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What is wrong with all examination?

Arran Cameron
During my secondary school years every GCSE subject had a coursework component. In 2007 coursework was dropped from maths making it all examination. In more recent years other subjects have gone all examination.


I strongly uphold the main GCSE subjects (English, maths, science, probably geography, history and RS as well) as all examination with no coursework, as I believe it to be the fairest method overall, although coursework components should continue for creative subjects including art, music, and D&T.


Whenever I state my view I get accused of being another Michael Gove.


I am aware that the Lib-Dems and the Green Party want to re-instate coursework for ALL GCSE subjects. Is this intelligent thought or just a whim of a liberal chattering class without any regard for students themselves or the desires of the silent majority?
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    I was in one of the last years to do 'O' levels and thought that the introduction of GCSEs was a good thing because of the inclusion of the coursework within the overall mark. Some of my classmates would get A's and A+'s for their coursework throughout the year but fail miserably in exams because of the added pressure of 'performing' for those 2/3hours of examination time. 


    I think the problem with being assesesed purely on how you perform during that time is the fact that there can be so many other things going on at that particular time and day that can reduce your performance. For example, during one of my O level exams, the person sitting behind me had hayfever and was continually sniffing for 2.5 hours, the invigilator would not get a tissue for them either.... If you've been on a train journey with a 'sniffer' I'm sure you can appreciate how irritating that is.... One of my classmates had just lost her grandmother too so her focus wasn't exactly on exams at the time and that showed in her final results, even though she was a straight A student throughout the previous years. 


    So, personally, I have always thought that it's a good idea to include coursework within the overall appraisal of how a student performs at the end of their time at school.
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  • 0
    I was in one of the last years to do 'O' levels and thought that the introduction of GCSEs was a good thing because of the inclusion of the coursework within the overall mark. Some of my classmates would get A's and A+'s for their coursework throughout the year but fail miserably in exams because of the added pressure of 'performing' for those 2/3hours of examination time. 


    I think the problem with being assesesed purely on how you perform during that time is the fact that there can be so many other things going on at that particular time and day that can reduce your performance. For example, during one of my O level exams, the person sitting behind me had hayfever and was continually sniffing for 2.5 hours, the invigilator would not get a tissue for them either.... If you've been on a train journey with a 'sniffer' I'm sure you can appreciate how irritating that is.... One of my classmates had just lost her grandmother too so her focus wasn't exactly on exams at the time and that showed in her final results, even though she was a straight A student throughout the previous years. 


    So, personally, I have always thought that it's a good idea to include coursework within the overall appraisal of how a student performs at the end of their time at school.
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