NationStates Jolt Archive

British Exam. Easier or harder than they were?

I did my exams in the days of "O" levels. I also went on to go through the hell that was called "A" levels. Since then I have obtained a degree and an MA. I still consider the A levels to be the hardest exams I have ever taken. Much harder than anything I was subjected to at university.

It will probably be impossible to come to a reasoned and reasonable conclusion on this subject as no-one will have direct experience of "O" levels and GCSEs, nor of A levels from 20 years ago and A levels today, but I thought I would post a poll anyway.

This is a spinoff of sorts from Neo Cannen's thread on creationism /evolution

I'm not sure whether exams have gotten easier or harder over the years. They probably have, but I do know that it's a lot harder to get an A in some subjects than others. For example, I did absolutely no revision for my Sociology exam and didn't have the best attendence record in the world, yet still got an A at A/S. My mates, who revised tons and got about the same results as me at GCSE, all got Ds or less for their exams which were maths/science ones.

A'levels are much easier nowadays. I did four, back in the days when they meant something (of course you can't really count general studies). These days they seem to hand them out with the toilet paper at six-forms.

I'm not a Brit, but when I went to Britian for a semester, the exams were quite easy compared to American exams so I would guess whatever you had 3 years ago when I was there was the easiest.

Plus they really seem to rip you off with the credits. I took 3 Five-Credit classes which was supposed to be a full time workload, but it really seemed that your 5 credit classes really only required the work of an American 3 or 4 credit class.

On the postive side I really loved the anonymous grading. In the
States for most undergraduate courses you put your name smack on the top and the professor can give the best grades to his or her favorites.

The thing about this is there's a load of people who claim they are all easier nowadays and they really earned it in their day etc etc..
But how do they know? Have they taken one of nowadays A levels?

Frankly I just think the evidence is inconclusive, but the older generation leaps on an opportunity to make themselves look better.

I did GCSE's when I was 16 (I'm 19 now) I actually failed the large majority, I mean I passed them but I only got 3 at C or above.
I didn't revise so.. :P

However I went on to do A Levels at Sixth Form, and found the exams much easier, because I revised, they were however still hard exams.

I am now studying for a degree in Computer Science, I must admit degree exams are easy as long as you revise. I think the morale of the story is that, the exams may have become slightly easier but maybe more kids are just revising and getting down to study instead of playing computer games like I did.... but who knows. :)

And also theres such a large selection of GCSE's & A-Levels to do now, when I did GCSE's my only choice was whether or not I wanted to do Drama, Geography or History, I didn't get choices like Leisure & Tourism or whatever.
Its same with A-Levels as well, they is a huge choice now, and generally the newer the A-Level the more people they want to pass it... :)

The thing about this is there's a load of people who claim they are all easier nowadays and they really earned it in their day etc etc..
But how do they know? Have they taken one of nowadays A levels?

Frankly I just think the evidence is inconclusive, but the older generation leaps on an opportunity to make themselves look better.

FYI, they cut all the sylabuses down in the late eighties, vastly reducing the amount of information you had to learn.

Lots more "U"s in the old days. I took physics back before there were calculators and stuff.

British Exam. Easier or harder than they were?

I did my exams in the days of "O" levels. I also went on to go through the hell that was called "A" levels. Since then I have obtained a degree and an MA. I still consider the A levels to be the hardest exams I have ever taken. Much harder than anything I was subjected to at university.

It will probably be impossible to come to a reasoned and reasonable conclusion on this subject as no-one will have direct experience of "O" levels and GCSEs, nor of A levels from 20 years ago and A levels today, but I thought I would post a poll anyway.

This is a spinoff of sorts from Neo Cannen's thread on creationism /evolution
i did GCSE's and A-levels, and was the second year to go through the stupid "AS-levels". My parents are insistant that A-levels used to be harder, and i have no practical experience & cannot say for sure. However i think it depends on the subjects you do: "real" subjects like Physics, Biology, Chemistry, and Maths are probably harder than they used to be. there is simply more to learn - in my parents' day (the 50s) they were taught the smallest particle was the atom. Now we know of the many subatomic particles, and are taught them as well as the theories of inter- and intra-mollecular forces. these are just examples, but are difficult concepts to grasp, and by adding them to the required level knowledge and understanding to pass the exams, the exams are arguably harder.
chemistry, for another exapmple, was mostly a practical subject when my dad took the A-level. When i did, it was nearly all theory and maths with the occasional practical thrown in to prove a point. Arguably harder, imo.
Humanities subjects like History, Geography or Economics probably haven't changed much in terms of 'hardness'. Again, my dad did A-level Economics in the 50s and it was similar to what i would call Accounting today. Modern A-level Economics is again more theory based. Whether this is harder i cannot say.

These "proper" core subjects have either become more in-depth, intricate and, perhaps, harder. The main reason why people often complian about these qualifications being easier nowadays is because of the rise of the 'mickey-mouse' subjects and the disproportionate amount of the population taking them as their final A-levels. I honestly don't know the full range of these subjects because they weren't even offered at my school, but when i hear on the news, when the A-level results are published every year, that "Nikki got 4 A-levels and is very proud" i want to know what in. If its drama, dance, woodwork and textiles, who gives a fuck? The exams are easier because more kids are doing stupid subjects that a monkey could pass.

god, another rant over...

You'd really have to either do sets of exams, which would require an odd set of circumstances, so I really don't know.
And I'm in Scotland, currently doing my Higher prelims (which are roughly equivalent to AS levels for you Englishmen)

I'm not a Brit, but when I went to Britian for a semester, the exams were quite easy compared to American exams so I would guess whatever you had 3 years ago when I was there was the easiest.

Plus they really seem to rip you off with the credits. I took 3 Five-Credit classes which was supposed to be a full time workload, but it really seemed that your 5 credit classes really only required the work of an American 3 or 4 credit class.

On the postive side I really loved the anonymous grading. In the
States for most undergraduate courses you put your name smack on the top and the professor can give the best grades to his or her favorites.

O levels and A levels are things that come before university. Yeah, apart from the First year exams, university was too easy.

FYI, they cut all the sylabuses down in the late eighties, vastly reducing the amount of information you had to learn.

Lots more "U"s in the old days. I took physics back before there were calculators and stuff.

I'm still not sure that is conclusive proof that they have gotten easier. What if they demand more detailed knowledge on the things you do need to learn?

And there are a lot of Us for the science and maths based subjects at my sixth form, and it's supposed to be one of the best in the region.

All I know is that sociology exams are not hard in the slightest - a fairly intelligent person could turn up after not knowing a thing about sociology and probably get a C in it.

I agree Pure Metal, its the same with GCSE's when I used to work in my summer job people would come back with their results and say 'I got 3 A's, 2 B's blah blah' when I asked what they got these grades in they used to say Textiles, Leisure & Tourism, Horse Keeping or something ridiculous like that.

A Levels are just the same...and now degrees are becoming just as bad, stupid courses such as 'David Beckham Studies' etc just add more idiots to the world and lower the worth of degrees.

I'm still not sure that is conclusive proof that they have gotten easier. What if they demand more detailed knowledge on the things you do need to learn?

And there are a lot of Us for the science and maths based subjects at my sixth form, and it's supposed to be one of the best in the region.

All I know is that sociology exams are not hard in the slightest - a fairly intelligent person could turn up after not knowing a thing about sociology and probably get a C in it.

Probably true about the soft subjects. I took Bio, Chem, Physics and General Studies. I don't think I ever did any work for General Studies and I got an A. Physics was the hardest.

The funny thing was about ten years ago - long after I took physics - I was flipping through one of those practice exam books for A'level physics in a book store and the questions seemed pretty easy. Of course I did get a masters degree in structural engineering in the interim, so that could explain that.

Still, IIRC, when I took physics A'level, it seemed much harder.

After general studies, biology was the easiest. (Another A, but some reading required).

General studies is brilliant. I didn't turn up to a single lesson and got a B in it - got full marks on the 'culture, morality and politics' paper. Thing is next year a third of it is a modern language and I am really bad with them.

i did GCSE's and A-levels, and was the second year to go through the stupid "AS-levels". My parents are insistant that A-levels used to be harder, and i have no practical experience & cannot say for sure. However i think it depends on the subjects you do: "real" subjects like Physics, Biology, Chemistry, and Maths are probably harder than they used to be. there is simply more to learn - in my parents' day (the 50s) they were taught the smallest particle was the atom. Now we know of the many subatomic particles, and are taught them as well as the theories of inter- and intra-mollecular forces. these are just examples, but are difficult concepts to grasp, and by adding them to the required level knowledge and understanding to pass the exams, the exams are arguably harder.
chemistry, for another exapmple, was mostly a practical subject when my dad took the A-level. When i did, it was nearly all theory and maths with the occasional practical thrown in to prove a point. Arguably harder, imo.
Humanities subjects like History, Geography or Economics probably haven't changed much in terms of 'hardness'. Again, my dad did A-level Economics in the 50s and it was similar to what i would call Accounting today. Modern A-level Economics is again more theory based. Whether this is harder i cannot say.

These "proper" core subjects have either become more in-depth, intricate and, perhaps, harder. The main reason why people often complian about these qualifications being easier nowadays is because of the rise of the 'mickey-mouse' subjects and the disproportionate amount of the population taking them as their final A-levels. I honestly don't know the full range of these subjects because they weren't even offered at my school, but when i hear on the news, when the A-level results are published every year, that "Nikki got 4 A-levels and is very proud" i want to know what in. If its drama, dance, woodwork and textiles, who gives a fuck? The exams are easier because more kids are doing stupid subjects that a monkey could pass.

god, another rant over...


I actually got four A levels. In physics, Chemistry, Mathematics and Zoology, as well as taking an AS in maths and failing this. (My school had a strange system whereby you took your O levels in Maths and English Language in January and could sit the AS in July, which cost nothing , but meant you only had three months to do a years course whiilst you were preparing for your other O levels. I got a D, not too bad) AS is not new, it existed in the 70s at least, whether it disappeared and then reappeared as something different I don't know. Having done A levels in the sciences I too had the impression that those in the humanities were easier, but, with the uncertanties of life having blown me around a little, I took my degree in Philosophy (and Computing, joint honours to confuse the americans) which means that I have since gained more respect for the humanities. The demands are different. In the exact sciences you have to know both facts and methods. In the humanities you have to know theories and methods. Not much difference in the end in the difficulty. But I still consider the A levels to have been hardr than any exams in university, so maybe there is a subject type difference after all. Anyone out there who did a science degree (Theoretical physics, chemistry, that sort of thing) could let us know if the same is true of the sciences.

Has everyone got A's in every subject they took at A-Level?

Because if you have I must be extremely stupid, as the highest I got was a B...

General studies is brilliant. I didn't turn up to a single lesson and got a B in it - got full marks on the 'culture, morality and politics' paper. Thing is next year a third of it is a modern language and I am really bad with them.

I don't remember that being a big part of the exam. Well it was a long time ago, and I did do o'level french and german.

Has everyone got A's in every subject they took at A-Level?

Because if you have I must be extremely stupid, as the highest I got was a B...

No, I got a C in physics and a B in chemistry.

No, I got a C in physics and a B in chemistry.
By todays standards 2 A s then?

By todays standards 2 A s then?

Well four, if you count my Gen. Studies and Biology.

Has everyone got A's in every subject they took at A-Level?

Because if you have I must be extremely stupid, as the highest I got was a B...

1 A three Bs and a C at A/S level, and although i'm predicted 3 As at A level I very much doubt I will get that. I will be really pleased with three Bs - that'll get me into Leeds uni.

Don't know about English exams but the Scottish exams/curriculum certainly has got alot easier. I was in the group that got to do both the old style Higher level qualifications and the newer Higher-Still. Higher-Still basically means that people have more choice - instead of sitting say one generic Music exam, pupils get to choose different 3 different modules so they can in effect opt out of the areas that they find hard. Generally this has meant that Scottish exams are easier (where you choose the areas in which you're best) with the notable exceptions where the examiners set impossible questions - like the Maths paper with an unanserable question.

I agree Pure Metal, its the same with GCSE's when I used to work in my summer job people would come back with their results and say 'I got 3 A's, 2 B's blah blah' when I asked what they got these grades in they used to say Textiles, Leisure & Tourism, Horse Keeping or something ridiculous like that.

A Levels are just the same...and now degrees are becoming just as bad, stupid courses such as 'David Beckham Studies' etc just add more idiots to the world and lower the worth of degrees.
quite. David Beckham studies are laughable, but a degree in "Buffy" is just sad.

I actually got four A levels. In physics, Chemistry, Mathematics and Zoology, as well as taking an AS in maths and failing this. (My school had a strange system whereby you took your O levels in Maths and English Language in January and could sit the AS in July, which cost nothing , but meant you only had three months to do a years course whiilst you were preparing for your other O levels. I got a D, not too bad) AS is not new, it existed in the 70s at least, whether it disappeared and then reappeared as something different I don't know. Having done A levels in the sciences I too had the impression that those in the humanities were easier, but, with the uncertanties of life having blown me around a little, I took my degree in Philosophy (and Computing, joint honours to confuse the americans) which means that I have since gained more respect for the humanities. The demands are different. In the exact sciences you have to know both facts and methods. In the humanities you have to know theories and methods. Not much difference in the end in the difficulty. But I still consider the A levels to have been hardr than any exams in university, so maybe there is a subject type difference after all. Anyone out there who did a science degree (Theoretical physics, chemistry, that sort of thing) could let us know if the same is true of the sciences.
I am sure there is a subject difference. I did Economics (a social science, reliant on maths and facts as well as theory: both a science and a humanity) last year at uni and, like you, i found the A-levels much harder than any exam they put me through at this level. I still managed to fail the year though cos i became a waster pothead. Now I'm back taking Politics, a humanity, and have gained far more respect for humanities subjects, like yourself. Not only that, but i now prefer them (im pretty usless at remembering facts and utterly crap at maths, so sciences were always hard).

If Humanities subjects involve a lot of understanding and reading, and the Sciences involve a lot of knowledge, learning of facts and mathematical application, what do you need to do a A-level in Dance or Textiles or Cultural Appreciation (i think that one exists)? I know people who took General Studies as a doss subject - but how can you work or understand things in the subject: there's nothing to learn!

IMO still the same.

Though our syllables are different. Very hard to compare.

But I truly believe our Youth's are getting dumber by the minute. Must be cellphone waves into the brain.

You'd really have to either do sets of exams, which would require an odd set of circumstances, so I really don't know.
And I'm in Scotland, currently doing my Higher prelims (which are roughly equivalent to AS levels for you Englishmen)

Highers aren't really the same as AS levels, maybe more like A levels (but they take 1 year). Advanced Highers are more like AS levels.

I don't know if GCSE's are any harder/easier than they used to be, but from what I hear they're easier than Scottish standard grades, anyway.

I've skipped most of this 'cause I'm learning lines for my Drama GCSE... But anyway, I've got GCSEs this year, and they suck. They are incredibly, incredibly evil.

But, I suppose one thing that has to be taken into account is that - well, what my classes are told, anyway... - you are marked in relation to everyone else. I mean, if everyone does really, really badly, then you have to get a lower percentage to get an 'a' or whatever. eg. In my maths mock, I got 35% (I'm getting better, though! Woooo!) but you only had to get 25% to get a 'c' because everyone did really, really, shockingly badly. In the exam last year, you had to get about at least 50% for a 'c' because everyone did well. I'm not sure if I'm explaining this very well.

I've never sat an old stylee O Level, but I reckon they were probably about the same as GCSEs. My Head of Year keeps going on about how the GCSEs are getting easier - My form tutor says that you don't tell an Olympic runner that the 100m is getting easier, it's just assumed that they're getting better, and she thinks we're getting better too. See how I radiate confidence, now?

A Levels are supposed to have the equivalent workload to 3 GCSEs.

One of my best friends is in his first year of university. He didn't go to many lectures last term and is doing well in his exams, now, though. So I guess it must be easy going...

One of my best friends is in his first year of university. He didn't go to many lectures last term and is doing well in his exams, now, though. So I guess it must be easy going...
depends what you do. I didn't go to any lectures last year and failed the year - but by only one module. still, the first year doesn't matter anyway for most unis: you just have to pass and sod the grades. that said if you want to do well you have to work at it in your first year too cos it makes the next two years a lot easier. thats what i learned from my mistake last year anyway.

as an aside, i think that old style O-levels were - i think - not marked in the same relative manner as GCSEs. they were the same as A-levels are now in that 60% (for example) is always a B grade. 50% was always a C, etc... At least, that's what my parents say. Does this make it harder or easier?

GCSEs are way too easy in my honest and humble opinion. English is still okay I suppose, but I think some subjects, (especially maths and the sciences), could be made quite a lot harder.

Maths is the prime example...ohhhhh...how easy it is :).

I think GCSEs are probably much easier than the old A-levels. However, I think the A-levels are the same difficulty. What's changed is the way they are marked. (correct me if i'm wrong) but i think what used to happen is that there were fixed grade boundaries whereas now they are changed depending on what people get, so a certain percentage get As, Bs etc.

As for A/S levels, they are the most pointless thing I have ever done, should have just stuck with A-levels istead of splitting it into A/S and A2.

I think GCSEs are probably much easier than the old A-levels. However, I think the A-levels are the same difficulty. What's changed is the way they are marked. (correct me if i'm wrong) but i think what used to happen is that there were fixed grade boundaries whereas now they are changed depending on what people get, so a certain percentage get As, Bs etc.

As for A/S levels, they are the most pointless thing I have ever done, should have just stuck with A-levels istead of splitting it into A/S and A2.

When I took them the grade boundaries depended upon how well the overall population did. i.e. The top 2% got given grade A, the next 10% grade B etc.

If the top marks wer in the 50% range then these still got grade A, the right/wrong percentage did not matter, just how you compared to the other examinees.

This also answers another question. No, not everyone got grade As.

FYI, they cut all the sylabuses down in the late eighties, vastly reducing the amount of information you had to learn.

Lots more "U"s in the old days. I took physics back before there were calculators and stuff.

I think theyve gone and cut them down again have they not? I know that theyve rearranged all the maths - some of the harder stuff I had to learn has been cut, and they've changed "pure maths" to "core maths" - what I did in Pure 1 has now been spread over a couple of modules. Or something. I can't remember the details exactly but I remember being pretty annoyed that it looked a hell of a lot easier lol.

Anywho...A levels mean less and less as the years go on - I got a D in my a level music, but I'm doing music and recording as a degree - they took into account my grade 6 theory and practical grades more than my a levels.

I don't believe that the exam system in general has got easier. More people take exams than ever before, so of course there are a higher number of people passing.
For my A level economics, which I found extremely difficult...not a maths person, I did past papers for revision. I could answer most of the questions on those past papers, but when it came the exam bombed miserably. Now I can do the subject, can explain anything about the subject, but on the day whether it was nerves or what I ballsed up. In the modern exam system you can re-take individual modules without re-taking the year. It doesn't make those exams easier, it just means that if you fail you don't have to wait a year to re-do them, so eventually this would see an increase in the number of people passing.
Also what you need to know has changed dramatically. Old history papers were printed in the Telegraph and people were disgusted at how few people could answer them, but children aren't taught what those papers wanted. All the answers however were single line answers, a paragragh at most. There was no understanding of the subject, just a requirement to repeat parrot fashion.
Exams aren't getting easier, but they have changed in order to provide children with a different style of education, and I wish the media would stop complaining about improvements in the numbers passing, you can guarentee they would be the first to complain if the numbers passing dropped!

I tend to think that people who complain that exams are easier are simply frustrated that this generation of exam takers appear to be more intelligent than them. Not across the board, but I can see it as a natural response for an older person with an B in A-Level maths to be annoyed that a younger person got an A, justifying it all with the exams are easier nowadays nonsense.

I am taking my A-Levels, and am enjoying the challenge and the workload, to some extent. I read a couple of my mum's essays from when she was 18 and doing her exams, and they weren't better than mine, far from it; she got a B in English. My maths teachers all say that because of the new way exams are taken, ie the AS and then A2 levels, that getting top marks is harder, not easier, than before. Granted, many exams do not test the same syllabus as even in the early 80's, but back then were the majority of pupils taking A-Level exams? 60% complete A2 studies now, a far greater number then before. As someone else said, if more people are taking exams more people are bound to get top marks. Besides, it's all done as a percentage. The same top x percent get A's as they did back in the day, just now there are more people taking them.

How could anyone answer the question?
I went through the British school system, and took GSE, O level A level back in the 70's. At the time I found it bloody hard.
I am not about to take anymore to try and compare.
Times have changed, and the tools available to students have changed.
We were not permitted to even have a calculator at an exam, nodays the kids are using laptop computers.

GCSEs are way too easy in my honest and humble opinion. English is still okay I suppose, but I think some subjects, (especially maths and the sciences), could be made quite a lot harder.

Maths is the prime example...ohhhhh...how easy it is :).

Maths is evil.

GCSEs are way too easy in my honest and humble opinion. English is still okay I suppose, but I think some subjects, (especially maths and the sciences), could be made quite a lot harder.

Maths is the prime example...ohhhhh...how easy it is :).

I just breezed through my GCSEs, but my A-levels are proving to be bloody hard work. I can't comment on what exams were like in the past, though.

I can't comment on what exams were like in the past, though.

That's just it: no one who's sat an O Level has also sat a GCSE, and no one who has sat a GCSE has also taken an O Level. And the same goes for the new and old A Levels/ AS/A2s.

Therefore, NONE of us know what we are talking about.