http://www.telegraph.co.uk/educatio...-maths-quiz-were-O-levels-really-tougher.html
Try the "quiz" and see how you get on.
Try the "quiz" and see how you get on.
Have they really dumbed Maths down
- Thread starter Dextraneous
- Start date
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100% 
The O level ones definitely took longer - mostly thanks to having to remember how to do them, stuff I haven't done for about 25 years.
The O level ones definitely took longer - mostly thanks to having to remember how to do them, stuff I haven't done for about 25 years.
The thing is that most of the skills in the O level questions are included in the GCSE papers anyway. The article/quiz is being mischievous by cherrypicking to give a false impression. It's curious that they didn't include questions in the current GCSE papers on topics that weren't covered in the O'levels.
From what I remember about O and A level papers, there was a compulsory section involving mandatory questions and a section which allowed you to choose which questions you wanted to answer. Papers nowadays don't allow for a pupil to "specialise" on their strengths without their overall score being penalised.
From what I remember about O and A level papers, there was a compulsory section involving mandatory questions and a section which allowed you to choose which questions you wanted to answer. Papers nowadays don't allow for a pupil to "specialise" on their strengths without their overall score being penalised.
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I assumed there must have been some cherrypicking going on. I was in the very first GCSE year and the questions were pretty much like the O level questions in that article plus some differential and quadratic stuff if I remember correctly. There were certainly some mandatory and "answer two of the following five questions" type sections in some of those GCSE exams - I can't remember if maths was one of those though. No doubt things have changed in the ~25 years since (wow that makes me feel old!).
Oddly, I seem to remember being able to use a calculator in GCSE maths, although I may be confusing that with A levels.
edit to add Having looked at the recent example GCSE maths papers here: http://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/mathematics/gcse/mathematics-4360/past-papers-and-mark-schemes
it seems some units allow the use of calculators while others don't.
So basically a non-article hype piece from the Telegraph then.
Oddly, I seem to remember being able to use a calculator in GCSE maths, although I may be confusing that with A levels.
edit to add Having looked at the recent example GCSE maths papers here: http://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/mathematics/gcse/mathematics-4360/past-papers-and-mark-schemes
it seems some units allow the use of calculators while others don't.
So basically a non-article hype piece from the Telegraph then.
Quadratics are still around.
As for using a calculator, there's now't wrong with using this tool to solve problems which we either had to use log tables or slide rules to solve, or which were not included back then since the number work involved would have been disproportionately time consuming. That why there are two papers - one which permits a calculator and one which doesn't.
As for using a calculator, there's now't wrong with using this tool to solve problems which we either had to use log tables or slide rules to solve, or which were not included back then since the number work involved would have been disproportionately time consuming. That why there are two papers - one which permits a calculator and one which doesn't.
Ohhhh - that brought a memory back - there were some log tables at the back of the test papers I sat. I'd definitely need a week or so refreshing my mind before sitting those same papers now, I think it's all still in there, just dusty and covered in cobwebs from lack of use.
ITV docutainment about GCSE vs O levels:
https://www.itv.com/itvplayer/tonight/series-17/episode-24-putting-gcses-to-the-test-tonight
I can't say I'm convinced by Gove's plan to move back to completely exam based assessment as opposed to exam + coursework. To my mind, exams are necessary to demonstrate knowledge and grasp of underlying principles. Coursework is necessary to demonstrate the ability to extrapolate from those underlying principles combine it with research (be that in a library or googlying around) and produce something of more value and actual use.
IMO Exam only results in students cramming and regurgitating dictated content of a syllabus, only to forget it soon after. Coursework reinforces and should require application of the basic principles.
I suppose it is a highly individual thing - people learn in different ways, some are fine with entirely conceptual learning, some need practical demonstration of the conceptual to grasp the concept but having grasped it can then extrapolate.
/me puts down beer and goes to bed - too much waffle!
https://www.itv.com/itvplayer/tonight/series-17/episode-24-putting-gcses-to-the-test-tonight
I can't say I'm convinced by Gove's plan to move back to completely exam based assessment as opposed to exam + coursework. To my mind, exams are necessary to demonstrate knowledge and grasp of underlying principles. Coursework is necessary to demonstrate the ability to extrapolate from those underlying principles combine it with research (be that in a library or googlying around) and produce something of more value and actual use.
IMO Exam only results in students cramming and regurgitating dictated content of a syllabus, only to forget it soon after. Coursework reinforces and should require application of the basic principles.
I suppose it is a highly individual thing - people learn in different ways, some are fine with entirely conceptual learning, some need practical demonstration of the conceptual to grasp the concept but having grasped it can then extrapolate.
/me puts down beer and goes to bed - too much waffle!
E
EddieM
Boo 90% got one wrong!!! me long division musta let me down.
Chemical engineers rely too much on that software that does it all for themBoo 90% got one wrong!!! me long division musta let me down.
E
EddieM
Chemical engineers rely too much on that software that does it all for themBoo 90% got one wrong!!! me long division musta let me down.
Its certainly true that overuse of calculators / computers ******* your ability to do mental / paper based arithmetic. I'm not a chemical engineer BTW.
There's hope for you yet then
E
EddieM
There's hope for you yet then
No definitely on the mental slide to senility! I work in IT so there is definitely no hope
The trouble with coursework is that you can't be sure that submitted work has actually been done by the student.
When I was at university I knew at least one girl who used to get her boyfriend to do her assignments for her.
Edit: BTW, are you allowed to use pencil and paper for the maths test the OP linked to? I bet if I were allowed, I might have got at least one GCE question right!
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