1968 GCE 'O' level papers

[steveo]

Go on have a go. They're scary

http://www.mel-lambert.com/Ruskin/Images/JRGS11E_KB_Images.htm

[Alan Medic]

Surely Geography No.2 Q.5 is more to do with history than geography.I like the English composition options. Quite a variety. Are exams anything like this now?

[numbers]

I daren't look. I can barely complete the (algebra) homework belonging to my friend's 7yo.

[ratty]

Not dumbed down then!

[DulwichFox]

numbers Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> I daren't look. I can barely complete the

> (algebra) homework belonging to my friend's 7yo.

I had to endure Algebra, Quadratic Equations, Simultaneous Equations at school and again

in Technical College.

WHY ???

In 40 years working in Telecommunications.. Systems Networking I never needed to use any of it.

Who does use it. ??

Foxed.

[uncleglen]

I did 1968 papers except for English language and Maths which I did in 1967. I failed English Literature in 1968 (what's the point of analysing fiction?)

Anyway, in answer to DulwichFox- that basic algebra mentioned above is just the foundations of higher algebra and that is the basis of computer graphics, computer-assisted tomography, mechanics e.g. projectiles; there are umpteen applications underpinning the technology we all take for granted these days.

[BB100]

You can't really compare 'hardness' of o'level to GCSE unless you know what the pass mark is for the papers.

[JohnL]

There was no standard passmark in those days, it was done by percentages, so

you were competing against your fellow student. I heard a headmaster saying

recently that to do that now would not reward teachers/students, but is that

the point?

Why exactly do we grade ? what does society get out of grading students at school ?

BB100 Wrote:

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> You can't really compare 'hardness' of o'level to

> GCSE unless you know what the pass mark is for the

> papers.

[El Pibe]

Naaa both N and S have a really big city, but total sq mileage is much smaller in the N.

Simple maths equation really ;-)

Alan Medic Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Surely Geography No.2 Q.5 is more to do with

> history than geography.I like the English

> composition options. Quite a variety. Are exams

> anything like this now?

[holloway]

it always annoys me when people talk of A levels and GCSEs allegedly becoming easier. I found A levels ridiculously difficult, my first year at university was a breeze in comparison. i think more and more schools are now teaching directly from past exam papers rather than from a wider topic related approach, students are then bound to do well but at the expense of not really understanding the subject beyond an exam paper.

[Sue]

JohnL Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> There was no standard passmark in those days, it

> was done by percentages, so

> you were competing against your fellow student.

xxxxxxx

I did O levels in 1965, and my recollection is that there were passmarks?

They were graded A B C D E (for passes), and I thought A was over 70% etc?

If not, surely grades would vary depending on the quality of the student cohort (is that the right word?) in a particular year in any particular subject?

I have a totally crap memory though so I may be completely wrong.

[JohnL]

It always ended up as about 70% - but in our board (WJEC)

it definitely moved around.

Nobody really knew how it worked - but I was always told

they expected the same statistical distribution of marks

- and that depending where the 'peak' was they could adjust

the grade boundaries (assuming the exam was easier/harder and

students the same)

Edit: so,yes, if you got a good year - you were unlucky.

Sue Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> JohnL Wrote:

> --------------------------------------------------

> -----

> > There was no standard passmark in those days,

> it

> > was done by percentages, so

> > you were competing against your fellow student.

>

>

> xxxxxxx

>

> I did O levels in 1965, and my recollection is

> that there were passmarks?

>

> They were graded A B C D E (for passes), and I

> thought A was over 70% etc?

>

> If not, surely grades would vary depending on the

> quality of the student cohort (is that the right

> word?) in a particular year in any particular

> subject?

>

> I have a totally crap memory though so I may be

> completely wrong.

[Townleygreen]

I think the %age of people getting each grade stayed the same each year