Its a bit of a shame that people, the media etc spend the entire year commenting on how thick and dumb the youth are, so they work hard to prove us wrong and get excellent grades and we all respond by telling them its further proof they're stupid because the exams are 'so easy'. There is an element of cant-win for the youngsters in this situation. They can only take the exam which is put in front of them. So then they work hard and get A levels and we tell them that makes them stupid too because 'its so easy now' etc etc. Quite what they are meant to do im not sure.

We should give them praise and praise teachers as well, i gave teachers a kicking on here during the strikes but i remember two of mine especially who were brilliant. However, it has to be pointed out that where as exam grades and qualifications have risen brilliantly in the last 23 years, the actual level of ability, aptitude and intelligence perhaps hasnt as employers still prefer older people or foreigners, employers certainly arent convinced. Every parent who did O levels will say 'mine were harder' because they'd hate to admit otherwise and be outdone by their kids but i think in some ways it probably was harder. Harder in the way that it was set up to catch you out, and it literally was pass the test or game over. These days coursework counts to the final grade, you could get a D without turning up because your work over 2 years is taken into consideration. Its geared up more to assure them of the grade their 2 years of work has shown they deserve rather than catch them out at the end to keep Uni numbers down.

As for 'are kids getting brighter' well thats subjective. I think the major issue is schools dont teach kids the things which matter. I remember doing four months on photosynthesis and an entire term on Algebra, very interesting it all was none of it helps me control budgets now at 27. I didnt start learning anything useful until after i left school. Kids need to be taught things about managing money (the financial niavity of youngsters can be alarming), how to cook food properly, how to iron a shirt without burning a hole in it, job interviews etc things like that which they'll actually need.

Book smart yes, street smart no.

I don't think it's quite as simple as saying, as many do, that exams are getting easier or the syllabuses dumbed down: I suspect that the truth if it is that the way the questions are set has changed so as to demand less thought and more regurgitation of facts learnt. These are easier to mark nd therefore less open to dispute.

The advent of computer-based exams can only make this trend even worse.

By my opinion there is something wrong with exam system

Edited by Avant on 27/08/2011 at 17:32

Since 1985, degrees have been devalued by 75%.