| What’s the point of GCSEs? 17:18 - Sep 1 with 6209 views | MattinLondon |
Without wishing to belittle anyone’s academic achievement- what exactly is the point of GCSEs?
School age is 18 now so why aren’t exams just sat then? Seems a bit unfair to put kids under so much pressure at 16 for qualifications that not a lot of people really care about.
Think this would allow more emphasis on practical stuff like mental arithmetic, money management and how to chance a plug. Or maybe this doesn’t make sense at all and GCSEs have a role? |  | | |  |
| What’s the point of GCSEs? on 07:22 - Sep 2 with 1810 views | textbackup |
My GCSE grades got me into the apprenticeship I took on at 16, and still work for that same company.
The point of those GCSEs seem pretty important to me.
But then this isn’t kids these days where they look for someone else to blame, or handouts. I knew at 15 if I got the grades I’d have a job, potentially for life. Pressure applied to myself and I’m doing ok from it. |  |
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| What’s the point of GCSEs? on 07:53 - Sep 2 with 1773 views | MattinLondon |
| What’s the point of GCSEs? on 07:22 - Sep 2 by textbackup |
My GCSE grades got me into the apprenticeship I took on at 16, and still work for that same company.
The point of those GCSEs seem pretty important to me.
But then this isn’t kids these days where they look for someone else to blame, or handouts. I knew at 15 if I got the grades I’d have a job, potentially for life. Pressure applied to myself and I’m doing ok from it. |
Well done you. Give yourself a gold star. | | | |
| What’s the point of GCSEs? on 08:12 - Sep 2 with 1764 views | IPS_wich |
| What’s the point of GCSEs? on 18:35 - Sep 1 by Nthsuffolkblue |
The issue is more that there should be vocational alternatives and that GCSEs should not depend solely on the outcome of an exam at the end of the course. These things were deliberate choices to change the system more in keeping with the past by Gove. |
I though that's what Art, Drama, Music, Woodwork and Home Economics were for... |  | | |
| What’s the point of GCSEs? on 08:33 - Sep 2 with 1747 views | gordon |
| What’s the point of GCSEs? on 18:01 - Sep 1 by Cotty |
It applies because our 17/18 year old education is much more focussed than in other parts of the world where they have to study all subjects until 18 (or even beyond as in the US). That focus has significant pros and cons, which are also student dependent. |
Yup that's what I meant.
My opinion is that if you wanted to produce successful people who know about the Magna Carta and can quote Latin verbatim but are innumerate and scientifically illiterate, our education system is perfect. |  | | |
| What’s the point of GCSEs? on 08:37 - Sep 2 with 1739 views | textbackup |
| What’s the point of GCSEs? on 07:53 - Sep 2 by MattinLondon |
Well done you. Give yourself a gold star. |
Forgot the gold star, I’d rather just look back at managing to buy my first house at 19 through hard work... cor all that horrible stress as a 15 year old, how did I manage. | |
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| What’s the point of GCSEs? on 09:58 - Sep 2 with 1701 views | itfcjoe |
| What’s the point of GCSEs? on 07:22 - Sep 2 by textbackup |
My GCSE grades got me into the apprenticeship I took on at 16, and still work for that same company.
The point of those GCSEs seem pretty important to me.
But then this isn’t kids these days where they look for someone else to blame, or handouts. I knew at 15 if I got the grades I’d have a job, potentially for life. Pressure applied to myself and I’m doing ok from it. |
It's really get difficult to get kids onto apprenticeships these days - I find it absolutely crazy. The schools don't want them to do it (as lose funding), the kids don't want to do it as are told it's a backwards step and hard dirty work.......and then I look round the industry I'm in and see all the smart people running their own little businesses, buying and doing up houses, being able to get out and earn more money in spare time, learning other trades on the job and think we are getting something badly wrong here.
The construction industry gets as much wrong as the schools and Government do - but the skills gap gets bigger and bigger, and there is so much work out there and money to be earned - especially in somewhere like Ipswich where not many great jobs.....when Sizewell C starts people will have years and years of well paid work guaranteed |  |
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| What’s the point of GCSEs? on 10:01 - Sep 2 with 1694 views | BlueBlueBluex2 |
GCSEs and indeed A levels are a pointless exercise (unless you are going to Uni, which is another argument of its own)
As a young person, attitude is the main key component to getting a job offer that and knowing the difference between their, they're and there.
I only managed 7 D's in my GCSE and 2 A levels at D and F grades so I did what any one would do, changed my results to suit the job I was applying for.
No one asks for proof, so change them for A's and away you go. | | | |
| What’s the point of GCSEs? on 10:07 - Sep 2 with 1687 views | GeoffSentence |
| What’s the point of GCSEs? on 07:22 - Sep 2 by textbackup |
My GCSE grades got me into the apprenticeship I took on at 16, and still work for that same company.
The point of those GCSEs seem pretty important to me.
But then this isn’t kids these days where they look for someone else to blame, or handouts. I knew at 15 if I got the grades I’d have a job, potentially for life. Pressure applied to myself and I’m doing ok from it. |
Haha! 'kids these days....'
You have officially acceeded to the ranks of grumpy old fart. |  |
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| What’s the point of GCSEs? on 10:08 - Sep 2 with 1686 views | Wallingford_Boy |
To get into medicine you need certain grades at GCSE level.
Sure degree and A-level are more important, but the top medical schools also require certain GCSEs too. |  |
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| What’s the point of GCSEs? on 10:30 - Sep 2 with 1671 views | Jon_456 |
| What’s the point of GCSEs? on 19:37 - Sep 1 by MattinLondon |
Wouldn’t say I have especially strong feelings about this but I just think that fifteen is too young to start exams, which could decide a large chunk of someone’s life.
I also think that universities allocating places based on predicted grades is silly. |
Of course GCSEs dont decide a large chunk of someones life. They're there to help colleges / employers see if a candidate is suitable or has the potential for a given role at the start of their career. Obviously once they gain work experience then GCSEs become less relevant.
Surely spreading your education / exams over 4 years in GSCEs and A Levels is less stressful that putting all your education into one set of exams at 18? If students dont get the GCSE grades they want, some have the option of re-sitting their exams whilst continuing into their A Levels. | | | |
| What’s the point of GCSEs? on 10:33 - Sep 2 with 1667 views | Cotty |
| What’s the point of GCSEs? on 10:01 - Sep 2 by BlueBlueBluex2 |
GCSEs and indeed A levels are a pointless exercise (unless you are going to Uni, which is another argument of its own)
As a young person, attitude is the main key component to getting a job offer that and knowing the difference between their, they're and there.
I only managed 7 D's in my GCSE and 2 A levels at D and F grades so I did what any one would do, changed my results to suit the job I was applying for.
No one asks for proof, so change them for A's and away you go. |
I’d advise any young people reading this not to commit fraud. |  | | |
| What’s the point of GCSEs? on 10:43 - Sep 2 with 1653 views | Tractor_Buck |
| What’s the point of GCSEs? on 10:08 - Sep 2 by Wallingford_Boy |
To get into medicine you need certain grades at GCSE level.
Sure degree and A-level are more important, but the top medical schools also require certain GCSEs too. |
Indeed, same for Veterinary Science. My son is off to the Royal Veterinary College in two weeks time but he's only eligible for the 'Gateway' access route because of that pesky Grade 6 in GCSE Maths, so his course is 6 years instead of 5. |  | | |
| What’s the point of GCSEs? on 10:47 - Sep 2 with 1650 views | Wallingford_Boy |
| What’s the point of GCSEs? on 10:43 - Sep 2 by Tractor_Buck |
Indeed, same for Veterinary Science. My son is off to the Royal Veterinary College in two weeks time but he's only eligible for the 'Gateway' access route because of that pesky Grade 6 in GCSE Maths, so his course is 6 years instead of 5. |
Yep, thats why my son was so focused on his GCSEs this year, cos he knew he couldn't let it slip in certain subjects. | |
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| What’s the point of GCSEs? on 11:03 - Sep 2 with 1621 views | Warkystache |
GCSE's (took mine in 1990 - did OK) enabled me to go on to A Levels and then to University, which led to a good job, then another good job, then another, then another, then another and then the job I'm doing now, which is hectic and very tiring but earns me the money to pay my mortgage, drink fine wines and brandies and beer, dine in restaurants regularly, buy antiques occasionally and otherwise live as I like.
Without them, I'd be serving burgers to people like Cotty, you know, people who think leather patches on their jacket elbows are acceptable and who spend whole hours in the staff room passing round the 'Ready Rub' and trying not to think of when the lunchtime bell will ring again.
Oh what fun we had. |  |
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| What’s the point of GCSEs? on 11:09 - Sep 2 with 1614 views | hype313 |
| What’s the point of GCSEs? on 11:03 - Sep 2 by Warkystache |
GCSE's (took mine in 1990 - did OK) enabled me to go on to A Levels and then to University, which led to a good job, then another good job, then another, then another, then another and then the job I'm doing now, which is hectic and very tiring but earns me the money to pay my mortgage, drink fine wines and brandies and beer, dine in restaurants regularly, buy antiques occasionally and otherwise live as I like.
Without them, I'd be serving burgers to people like Cotty, you know, people who think leather patches on their jacket elbows are acceptable and who spend whole hours in the staff room passing round the 'Ready Rub' and trying not to think of when the lunchtime bell will ring again.
Oh what fun we had. |
I thought your only outlay was Curry? |  |
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| What’s the point of GCSEs? on 11:14 - Sep 2 with 1612 views | Warkystache |
| What’s the point of GCSEs? on 11:09 - Sep 2 by hype313 |
I thought your only outlay was Curry? |
And booze. And 'other' food and the boring stuff, the mortgage, rates, council tax, car insurance and MOT etc.
And Ipswich season tickets although they've reduced my monthly DD subs to £12 so it's hardly a biggie. | |
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| What’s the point of GCSEs? on 11:16 - Sep 2 with 1608 views | MattinLondon |
| What’s the point of GCSEs? on 08:37 - Sep 2 by textbackup |
Forgot the gold star, I’d rather just look back at managing to buy my first house at 19 through hard work... cor all that horrible stress as a 15 year old, how did I manage. |
In what year did you buy that house? | | | |
| What’s the point of GCSEs? on 11:43 - Sep 2 with 1590 views | BlueBlueBluex2 |
| What’s the point of GCSEs? on 10:33 - Sep 2 by Cotty |
I’d advise any young people reading this not to commit fraud. |
I would advise that they do.
If you have enough about you to look someone in the eye and be confident and interested, work hard, be determined and polite then changing a D for a B should be a given.
Get it done, get grafting and never be late and its a recipe for success.
Education is not for everyone and indeed some students may not have the support network of a stable family life of the like, so they should certainly be looking for angles to get their foot in the door. [Post edited 2 Sep 2021 11:44]
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| What’s the point of GCSEs? on 11:59 - Sep 2 with 1572 views | tractorboy1978 |
| What’s the point of GCSEs? on 11:43 - Sep 2 by BlueBlueBluex2 |
I would advise that they do.
If you have enough about you to look someone in the eye and be confident and interested, work hard, be determined and polite then changing a D for a B should be a given.
Get it done, get grafting and never be late and its a recipe for success.
Education is not for everyone and indeed some students may not have the support network of a stable family life of the like, so they should certainly be looking for angles to get their foot in the door. [Post edited 2 Sep 2021 11:44]
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A liar is exactly the type of character I want to employ. [Post edited 2 Sep 2021 12:01]
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| What’s the point of GCSEs? on 12:15 - Sep 2 with 1557 views | DanTheMan |
| What’s the point of GCSEs? on 11:43 - Sep 2 by BlueBlueBluex2 |
I would advise that they do.
If you have enough about you to look someone in the eye and be confident and interested, work hard, be determined and polite then changing a D for a B should be a given.
Get it done, get grafting and never be late and its a recipe for success.
Education is not for everyone and indeed some students may not have the support network of a stable family life of the like, so they should certainly be looking for angles to get their foot in the door. [Post edited 2 Sep 2021 11:44]
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I'd absolutely love to see someone do my job after failing the "pointless" GCSEs and A-Levels (let alone the degree).
There are plenty of jobs where "graft" won't actually get you anywhere. [Post edited 2 Sep 2021 12:16]
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| What’s the point of GCSEs? on 12:33 - Sep 2 with 1535 views | Meadowlark |
"How to chance a plug?"
That's what Arsenal did, sn't it? |  | | |
| What’s the point of GCSEs? on 12:38 - Sep 2 with 1532 views | hype313 |
| What’s the point of GCSEs? on 12:15 - Sep 2 by DanTheMan |
I'd absolutely love to see someone do my job after failing the "pointless" GCSEs and A-Levels (let alone the degree).
There are plenty of jobs where "graft" won't actually get you anywhere. [Post edited 2 Sep 2021 12:16]
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Dan; Hype, now you have passed your A-Levels with excellent grades and got yourself a 2:1 in Computer Science, can I just gauge where you are with Coding? So, what is an enum?
Hype: Er, Do you have Toilets?
Dan: Anyone seen Hype? He went to the toilet an hour ago and hasn't been seen since.
Dave: I saw some bloke leg it out the doors about an hour ago.
So, yeah, lie all you like, but you will get found out. | |
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| What’s the point of GCSEs? on 12:40 - Sep 2 with 1530 views | BlueBlueBluex2 |
| What’s the point of GCSEs? on 12:15 - Sep 2 by DanTheMan |
I'd absolutely love to see someone do my job after failing the "pointless" GCSEs and A-Levels (let alone the degree).
There are plenty of jobs where "graft" won't actually get you anywhere. [Post edited 2 Sep 2021 12:16]
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Any plenty where it will. Like mine and I do ok.
If you are not going onto Uni, then you can take my advice. If you need to go through further education then its not for you. | | | |
| What’s the point of GCSEs? on 13:07 - Sep 2 with 1504 views | ElephantintheRoom |
No point - if A levels are still called A levels - then O levels should still be called O levels | |
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| What’s the point of GCSEs? on 13:17 - Sep 2 with 1501 views | gordon |
| What’s the point of GCSEs? on 12:40 - Sep 2 by BlueBlueBluex2 |
Any plenty where it will. Like mine and I do ok.
If you are not going onto Uni, then you can take my advice. If you need to go through further education then its not for you. |
Not really about university, more about what profession you're interested in - some you can blag / bluff your way through, others not. | | | |
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