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Teenagers achieved another record crop of GCSE results today with more than ever awarded the elite A* grade.
For the first time, more than two-thirds of GCSE exams received at least a grade C, while a fifth scored As or A*s.
But as 750,000 pupils received their results, the celebrations were overshadowed by fresh concerns of dumbing down, with leading schools warning the exams have become too easy.
The results from exam boards showed:
* One in 14 pupils — 7.1 per cent — was awarded the A* grade, the highest proportion ever.
* 8.2 per cent of exams taken by girls scored A*, compared with 6 per cent for boys.
* A record two-thirds — 67.1 per cent — achieved at least a grade C.
R* esults in English fell, with 62.7 per cent of pupils achieving the benchmark C grade, down from 62.9 last year.
* The number of exam entries in French and German continued to plummet after the Government made languages optional; it has almost halved since 2002.
Jim Sinclair, director of the exam boards' body the Joint Council for Qualifications, which released the results, said: “This is a day of celebration for students and teachers. There has been good performance overall.”
But the record crop of A* grades fuelled fears that GCSEs have become too easy.
Professor Alan Smithers, an expert in exam standards from Buckingham University, said: “In 1988, 8.6 per cent got A grades in all subjects. The A* has really become what the A grade was 20 years ago in terms of telling people apart. I do think it suggests that the exam has become a lot easier.”
There were fresh signs that more private schools could be abandoning the 21-year-old exams as fewer pupils were entered for GCSEs this year.
David Levin, head of City of London School, a leading independent boys' school, warned that “dumbed down” GCSEs were driving private and state education further apart.
Writing in the Standard, he said the school was rejecting the exams in favour of a more rigorous, O-level style International GCSEs in most subjects.
“GCSEs are now characterised by a system of coursework, involving assignments which independently-minded pupils often find dull,” he writes.
Reader views (24)
It quite angers me that people can be so ignorant! Having recently taking my gcse's this year, I can tell you that many of us worked extremely hard for them. I challenge any of you to sit a gcse paper and see what your result is. Why is it people are so adamant that exams are getting easier rather than students getting smarter? Do you have any idea of how this makes us students feel? Don't speculate about things you know nothing about!
- Laura, London, England
Congratulations to all those who passed their exams. Don't take any notice to the comments made by the people here. They are old, bitter and twisted, and probably overweight too.
- David, London
I'm a teensy bit older than you An, but I do know what I'm talking about - I was in the last year to sit the old 'O' Level exams. In those days there were only 3 pass grades - A, B and C: only a handful of people in the country got A grades because, curiously enough, you had to get a very, very high score. It was widely felt that our exams were harshly marked so that the following year's new exam results would look better. But to add proof to it, the Daily Telegraph did an article a couple of years later which directly showed that the EXACT SAME QUESTIONS - same pictures, same wording - the whole package - that had been used for my 'O' Levels at 16 were now being used for 'A' Levels at 18. The big deal? I sat 9 exams at one sitting when I was 16, whereas most candidates sitting the same questions for 'A' Levels a few years later only had to sit 2 or 3. I guess their revision time must have been a lot easier than mine and I can only wonder what questions they had been asked in the GCSEs when they were 16: perhaps the same ones I sat at 11+ . . . ?
- An, London, France
It is wonderful that so many 'experts' on exams can post such responsible comments here.I wonder what they would say if the attainment levels were going down. Would that be the fault of the exams or the teachers?
In actual fact, real experts who monitor exams do not agree with the 'dumbing down' hypothesis and they actually understand the assessment process which is rather complex.
Perhaps future posters should not believe they know everything about exams just because they were candidates at one time. Leave it to people who know what they are talking about. Comments based on ignorance disrespect pupils and teachers.
- Maths Teacher, London
I think u tory's should just be congratulating those who have worked really hard and recieved the grades they deserve.
I'd like to see you go through 2 years of GCSEs before you pass judgement.
Stop complaining about something you know nothing about, its been fifty odd years since you were back at school, you have no idea how the education system works
- An, London
Andrew Nicholls of Ely - Before you start criticising the current crop of successful GCSE students - are you sure you know the difference between a Ltd and a Plc company? The answer is certainly not because one is publicly listed and the other private as you imply. All UK publicly listed companies are PLCs but not all PLCs are publicly listed - they could be privately owned.
If you have trouble understanding this basic bit of logic ask one of todays successful GCSE candidates to explain and then to help you get the the full story of what a Plc is online - something many would have done in the first place.
In the meantime stop being such a smug git - loads of these children have worked very hard to achieve these results!
- Ga - Proud Gcse Parent, Kingston
Please spare a thought for us "mature" students! I find out my Maths GCSE today - 20 years after doing it the first time around. I'm hoping for a "C" grade so I can take a career move forward.
- Sarah, Enfield
recently finished my A2's and going to university in september, i personally believe a great lack of respect, and a substantial amount of naivety is being shown by the older generations towards us students. most complain of the "easy" examinations, but, how many of you have actually seen the exam papers? moreover, how many of you could sit and pass them with an "easily" achievable A grade?! we shouldnt be ridiculing high grades, after all isn't that what we want to see? personally, it shows teaching standards have risen, and pupils are getting their heads down more-so than what people realise. had results plumitted this year, exam boards would be condemned for too harsh papers. teenagers targetted more-so by the media and labour blamed for the drop in teaching standards! what ever the outcome, negativity would over-shadow the positives.
- Louis, London
I believe the fact that everyone is saying they are being 'dumbed down' is just jealousy on the part of adults, i dont think they apprectiate kids are much harder working than they where back 'in the day' stopping giving the kids a hard time and start congratulating them instead!
- John, kingston
YAY, every one receives an A under our political corrrect educational system. Now your GSCE's mean nothing as they have been dumbed down to the point that anyone can get receive them.
- Dirk Diggler, Soho, London
At my school five years ago only 39% of pupils gained a C grade in Maths. Today 68% achieved that level.This progress required teaching staff to work harder and smarter and to use the excellent course and exam materials now available.We no longer have courseworks to complete and the papers are sat at the end of the course - exactly like the old GCE. There is no dumbing down and it's an insult to me and my colleagues to suggest it.
- Maths Teacher, London
Not many ecstatic students defending these 'exams' I note.All those A's and they still can't read.
- Steve, London
G.C.S.E I thought is stood for General Certificate of Stupid Education. Most of them cannot read and write English. So, how could they ever learn a foreign language. Most of them think that grammar is grandad's wife. Labour what a wonderful job you are doing.
- Never Eat Tuna Again, London
If you want proof of the dumbing down of education in the UK, then try asking todays graduates and 'A' level school leavers a few pertinent questions.
We have a Masters degree intern in our Office. He is mastering in International business no less but he didn't know the difference between a private (LTD)company and a (PUBLIC) Plc and (no word of a lie)actually believed that Euroland was a sovereign country !
- Andrew Nicholls, Ely ,England
I´m a grandfather who has had children and grandchildren of exam age. I´ve suggested that the standards are falling, hence the apparent increase in grades. Dumbing down, I think it´s called. What do other subscribers think?
- Graham Rodhouse, Helmond, Netherlands
I feel sorry for these pupils as it's not their fault, they can only sit the exam papers put in front of them.
However, they are suffering a huge disservice at being given what seem to be hugely overinflated grades - especially the brightest students who would actually earn A grades in more difficult exams anyway.
Almost nobody outside the education system and senior government has any respect or belief in these grades any more, and not even all of them as even universities are setting their own entrance exams now!
Surely that alone renders these GCSE & A-Level grades effectively worthless.
A 'record year' for grades should be a wonderful thing, but when it's one record year after another after another it's just a mockery.
Humans may very well be becoming more intelligent over the generations, but not year on year!
- John, London
How astonishing. And it will be just as amazing when next year's results are even better! We have a generation of prodigies, I tell you.
- Kevin T, Beckenham, Kent
Such a pity to see what has been done to the GCSE. It is so dilute as to have no guts. The atrocious level of English, maths and general knowledge amongst teens proves that the exams are entirely useless, an insult to the genuinely bright and a betrayal of everyone.
- Neil, London, London UK
A few correspondents on this site predicted this last week when the A Level results came out. I was disbelieving, I have to say. But, presto, the prediction has come true. Well done correspondents on your prescience. I am awed.
- Peace Maker, Battersea
Can anyone take these results seriously anymore!
There is no way results can go up every year.
In 10 years time we'll be a nation of brain surgeons at this rate.
Labour need to stop conning the public.
- Chris, Kent
These so-called record results are fooling nobody. When 11 year old are reported to be unable to ‘Read or Write’ correctly, and especially unable to do even basic mental arithmetic. NU labour you fool no one but yourselves.
The C.B.I. are constantly saying that those attempting to enter the work place are unable to carry out the above. That’s why you have to use migrant labour as they are better workers and more skilled than those in the UK.
Anyone can cut and paste using computers, take these computers away and then see what their true ability really is.
Signed Carl Barron Chairman of agpcuk
- Carl Barron, Christchurch, Dorset
Here we go again.Every year on GMTV we're subjected to 'live' scenes of spotty nerds opening their exam results only to gasp 'Gosh,all A's!!'Why are good results 'expected' suddenly?Proof enought that these exams are now easier than ever.Many of them passing subjects that aren't worth a carrot in the real world.
- Steve, London
"Bumper crop of GCSE results expected"
No, really? Who'd have thought it? What are we expecting this year 99.9999% of children get a pass mark? Funny how most of them can't punctuate or spell properly isn't it?
- Bob, Cheam
a GSCE...in my time a GCE...are currently worth absolutely nothing ! In France we are in the same mess. 62% of last years brilliant recipients did not make it to University or elsewhere and cannot even get a job (the standard being so useless. And in 1 months time the 2009 vintage is out on the dole also !
- Edouard, Toulouse. France
