Post-GCSE results: The Breakdown

I guess the 27th August 2009 was a very memorable day for many teenagers in the UK. It was a day for celebrating all the hard work that students put in. The UK government expects a minimum of 5 A*-C grades from 16 year-olds, although technically, any grades from A*-G is considered a pass.

There was (as I had predicted), an improvement on comparison to last year's results. It was reported that 21.6% of all exam papers were graded as an A*/A. This lead to media outlets speculating that the exams have gotten easier (once again). In my opinion, there is no such thing as an easy A*. What has happened is that both teachers and students have gotten to know the GCSE exams better and so much so that we are able to 'predict' exams just by looking at past questions. Also, as more emphasis is put on achieving ONLY the best, students and teachers feel pressurised to work and study harder.

Although there had been a rise on the national front, not many public schools are reporting improvements as had last year. Full results are yet to be released but schools such as King's School Canterbury are reporting less A*s than last year -"This year’s GCSE and IGCSE results were not quite last year’s bumper crop"- (Quoted here). However it is VERY important to remember that although results may have slipped, the actual results are still VERY impressive. For example, Tonbridge School may have slipped but it still has a very impressive 48% A*. The following is a list of well known schools that have either improved or achieved less A* grades:

PARTIAL ETON GROUP LIST
King's School Canterbury DOWN

Tonbridge School DOWN

Marlborough College DOWN

St. Pauls DOWN

Dulwich College UNKNOWN

Sherborne School UNKNOWN

University College School UP

Westminster School UNKNOWN

Eton College UNKNOWN

As many schools on the Eton Group refuse to submit their results on the non-compulsory league tables, I have made a league table of the schools listed above. However, it is very important that you understand that this could be inaccurate. It is only for your guidance only. As many schools have not yet released stats on their website, on some schools I have used past results and pre-existing expectations.

1. Westminster School

2. St. Pauls

3. Eton College

4. Tonbridge School

5. Dulwich College

6. King's School Canterbury

7. University College School

8. Sherbourne School

9. Marlborough College

not 100% accurate

However A-level results were on the rise (in general) this year in public schools. I predict that it will continue to rise in public schools next year as well however decline in 2011. We will have to wait and see!

Overall, this year has been a little disappointing for public schools. Although no-one can say that the public schools did badly at all. I guess public schools hit an all-time high last year at GCSE and will hit a peak next year for A-levels.

As for me, my grades only consisted of A*s and As, so I'm happy.

27th August is looming aka GCSE results day

Only a couple of days left now! For over 500000 students in the UK 27th August 2009 will be a very important day. It is the day that 8/9 years of compulsory education is summed up into some letters.

We can also expect the media to heavily criticise the hard work of the students as we get better grades. They just think that exams are getting easier and not that the teachers are teaching better or the students are working harder. nope not at all.

For example in the Daily Express today, there was an article that criticised the questions of some exams. The article quoted a question in a Chemistry exam paper:

Many people use recreational drugs.

Give one example of:
a) a legal recreation drug
b) an illegal recreational drug

Some recreational drugs are addictive
a) Give one example of a recreational drug that is very
addictive
b) Explain how the action of a drug makes a person become addicted to it.

Not all GCSE exams are like that. The article doesn't even state what of paper it was. It was probably the opening question in a foundation chemistry paper. The easiest possible question.

So, next time you read such an article don't believe all of it.

Work Experience: The Breakdown

At school, I was told I needed to do a week of Work Experience (WE) straight after I completed my all important GCSE exams. So around May I set about getting the WE.

I was too complacent and I left it a little too late so I didn't have that much of an option. I also asked my school to find one for me as well but they weren't too successful either. Well, they DID find something absolutely fantastic but it was the WRONG date! Just my luck...

I was interested in anything to do with business or professional so, I set about e-mailing many local Law firms, estate agents, advertisers, PR firms and so on. As I had left it a little late, many turned my down. I kept trying and success finally came with Century 21! If you do not know, Century 21 is an estate Agency franchise with over 8,400 offices in 57 countries worldwide with over 147,000 sales professionals. It is fairly new in the UK with 57 offices.

I had to be in the office at 9.30am and I could go around 4.30pm. At first, it was the usual filing and making tea and coffee but by the end of it, I learnt a great amount of the industry. I became familiarised with the whole process and how commission works and so on. Although I doubt if my future lies in real estate but the week has allowed be to learn alot about working in a new environment.

This just goes to show, it doesn't matter what you choose to do but the whole experience is beneficial in every way.

British Public School Academic Scholarship Exams Explained

What does the word 'Scholarship' mean to you? To earn a scholarship at UK's most prestigious schools is a significant achievement. Each school sets their own exams and therefore it is not standardised. Competition is fierce and only the very few will be awarded. The scholarship exam at many schools such as Eton College, Tonbridge School or Westminster School, is also a means of entering the school. If the candidate has performed well but not enough for a scholarship, a place at the school can be awarded. This will mean the student will not have to do the Common Entrance Examinations.

What does the Scholarship exam test? (at 13+)

Surprisingly scholarship exams have one thing in common. It does not test 'how much' the student knows but it tests 'how the student thinks'. Candidates must answer some very challenging questions. Prep schools DO prepare students for these exams but mainly on the technique side of things. The exams are based on the Common Entrance syllabus so a student will know the topics but there are questions that make one think.

Past papers are available on request from the schools concerned.

Exams are usually held in April/May and when the results are out, the school ranks successful scholars and the top scholar (1st) is also awarded with a higher bursary than others. Rankings also appear on newspapers as very famous schools' Scholarship exams are very significant.

Other students that were not awarded a Scholarship may be given a place at the school and the rest will need to go through the Common Entrance exams like others.

This is only the academic scholarship but many schools offer sport, art, music, drama and technology scholarships.

The Importance of GCSEs

So what is this exam that everyone is talking about?

You may be thinking that GCSEs do not matter as you need A-levels to go to university. If you thinking this, you are horribly wrong. In my opinion GCSEs matter just as much as A-levels. If you think about it, when you apply to universities, the admissions only have your A-level predictions, As-level results and your GCSEs. When you look at Oxford and Cambridge's website, they do not even mention the importance of GCSEs for candidates.

This is not written in stone but it is generally believed that if you come from a average/poor performing state-run school, you will be expected to have a majority of A grades. However if you attend a top public school, you WILL need to have a least 6 A*s. This is not a definite requirement but even schools will discourage you to apply if you do not have 6A*s. This is because universities KNOW that you have had an excellent education and yet if you cannot get good grades, this shows you cannot work to your full potential.

Other universities only require a candidate to have around 6 B grades. Many students make a mistake by not working hard enough for their GCSEs and then start to work very hard for A-levels. This would be too late to even consider top universities.

You have been warned!