used to be and going to University delays the inevitable. University loans are only repayable after you reach a certain salary and possibly people don’t worry about ever paying them back.

 

[Lowland1]

My degree obtained in 1966 was a passport to any job for which I wanted to apply. Today it would be practically worthless.

it depends what it’s in and where it’s from if it’s from a Russellgroup university it’s worth a lot more than from a University that was once a Polytechnic. There are still good degrees and there are still good Universities and clever kids it’s just very hard to differentiate.

 

[essex man]

Kids seemed to have got much cleverer in last couple of years.
Penalises those who would have got A stars anyway as they are devalued

 

[robs1]

Kids seemed to have got much cleverer in last couple of years.
Penalises those who would have got A stars anyway as they are devalued

I thought I heard that two years ago those getting A or A star made up 23 ,% last year 32 this 44, those sitting actual exams two years ago must be really pee'd off trying to compete for jobs based on A level grades which quite plainly have been inflated over the last two years, this year especially, I suspect employers will treat the results with a large pinch of salt

 

[br jones]

half of them will end up serving coffee and sandwiches

 

[arcobob]

it depends what it’s in and where it’s from if it’s from a Russellgroup university it’s worth a lot more than from a University that was once a Polytechnic. There are still good degrees and there are still good Universities and clever kids it’s just very hard to differentiate.

It was from Wye College ,London university. Britain’s finest and the benchmark for world agri-economic management. Now sadly closed because it failed to attract applicants seeking a “non degree”. I chose this path over many possibilities, including Oxford and Cambridge.

 

[Lowland1]

It was from Wye College ,London university. Britain’s finest and the benchmark for world agri-economic management. Now sadly closed because it failed to attract applicants seeking a “non degree”. I chose this path over many possibilities, including Oxford and Cambridge.

Once upon a time or at least pre 1990 a University degree was a University degree. I think now you have to look at which University the degree comes from my kids laugh because my degree is from Bangor. But I see their point.