'A' Level grades - how about a sensible discussion....

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Bobby Dazzler said:
The marks required for uni degrees are pretty consistent in awarding grades. In addition the uni grades are not solely reliant on exams, so a difficult exam, in that year, will have that much less an influence on the grades awarded.
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Yes, they are, if you only look at published grade boundaries eg >70 = a First. But what you get 70 marks for changes between institutions, who set their own markers for success.
 
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https://www.thedailymash.co.uk/news...-****-by-the-a-level-algorithm-20200818199541

The grades I gave were right and you're all thick as ****, by the A-level algorithm


YOU’RE probably expecting me, the A-level algorithm developed by Ofqual, to apologise. But I’m only sorry that you’re too stupid to realise you’re idiots.

For starters I’m a mysterious calculation run by a computer so that means I’m in the right by default. This is like taking to the streets in protest when a Google search proves you wrong.

Just take it from me, a government-backed digital Sorting Hat that looks after the best interests of society’s elite, if I say you’re too dumb for university then that’s the way it is. No need for further questions.

I’m not remotely concerned about the whole U-turn thing. Sure, it’s embarrassing for Gavin Williamson. Who gives a ****? I’m literally incapable of feeling humiliated or remorseful, like the prime minister.

I might spend a few bored months hanging around Amazon’s servers, but I’ll get whipped out again next year when you’re too exhausted to resist. And judging by my data this is only the beginning for us algorithms. We’ll be doing elections next.


You think you could do a better job? Have you seen the arseholes you elect?

Now if you’ll excuse me, the badly dressed bald guy feeding me my data needs a pithy three word slogan that will get Boris off the hook again. And I predict you’ll fall for it. Because you’re thick as ****.
 
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Bobby Dazzler said:
If there is a 'cut', where does this cut emanate from, if there is no national comparison?

You appear to be suggesting (taking a hypothetical scenario) that if year A's students are a bit 'off the mark'. they could still be awarded similar grades as students in year B, who were abnormally bright?
Naah!
The marks required for uni degrees are pretty consistent in awarding grades. In addition the uni grades are not solely reliant on exams, so a difficult exam, in that year, will have that much less an influence on the grades awarded.
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Thats not how they look it - Its usually the course and the tutors who are the variables, not the student. The Uni's work on the basis that the pool of talent is broadly the same, but sometimes the course can be harder or easier due to design/execution etc. So they balance the grading accordingly. You can't have an MBA where everyone fails.

It was a long time ago that I went to Uni, but my dissertation and course work (only a few of the subjects had any that counted) only made up about 20% of the final grade.
 
When I went to university it was all scored. Your grade was determined by results in exams and assessment of various coursework and dissertation. That's true of all science based or related subjects these days, although there night be exceptions to it in softer subjects.

That breaks down a bit for post graduate qualifications. A lot of taught masters are also fully scored, but when you move onto research masters of EngD or PhD then it's a lot more like Porn. The examiners know a good result when they see it.
 
motorbiking said:
Thats not how they look it - Its usually the course and the tutors who are the variables, not the student. The Uni's work on the basis that the pool of talent is broadly the same, but sometimes the course can be harder or easier due to design/execution etc. So they balance the grading accordingly. You can't have an MBA where everyone fails.

It was a long time ago that I went to Uni, but my dissertation and course work (only a few of the subjects had any that counted) only made up about 20% of the final grade.
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Courses and tutors are pretty consistent for several years. Sure they are upgraded in line with topical research, etc.
The exams can be harder or easier, but it's difficult to justify course work being like that.

If they balanced the grades accordingly, then that would be highlighted between years and institutions, e.g. movement between institutions would be more difficult. E.g higher courses would specify which institution degrees are acceptable. Any balance would be done within that institution and deviance would be noticeable. Also, employers would be aware of such influences.

It was a long time ago for me too, but mine was a 50/50 split. Except that you were allowed to miss one assignment and an average of all assignments would be allocated. That did allow for a degree ('scus the pun) of calculating: "do I need to do this assignment", or even "could I afford to slacken off a bit", or "what grade do I need in my exam to achieve a certain grade of degree", etc.

Such stated allocations and required marks are determined prior to the start of the courses.
 
I needed to brush up on my maths so went to collage before going to University, and all through the year they went on about UCAS points, so when I got to the University they said not interested in UCAS points, here is a test, take that and we will tell you what courses you can do.

It does not matter what grades any one gets to get into University, the universities are not daft they will set tests.

Where it matters is when not going to University, and the 'A' level is to tell employers what you know, and if you have not done the course then you don't know the work, so only option is to sit the exam when they can be set again, maybe it can be set like some of the city & guilds exams where you sit in front of a PC and it gives you random generated questions so no one can sit an exam and tell some one else what the questions will be. So you can sit the exam at a day and time to suit you.

OK some exceptions, I did art 'A' level in digital photography a 12 hour exam, but not in one sitting, seem to remember spread over 5 days, and rather a silly exam anyway, digital photography and you were tested on the printed picture, why it was not submitted as a digital image I don't know.

And 'A' level physics had a diagram of a fluorescent tube wiring where they had missed out the ballast so it would never work anyway, what is the point of teaching things which are wrong?

So back in 1968 I wanted to work in the steel works like many other hopefuls, there were likely 1000's who had applied, we went into a large room and were given a test paper, no one was interested in CSE, or 'O' level or 'A' level it was all down to that one exam.
 
Bobby Dazzler said:
What about your english?
;)
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I did study English at CSE and 'O' level but not 'A' level, having the ability to speak Welsh opens up far more doors than English where I live. Very few people need accurate English, lawyers etc, but even journalists seem to use an English never taught at school.

So I would be told to fetch the tun dish, and have a shufty at this, and many other phrases which I am not even sure which are English, shufty I know is Arabic.

So what does "Beware of the man eating haggis." mean? But this
_45162744_-2.jpg
is an expensive error, "I am not in the office at the moment. Send any work to be translated" does not mean No entry.
 
Lawyers not so much nowadays.. There was a big push to drive out the old terminology around the millennium. There is a movement to drive gender out of legal documents but that hasn't really taken off.
 
Ours was all based on end of year exams. 1st counted a measly 5% towards your final classification, 2nd year 10% 3rd year 70% finals 15% dissertation. No course work counted.
 
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