So, I recieved my A-level results last week and they were, the only way I can think to put it, bad. I got a B in Computing, and a D in Physics and Maths.
Do those really reflect my abilities? I don’t think so. (although I may be slightly biased. :P)
I got an A* in Maths at GCSE, which means in two years my ability has decreased to a D. How does that make sense? The one way that I can explain it is by the teaching ability. My teacher from Year 8 to Year 11 was much better than the one I had in Year 12. In Year 13, everything is building on previous knowledge, which was lacking. As a result, my overall grade dropped significantly.
The grades in my statistics exams (which was taught by a different teacher in Year 12 than the ‘core’ maths) were a B overall, which seems to reflect my beliefs.
Physics: The first time that I took my module 1 exam, I got a U. Obviously, I chose to retake that exam. In the Spring of this year, I got a B. This was for the most part, self taught with a little help from friends.
I chose the three subjects (four, if you count Psychology) because they all interest me. Unlike (at least, I think) most people, who choose subjects based on what career they want. (read what will make them the most money.) Most people I have spoke to took Psychology as a ‘filler’ subject, as something that was considered an easy A. I dropped it within a month because the teacher just seemed to have absolutely no interest in teaching.
I believe that the whole examination process is flawed. It relys on coursework and/or exams, which focus on a small subset of the overall subject. Results are (heavily?) influenced by teachers and and what basically results to pot luck. If a person is particularly nervous, it may be harder to concentrate in an exam. With a basic knowledge of any subject and a lot of revision, a high grade would probably be attainable. I am not a big fan of revision, I find it had to sit there and concentrate, and end up giving up when I find any excuse to.
Being the morbidly curious person that I am, I have to wonder how many students commit suicide because they feel that they haven’t achieved their goals, and their life is now over…