Why I’m glad I’m not sitting exams in OD

  • Aug. 16, 2003, midnight
  • |
  • Public

This week saw school pupils receive their A Level and Higher exam results. In Scotland the amount of students passing their Highers is down slightly from last year.

In England the results go the other way. Less than 1% of A Level pupils failed their exams.

Reason to celebrate there you would think. You would be wrong.

Newspapers are full of stories about how A Levels have been ‘dumbed down’. About how they are easier than before. Even about how they have become meaningless.

Ten years ago I received the results of my Standard Grade exams (the only exams I sat at school). Back then how well I did in my exams was a reflection of nothing but how much work I had put in. (I’m 25. I’m a bit too young to want to do the whole “I remember when” thing. But I have to.)

But nowadays, pupils are damned if they do and damned if they don’t. If they do badly in their exams, it’ll be suggested that they did not put in the work. But if they do well, it’s not because they worked for it. It is because the A Levels have gotten easier.

And people wonder why Britain’s youth is apathetic. What do they expect when they are told things like that?

Imagine an 18-year-old girl. For the past two years she has studied hard, handed in assignments on time and of high quality. Revised for her exams. She then gets her results. A’s and B’s.

But she is being told that this is due to how easy the exams are nowadays. No respect for the fact that she did put the work in, did hand in her assignments, did revise for her exams.

But because it is easier.

How is she supposed to feel about this?

So, to all who received their results this week. I hope you got the results you expected and deserve. And if you did, I hope you are going out for a few drinks this weekend to celebrate. You’ve earned it.

And to the naysayers, shut it. Now.

Will


Last updated February 14, 2026


Loading comments...

You must be logged in to comment. Please sign in or join Prosebox to leave a comment.