A level results
So, A-level results are out and they're continuing to make my grades look less exciting. I always find it hard to believe that it's simply that people are brighter, although it's very difficult to judge, to be fair...
But one thing that interested me about them is the breakdown by subject. For example, overall, 25% of results were an A or A*, but in maths, this is significantly higher, at around 40%. This sort of doesn't surprise me, since the best students take further maths too, and those expect to get an A or A* in normal maths. But surely that means that maths itself is too easy? At the very least, an A-level in maths can't really be compared to an A-level in physics or business studies. And if you consider that maths accounts for 10% of A levels, that is going to push up the average by a significant proportion.
It's also interesting when you look at futher maths, where nearly 60% of grades are A or A*. This is perhaps to be expected, since only those who are going to do well in it take it, but it's still an interesting insight into the relative values of A-levels. If there was an advanced physics or french literature course, would that get a similar skewing of grades? Indeed, is a futher maths A-level better or worse than a biology one?
I suppose the only point I'm making here is this blanket idea that all A-levels are equal is perhaps wrong, and not entirely just with the so-called mickey mouse subjects.
But one thing that interested me about them is the breakdown by subject. For example, overall, 25% of results were an A or A*, but in maths, this is significantly higher, at around 40%. This sort of doesn't surprise me, since the best students take further maths too, and those expect to get an A or A* in normal maths. But surely that means that maths itself is too easy? At the very least, an A-level in maths can't really be compared to an A-level in physics or business studies. And if you consider that maths accounts for 10% of A levels, that is going to push up the average by a significant proportion.
It's also interesting when you look at futher maths, where nearly 60% of grades are A or A*. This is perhaps to be expected, since only those who are going to do well in it take it, but it's still an interesting insight into the relative values of A-levels. If there was an advanced physics or french literature course, would that get a similar skewing of grades? Indeed, is a futher maths A-level better or worse than a biology one?
I suppose the only point I'm making here is this blanket idea that all A-levels are equal is perhaps wrong, and not entirely just with the so-called mickey mouse subjects.