Er, relative to loads of things/factors. The rise in the number of higher education places, the rise in the standard of education demanded by employers, the standard of education offered by the private and state sectors etc. I could go on all day because there's so much involved when you look at it in the broadest sense.

The proportion of A grades awarded has increased from 12% in 1990 to 25.3% last year and probably higher this year. Statistics like this make me question what is going on because it's a dramtic increase in the proportion of A grades and no mistake.

Well, anyway, many congratulations to Miss Tickhill and other bunkerites who got the grades.

I agree with the people who're saying that the exams might not, generally, be easier..but I do think some courses aren't as good as the old A-levels in the sense that they don't cover as much stuff. For instance, by the time I was my daughter's age I'd done a vast range of fiction, drama and poetry in English lessons. That's what 'doing English' means, as far as I'm concerned. It's quite common now to spend more than a single term studying ONE novel, with the result that the pupils have nothing like the breadth of knowledge in the subject we had. (And then of course, they're examined on that one novel, and coached to look at specific themes rather than how to develop their own response)
Again, in history, whole eras are just missed out, and specific topics offered at random...the French Revolution, say, or slavery or 'women', and no attempt is made to present a coherent picture of history.
This is one reason why, as I said, universities have to bring students up to speed when they start degrees....they simply haven't covered the required ground and therefore can't move onto the next level straight away. Apparently this is true of maths and sciences as well.

That is correct and you are right to question. However you need to ask all parts of the question. One part that a lot of people leave out is the one about increasing standards, both in teaching and the ability of students. When you see second after second being cut off the Olympic times every four years do you question the clocks or the timekeepers? Or do you accept that every newcomer to the scene wants to do better than the last guy? Cheating has to be taken into account in this area as it does in exams. Also there is more pressure to do well. It's called progress and it is relentless. What we are actually saying here is that the kids of today aren't as academically sound as we were. What a load of bollocks that theory is. They are light years in front of where we were and there are more of them. As our lass pointed out, it has a lot to do with opportunity. In my day only the elite or the well off went to Uni. Let's go back to that eh???

Just for the avoidance of doubt like, can I say sincere congratulations to all the Bunkerites/children of Bunkerites who've passed their A levels. I'm not trying to rain on their parade in any way and I'm sure they've worked hard to get the results, but I do honestly question the way the whole thing is going and the standards that are being applied. But that is in no way the fault of the young exam takers.

Katy (Miss Tickhill) thanks you very much for your kind words.
She did history at A level as well, although it is not part of her three A's.
The course was split into four sections namely Britain 1895-1956, European 1848-1956, the Holocaust and Ireland 1895-1922. Other historical periods were covered prior to A level. She points out that there are two main options when studying history, one which skims over the whole of history and one where an in depth analysis and understanding of specific periods of history. There is of course a third option relating to your example of women. It is possible to track the journey of women through the ages. It depends which option is chosen. History is too vast a subject to cover it all, even when only skimming and that is usually dominated by dates or wars etc.
In Maths she covered up to pure core four, mechanics and statistics. I am told this has always been the case. Her Mother did Maths A level in the late seventies and she will tell you that what was expected of Katy and her peers was well in excess of her experiences. Core mathematics has been in the A level syllabus for thirty years or more.
In fact Katy 'practised' on Maths papers from the eighties and never got less than an A on any of them. Therefore she has experience of doing both. Her opinion is that nowadays the subject is wider but much of a muchness with regard to difficulty.

At the risk of being a bit provocative Mr Tickhill, are you suggesting that A levels have actually got harder (what you said about Maths)?

Anyway, you are quite rightly delighted by your daughter's success and you should enjoy it without malcontents like me chuntering on!

I suppose I went a bit off-subject about history....obviously people can't study the whole of history at A-Level, but the bits and pieces approach is adopted for school history as a whole. My daughter did study several periods before 6th form, but they weren't linked. She did Tudors several times, for example, and the French and Russian revolutions more than once too.
That's no use to an historian or someone wanting to become one.
But Katy's experience does sound a bit different from ours in other ways. Does she perhaps go to an independent school?

Poolie in east london..............No mate I'm not. As I said my daughter is the only person I know who has sat this years exam and actual papers from twenty or so years ago. She got an A in this years paper and an A in the exams of yesteryear. Her opinion is that there is more width to the modern paper, simply because she thinks more is covered but the difficulty is much of a muchness.
In my opinion you need to sit these papers to be able to judge any differences. Just to say it has got easier or harder is just not good enough.
I'll repeat what I said earlier. Katy's head of Maths told me this morning that this year's paper was one of the hardest he'd seen in 23 years of teaching A level maths.
What I do know is the effort she has put in.
Her record for the record ( no pun intended)
GCSE
5 A Stars
4 A's
2 B's
A level
A in maths
A in economics
A in Geography
B in R E
B in General studies
C in history
Now I know there are some kids who can just turn up at exams and get reasonable results without appearing to try. Hasn't that always been the case? However all I can say is the amount of dedicated effort that her and her mates have put into this.
The best and only way to judge how easy these subjects are is to have a go.
I used to be cynical but I have changed my opinion over the last two years, which is why I am prepared to argue the subject.
Oh and just to put the icing on the cake, one of her friends, who is going to take a Maths degree, has just phoned to say she has passed her driving test. What a day it has been for her.

An independent school!!! Grabec - wash your mouth out!

Katy goes to a normal comprehensive.

She was over the moon to get into Newcastle as it means she can go to Pools. I have no doubt she will make an honest attempt to drag a few to the match with her. It is great for her mum and me as we will get to see her more, when Pools are at home.
Good result all round. Very happy and extremely proud. She was born in Donny but is a Pools season ticket holder. I have done something right. I also converted our lass, who is from Liverpool.
EEEEEEEEEEE it's great to be a Poolie.

OK

But my impression of modern schooling is much different from yours...possibly because I am familiar with different subjects. I can't speak for maths or sciences except that I have to repeat that universities say they often have to give additional coaching in these subjects to first-years.
But I do know there are definite holes in English and history syllabi at school level, compared with 'my day'. It's as if an all-round knowledge of history and English is no longer the aim

Mrs R did law at Newcastle Mr & Mrs Tick, so if I say that it must be easy I'll get knacked when I get home.

Good luck to your daughter with the course and well done on getting into her first choice Uni (which coincidentally Mrs R claims is the best law school in the country).

Cheers mate, much appreciated. One or two lawyers have said as much about Newcastle Law School. Katy and I visited the place earlier this year and she was well impressed, as was I.
She can see Pools as well as visit the town for a few Sunday Dinners!!!!!

Thats Bresslaw's niece in The Mail tonight with 5 A's, well done Beki, proud as punch of you !!!!!

The only thing higher than the A level pass rate is the certainty of death when an airliner loses all power at 40,000 feet and dives vertically into granite ...they quote the 'pass' as being down to E grade, when everyone knows anything below a C is binned by employers...... cue photoshoot of pretty people leaping about clutching their results slip......

Very true, but is that the question or even the answer. More relevant to the discussion would be your report as to whether the plane hurtles to its fate easier today or would it have been easier twenty years ago.
I await your 'photoshoot evidence' as to which event would be the easier.

Anyone attending the "Big Match" on Sunday are welcome to congratulate Jonny on his 3 B's confirmed today. He went out to celebrate this morning, I haven't seen him yet to congratulate him in person myself. Hopefully he will sober up in time for kick off.