There has been massive grade inflation in recent years, so 25% of students getting a 1st is the new normal.


When I was a student, the fees were paid by my local education authority.  If I wanted a good degree, I had to turn up for the lectures and pay attention.


These days, students have to pay for their own tuition.  If you are paying £27000 for a degree, then you want a good one, and a lower 2nd just isn't going to cut it.  So if you turn up for a couple of lectures and can spell your name right on the exam form, you'll get an upper 2nd.  If you actually bother to study, you'll get a 1st.  Any university that didn't do that would soon find it had no students.

There has been massive grade inflation in recent years, so 25% of students getting a 1st is the new normal.


When I was a student, the fees were paid by my local education authority.  If I wanted a good degree, I had to turn up for the lectures and pay attention.


These days, students have to pay for their own tuition.  If you are paying £27000 for a degree, then you want a good one, and a lower 2nd just isn't going to cut it.  So if you turn up for a couple of lectures and can spell your name right on the exam form, you'll get an upper 2nd.  If you actually bother to study, you'll get a 1st.  Any university that didn't do that would soon find it had no students.