PC Format write about our visit

[Hairy]

Gahh! I started a discussion about maths.

Feel... so.... dirty.....

[martin]

On the topic of maths [pimp GCSE results] I got an A* in maths, dropping only 25 marks out of the 600 available in all 5 modules (that makes me the best at maths in my school then ) [/pimp]

[xander]

On the topic of maths [pimp GCSE results] I got an A* in maths, dropping only 25 marks out of the 600 available in all 5 modules (that makes me the best at maths in my school then ) [/pimp]

Oh, G-d! Something else for martin to pimp! Does anyone have a pin to pop that boy's ego?

xander

[NeoThermic]

Does anyone have a pin to pop that boy's ego?

Sure. Martin's results are clear proof that GCSE's are getting easier with time.

NeoThermic

[martin]

Does anyone have a pin to pop that boy's ego?

Sure. Martin's results are clear proof that GCSE's are getting easier with time.

NeoThermic

/crys

edit:: although looking at the GCSE results thread I still beat everyone else.

[xander]

/crys

edit:: although looking at the GCSE results thread I still beat everyone else.

Boy, I'll bet that makes you feel superior. I, on the other hand, get to feel superior because I own a house, have a job that I like (mostly), and am planning on getting married to a wonderful woman. So, enjoy those test scores. I have better things to do

xander

[Hairy]

Pfft. Once you start doing A-levels you begin to realise how pointless and easy GCSEs are.

Having said that, I failed A-level maths

[xander]

Pfft. Once you start doing A-levels you begin to realise how pointless and easy GCSEs are.

Having said that, I failed A-level maths

If I may ask, what are GCSEs? Does anyone have any idea how they would compare to the American system? Are they like college entrance exams (ACTs or SATs in the US)? Lower division finals? What?

xander

[estel]

GCSEs are the exams which are taken at the end of compulsory education at 16. On average people take 10 or 11 of them.
They can determine entrace to college (age 16-18 ), but College is designed to be pretty open access and you don't need great grades to get in at all.
At college (which lasts two years) you take A levels which determine whether you get your Uni course, which here lasts 3 or 4 years (latter for a masters).

Edit: How did this thread drift so! Stick back in the GCSE thread

[Babylon5]

At college (which lasts two years)

Not necessarily. Depends on which course you're taking.

[estel]

At college (which lasts two years)

Not necessarily. Depends on which course you're taking.

On average, and for the vast majority of people, it's two years. You could pick a bone with GCSEs being able to be taken voluntarily by anyone else, or the length of various degree courses (esp. open uni).

[Babylon5]

I know some law degrees can be up to 6 years.

[martin]

/crys

edit:: although looking at the GCSE results thread I still beat everyone else.

Boy, I'll bet that makes you feel superior. I, on the other hand, get to feel superior because I own a house, have a job that I like (mostly), and am planning on getting married to a wonderful woman. So, enjoy those test scores. I have better things to do

xander

well WD xander, I on the other hand am a little young to own a house or get married. ALthough I could get a job I get to feel superiour because I don't need one

And congratulations on the engagement.

[xander]

GCSEs are the exams which are taken at the end of compulsory education at 16. On average people take 10 or 11 of them.
They can determine entrace to college (age 16-18 ), but College is designed to be pretty open access and you don't need great grades to get in at all.
At college (which lasts two years) you take A levels which determine whether you get your Uni course, which here lasts 3 or 4 years (latter for a masters).

Edit: How did this thread drift so! Stick back in the GCSE thread

So they are basically high school exit exams?

And you make a distinction between "college" and "university". In the US, those two terms are pretty much interchangable. Most universities in the US are collections of colleges. For instance, UNR, where I went, is made up of the College of Fine Arts, the College of Sciences, the School of Mining, and several other colleges.

xander

[Babylon5]

So they are basically high school exit exams?

Pretty much, but they more often than not are used to enter a college/university.