Current Location: Home : Opinion Poll Results : 7th November 2005

Opinion Poll Result

Should A-Levels and GCSEs be replaced?

63% of you said 'NO', below are some of your comments...

'At the moment these exams are still valuable measuring tools and I believe prevent high school from being 'dumbed down'. The problems are not the exams but performance targets for teachers'

'I think that both G.C.S.Es and A-Levels are a necessity. They are the best method of realising a persons potential and academic credibility. In relation to A-Levels, they are not easy, they are incredibly difficult'

'I feel that these qualifications give pupils a sound educational grounding and prepare them well for the world of work and HE'

'Our primary and secondary schooling would not equip our students to cope effectively with a baccalaureate system.'

'formalised National Tests are the fairest way to grade students against the rest of the nation.'

'There is really no need to replace A-levels and GCSEs because it will create a lot of problems for other countries using it as a qualification to enter universities'

'They should not be replaced, but must be re-examined to ensure they are constantly updated to fit in with today's educational abilities'

'GCSE's and A Levels have suited me fine, and now I've just finished my first year at Uni. Maybe more vocational qualifications should be available at a younger age and taught in the same institutions as GCSEs and A Levels for the children who are less academic.'

'I support AL and GCSE because it gives a wider knowledge to the students at the age they require it'

'A-levels and GCSEs provide the intellectual and creative training young people need to think and look beyond the immediate picture'

'GCSE and A-level must be retained however the science preparation in years 7&8 as well as in the primary school sector needs to improve'

33% of you said 'Yes', here are some of the reasons

'I'm a teaching assistant in a primary school and have been involved with the Key Stage1 SATs. The look on the faces of the children was pure dread. I think we should assess the children on the whole school year to make it a more fair test.'

'International qualification (e.g. IB) would be much more worthwhile. It is a farce that pupils have to sit 3 continuous years of public examinations from year 11.'

'There should be more vocational studies. Pupils should come out of school with more life skills. Too much of what they learn at school is no use to their future. Simple skills should be taught such as wiring a DIY'

'I think on going assessments resulting in N.V.Q. qualifications are better'

'Relying on one exam and one day is too much pressure and does not give a well rounded picture of the student and their abilities. The Greek, Cyprus system is much better. Students don't specialise early on and get a much more rounded education based on GPAs'

'replacement with something like the int. baccalaureate'

'The GCSEs should be done in one year by the more able students allowing longer to concentrate on a more varied A level syllabus. A different system should be available for less able students allowing them to at least achieve key skills without the pressure'

'we need to concentrate more on continuous assessment and course work in order to make more equitable assessments of students abilities and potential. The current parameters of assessment are too narrow.'

'I believe secondary children should be looking to complete an internationally recognised diploma, and be allowed to choose their speciality i.e. language science etc. That way it would be possible to celebrate the skills of all children and bring the UK up'

'Examinations should be ongoing, yearly. With pupils not moving on until they have consolidated previous material. Perhaps as in Canada and the USA where pupils must pass each grade to go on to the next year. Exams not necessary to test for passing.'

'We need a much broader and demanding education system than offered by GCSE and A-Levels...'

'GCSEs and A- levels should be replaced by a qualification geared up to industrial requirements.'

4% of the votes came in saying 'Other', having opinions of Adaptation not complete change.

'They ought not to be merely jettisoned since much is accomplished with them; but this is not to say that the system should not be changed'

'GCSE's should be split in to two types - vocational which are truly relevant to daily life or to work and non-vocational which are academic in outlook and geared towards those who like study for the sake of study, there should be the equivalent at A level'

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