RANT: Dumbing Down!?!

As usual, the newspapers have been presenting us with the 'dumbing down' argument to explain the high level of results at Alevel and GCSE - they make it seem like any bozo can get As in their exams. Well I'd like to tell them that I did revise to get good grades in my Alevels last year!

I think the main reasons for why the pass rate and number of As have risen are due to the following:

We have coursework and although this means that we have to work hard throughout the year doing this cwk, it also means that our grade does not depend soley on the exam.

BUT for some reason, the papers believe that coursework weightings should be reduced as it makes it easier to get higher grades - NOT totally correct - they are only worth about 20% of overall grade and so only help to push you up or down a grade boundary.

Another point is that teachers try to teach us only what is on the syllabus - so we know exactly what we can be tested one - this does mean that we don't have a broad knowledge of the subject but time pressures mean they have no choice.

The revision guides we have available nowadays makes it easier for us to revise and sometimes they are tailored to specific syllabuses - so this does mean that revision for us is eaiser - less note taking from large text books - but it doesn't mean we can do no work.

Finally, we have access to examiners mark schemes and past papers - this means that we can improve or skills. However, all of these benefits can only help us if we have the drive to do well - there are always those people who never work hard and make use of all these things. So the high marks must also mean that more people actually care about their education today....Hmm... well this is just my view ... it could change tomorrow...