The best bit about results day? The drinking session in the night. Went out last night, had a brilliant night and got a little drunk and stayed out a little late. Love it.

Machie wrote:
> Okay one thing we can all agree on is that theres too much
> testing in schools these days. You can't make a pig fatter by
> weighing it all the time.


If anything I'd say that's not really true. At least, the first sentence ;) I mean, you study for a year then you go into a room for three hours and in some subjects that's the entirety of the assessment. Is that really a reliable basis for classifying someone's achievement and ability? I certainly don't think so.


And unfortunately some A levels quantifiably *are* getting easier. It's not the students' fault at all and it's unfair to them that any hard work they put into the exams is being undermined by that, and you sort of wonder when some people bring it up whether it's because they wish to make a constructive point or whether they just want to be a prat, but that does not change the fact they are.
I took A level maths three years ago, and they changed the syllabus between years 1 and 2; We could have completed our course on the old syllabus but my sixth form switched over to the new syllabus in year two purely because it was easier. Maths is/was split into four modules: core1...core4 (called pure on the old syllabus), two being taught per year  [alongside mechanics or statistics]. What the syllabus change basically equated to was removing a few things and spreading the remaining topics out - so this resulted in us covering in core3 work that we had already done in pure2. Plus some schools allow you to fiddle it a bit by taking mechanics one year and stats the next, thereby essentially taking two AS modules but having one treated as being at A-level level [er].

Then on the BBC news site today I see this genius quote:

"More pupils are now passing maths A-level than at any time in over a decade. It's crucial for society that we have talented mathematicians and maths is essential for science and innovation."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/7559063.stm

It seems to me that by pulling things out the syllabus in the name of making it easier is going to be detrimental to mathematical talent! Which in turn brings down university level maths education a bit, and even taking that into account, I certainly feel that A levels could have better prepared me for university level maths.


And by the way Schummi I just finished my degree (maths and computing) at Coventry and will, assuming they got my acceptance of place letter which they have so far failed to acknowledge, be starting a masters' in computer science there in September :D

I imagine people who have just done A-Levels arent the best candidates to discussion declining examination standards with. ;)

I'd love one of those snobs to do my History coursework for me then. It's difficulttttt.

Hey I said this earlier but I will say again on this thread... I got an A in business.. D in Economics.. and U in german ouch E ict AS and General studies D... Wernt spectacular or what i was expecting quite a mixed bunch but I was accepted for my first choice Coventry University to study Economics.. I'll have to work even harder now then seen as I didnt get a particularly good grade in it.

Got my A-Level results today: straight A's in Politics, English and RS. :-)

Congratulations chris, well done mate.

Vexxxed and I have sampled a couple of drunken nights out at Essex Uni in the bars etc, which were pretty good. But I must warn you, there's a pond which is home to an absolutely MASSIVE and seriously angry swan/large duck/beaked creature.

Congratulations by the way!