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The A-Level System

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I was just wondering on your thoughts about the AS/A2 system as opposed to the old GCE A-level thing pre-2000?

 

The AS course is awful - you're basically fed knowledge and the exam requires only regurgitation of the knowledge, leaving room for very little personal interpretation or assessment, and to quote A. N. Other, "a student at AS said that although it showed through in her class work, the exam structure didn't allow her to show her passion for the subject".

 

A2 is a little better, with more marks for evaluation in some subjects, but still...

 

It also means that there's barely enough time to settle into a course, and you take about 15 exams at the end of the first year, and about the same in the following year (a lot of people resit some modules), and also exams in both Januarys.

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i would have slatted the AS/2 before i sat it, but now i like it.it means i know walking in to my final exams i have some marks already gained and i can get away with a lower mark (as its done on average mark). the one thing i dont like is the volue of exams though i have had 13 exams in 2 wks and i still have another 7 left by the end of next week. most pubils seem stressed out by the whole thing - i know i am. i havent time to relax between exams as i have 2hours between exams and then i get home and have to revise for the exams the next day - its crazy noone can be on top form when revisin exhausted and then working again the next day.

 

Ahh well its nearly all over. soon to be free from skool - and instead at uni (If i get the grades)

 

So keep the system ditch a few exams

 

DAVE

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The year I was in at school was the first to have this new AS/A2 system and, moving from one school to another, had to deal with settling in and coping with exams almost immediately.

 

I started in September and had four exams in the January, which, if I passed satisfactorily, would mean less exams in the June.

 

But the timescale was a bit too short for my liking. No sooner had we been given the info, were we writing it down in an exam paper, so it was hard to let your passion show through.

 

A2 level wasn't as bad, as (this will be course/school dependent) I had coursework instead of one of the exams in each subject, so the passion was allowed to flow more in the coursework.

 

There's no ideal solution though, different methods suit different people, there will be those who like the new system and those who preferred the old one. I thought it was ok as when I dropped one subject after the first year, I at least got an AS level qualification for it, whereas under the previous scheme you would leave with nothing.

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I was just wondering on your thoughts about the AS/A2 system as opposed to the old GCE A-level thing pre-2000?

 

I'll give you an answer in August ;)

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Originally posted by RPG

I'll give you an answer in August ;)

 

LOL ditto here

 

I don't think that the AS/A2 system is that bad really.....

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I got a B and two C's, which is about what I expected (and a D for the AS i dropped).

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I was in 6th form when they still had the old A levels, and I hated them. They were, IMO very difficult to get your head round, and I ended up dropping out after a year and instead going to college for 6 years and having a great time!!

I've done a BTEC, HND and have now just finished my degree, and have to say I much prefer this way of working through the education system. A Levels stink in my opinion!!! :)

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Originally posted by LittleWitch

A Levels stink in my opinion!!! :)

Mine too,i hated A levels and got terrible grades,yet i managed to get a 2:1 at Hull uni,it just goes to show that they don't always reflect a person's ability.

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i didn't know anything about the new a levels. you really have that many exams. that sounds quite silly! Agree with above posts, i think the a level system is (or at least was) very limited and doesn't show everyones true potential.

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Originally posted by sarah_d

Mine too,i hated A levels and got terrible grades,yet i managed to get a 2:1 at Hull uni,it just goes to show that they don't always reflect a person's ability.

 

But they do reflect a persons ability, just because you got a 2.1 at Hull wouldn't mean you would get a 2.1 say at a Oxford, Cambridge, Bristol or Sheffield, etc. The true red brick Universities. This is because these Universities are more difficult to obtain higher grades from than polytechnics. That isn't to mean if you went to an old polytechnic that you are any less employable, as that would be untrue.

 

I went through the old A-Level System and actually found it to be a good system. I was on the modular scheme. It was also good that I was able to resit the exams if I didn't get the grade I wanted.. (Yes I was one of those sad people, who re-sat exams because they got a B and not an A, but thats because I set a high level of achievement for myself)

 

It does seem to me that there are far too many exams in the new system, and people would just be better of specialising from the start.

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Quoted post taken from here http://www.sheffieldforum.co.uk/showthread.php?s=&postid=130173#post130173post130173

 

 

from t020Does it upset me that a bunch of goody 2 shoes forum users take a disliking to my honest style of posting?

 

Honest? I think you may have to look up the definition in the dictionary of that word. I would have said it was vindictive, antagonistic and attention seeking.

 

from t020No, I can't say it does. You're constantly reminding everyone about how "red bricks" are for the more able (e.g. yesterday you kindly pointed out to a user that she'd never have got a 2.1 at a "proper" uni - and I won't even go into the lack of conjunctions used in your split clause sentences...),

 

IMO the word 'constantly' requires a repetition of perhaps more than 4 times, would you like to show me where I have done that?

 

Where did I point out to the user that she would never of got a 2.1 at a proper University? How would I know that for sure, and why would I want to attack somebody I don't know like that? Besides the fact its cruel (Oh I forgot you get off on that) I just tried to explain that degrees from different universities are of a varing standard and it is a well known fact that smaller insitututions requiring a lower grade entry, have lower examination standards than other universities that require a higher grade, and that you can't make a statement saying a-levels aren't a good indication of a persons ability as this is what universities take into account in admissions. In 'hindsight' perhaps I shouldn't have used the word polytechnic.

 

 

from t020and how you yourself attended one.

 

Nope don't think I mentioned that anywhere in the post, don't make assumptions about these things when you know nothing about a persons background.

 

from t020Yet despite this, you're still unable to adhere to basic grammatical principles. Nevermind whether or not your degree covered it, GCSE English Language should have. You sounded like you needed bringing down a peg or two to me.

 

Oh dear back on to English Language again. Change the record please. People can understand what I write. Besides the fact you know nothing of my previous education or background.

 

Oh and the only person I can see that needs bringing down a peg or too is you.

 

I will wait in anticipation for your next post , telling me what grammatical errors I have made this time

 

Sorry MODS, had to stick up for myself and reply to him

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Oh and next time you have a problem with me I told you to PM. Oops now I remember, that way doesn't involve getting noticed and seeking attention from other forum users.

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