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A Conservative Government will set up an online library of old school exam papers to demonstrate a decline in standards.
The proposal, from shadow children's secretary Michael Gove, follows suggestions that exam standards have slipped.
He said the scheme had the ability to "restore public confidence" and create "full transparency and academic scrutiny". It would mean anyone could access past papers on the free site, such as old GCSE and A-level exams, building up a picture of the "evolution" of British education and exams as far back as the Victorian period.
"It is vital that we restore public confidence in our exam system," he said. "Universities, businesses and academics say the system has been devalued and private schools are opting out of GCSEs for international exams."
The Universities and Skills Select Committee claims the number of first-class degrees has more than doubled in a decade.
Reader views (3)
Sorry Del, it's nowhere near as hard to pass today's maths and science exams as it was for me, 30 years ago. In my day, Physics "A"-level questions required the use of calculus to answer them. Today, the syllabus is designed such that you don't need maths AT ALL to do a Physics A level. Adding insult to injury, calculus is no longer part of the school maths curriculum. I'll let others comment about their subjects.
What's so sad about this, is that calculus is absolutely fundamental to understanding physics. Todays physics "A" is not just easier, it's also now the equivalent of cookery without food or geography without maps.
Universities now spend the first year teaching students what they no longer learn at school, and a Physics degree to the old level has perforce become a four-year course instead of a three-year one.
- Nigel, London, 03/08/2009 14:38
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comments like this make it seem as if a persons grades are no longer valid because they happened to take their exam in the wrong year. An A* student is still an A* student and people need to bear that in mind. It's still just as hard to pass exams as it has ever been, there's more to learn now then ever. Just ask those who never make it to University or A level.
- Del, Brighton, Uk, 03/08/2009 12:03
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That will be interesting. It is clear that the education system is turning out tens of thousands of "meja" and "social studies" graduates (most of whom can't spell and appear to have little command of the English language), but few wealth generators. What a mess we're in!
- Paddy, Sussex, 03/08/2009 11:44
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