A level results

Yes they are getting easier, just listen to what the Universities are saying - students needing remedial teaching, basics they should have learnt at school before they can start the degree course.

Good example for how much things have been dumbed down, is by looking at the maths sylabus. Calculus, an extremely important tool for many science degrees, used to be taught at GCSE level. I believe it now no longer appears in some A-level exams - an absolutely appaling state of affairs.

Originally Posted by neio79

Would you say now the way to stand out from the crowd in after degree employment is to have a Masters?? My mate reckoned that was the case to get the goos accountancy jobs.

I'm doing my Masters because that's the minimum accepted by my company...
And yeah, the starting salary is ridiculous. But we live in a world now where the executives are earning over 10 times the amount of the starting salary. That's a trend I'd like to see end.

Originally Posted by timwilky

It is not just A levels that are dumbed down. GCSE is no comparison to the O level. Many degrees are worthless and even the "traditional" ones have again been dumbed down.

I have my own thoughts on why this is the case. Most faults lie at the door of government using a continuing education system to remove a generation from the unemployed register. Therefore they look good. More educated workforce, less unemployed, but qualified to do nothing.

I feel sorry for the young who are forced into this system. They don't tell the 16 yr old wanting to do A levels in sports science and tourism that they are going to end up on reception and toilet cleaning at the local sports centre.

Traditional in what respect? The University you go to has as much of a difference as the course itself.
When I did my course at Uni, in my first year I was in all day, every day. A guy on an identical course at a Poly nearby was in for 4 hours a week. Both of us were earning the same degree, arguably, apparently to the 'same' standard. The difference in the work was like night and day.
I'd argue that the standard expected continues to rise for the best degrees in the best Unis to counteract this notion as the standard deteriorates elsewhere.

How being in Uni 2 hours a week, with a single exam after 3 years can 'qualify' you to do anything I don't know. But why bother with the more difficult degrees when you can get the same certification on an easy course, and the job prospects barely differ. Science students get paid pitiful salaries with little prospects only to be 'managed' by halfwits with media studies degrees on double their salaries.

Originally Posted by gettin2dizzy

How being in Uni 2 hours a week, with a single exam after 3 years can 'qualify' you to do anything I don't know. But why bother with the more difficult degrees when you can get the same certification on an easy course, and the job prospects barely differ. Science students get paid pitiful salaries with little prospects only to be 'managed' by halfwits with media studies degrees on double their salaries.

Hear hear, not something I'm looking forward to So maybe I'm thinking I'll get more R E S P E C T but then that's not very likely either

Originally Posted by Flamin_Squirrel

Yes they are getting easier, just listen to what the Universities are saying - students needing remedial teaching basics they should have learnt at school before they can start the degree course.

But ONLY on the worthless degrees. On any degree worth having you need to have this knowledge from day one.

Originally Posted by sarah

That sounds normal/reasonable. Prob wouldn't be on that amount for long though. Would be v short-sighted to choose your career/job on initial salary, it's the progression and prospects that really matter.

reasonable, wouldent get out of bed for that!!!
but yeah the wages would go up a bit then hit a lull for years untill promotion came about. he reckoned even in 5-10 years it wouldent be much more than 30K for some degree jobs.

Originally Posted by missyorkie_chris

. And yet despite my grades being rubbish I got a place without having to go through that Clearing business. I think the fact that I had attempted Biology, Physics, Maths and Chemistry (Physics dropped at AS) was enough and they were passes after all.

I rmemmber doing clearing. Even though i was doing my A levels i had started applying for the Trade i am in the Army. Come the results time i had secured a place so couldent really care about my results as did not need them.

Well opened them and got C, C, E . which actually gave me more points than most of my mates who had revised propely and needed good grades.

So for a laugh pgoned up Clearing and got a few offers. I actually concidered going to Uni to do Ecconomics instead of Joining up . I wonder how things would have panned out.

Originally Posted by neio79

reasonable, wouldent get out of bed for that!!!
but yeah the wages would go up a bit then hit a lull for years untill promotion came about. he reckoned even in 5-10 years it wouldent be much more than 30K for some degree jobs.

You'd be appalled in that case then

Originally Posted by neio79

reasonable, wouldent get out of bed for that!!!
but yeah the wages would go up a bit then hit a lull for years untill promotion came about. he reckoned even in 5-10 years it wouldent be much more than 30K for some degree jobs.

That doesn't sound unrealistic for 5 years.

knowing how hard my girlfriend has worked for her ASs I'd hardly call them worthless. It's quite demoralizing for a of of people who have worked hard to achieve their results to then hear people and the media say that they're easier, worthless or whatever.

[Biker Biggles]

Not sure if these have got easier or not as the whole system has changed so much as to make comparison very hard.What has changed is the numbers of students coming out with bits of paper that say "degree" or whatever qualification,and that ultimately devalues the qualification.Rightly or wrongly it used to be the case that only the top 5% got A levels and 2% got degrees and they were the elite.Now with policy saying 50% should go to university that level of education is no longer the elite level,but the norm.Its status and remuneration will suffer accordingly.