Could you still pass your 11+, or GCE/GCSE/CSE examinations now?

[john luke]

Great-grandad, 73, passes his English GCSE exam

A great-grandad said he was "emotional" after successfully passing his English GCSE at the age of 73.

Danny Davey, from Ipswich, left school at 14 with no qualifications, and decades later wanted to go back to get his GCSEs.

After previously passing his maths GCSE, he took on English this year at Suffolk New College, and he said it was a challenge.

Mr Davey was hoping for a 4 – a pass – but was thrilled to find he had been awarded a 6.

"I left school at 14, I had no qualifications, and in 2016 I thought I ought to have one because I haven't got any," Mr Davey said.

"With work and bringing up a family you don't have time, so now I'm retired I've got time to come and do my English [GCSE].

"I got a 6 and I was really hoping to get a pass. A 4 would have made me very happy, so when I got a 6 I felt quite emotional."

The retired roofer said studying for the GCSE was hard but he loved doing it.

The exam itself was "nerve wracking", with the time limit adding extra pressure.

"All the plans that I had went out of the window – that's why I can't believe I got a 6," he said.

"I had everything planned about the story and the questions, and in both exams I had to leave a whole question because I didn't have time."

'Have a go'

His success was not Mr Davey's only recent achievement.

In the run-up to his exams, he and his classmates were asked, as homework, to write a short story which would be entered into a competition.

"My dog had been diagnosed with cancer and I was feeling very sad. We had her for 15 years," he said.

"That inspired me to write about her, but you don't know it's her until the end.

"I won my group, which I was really over the moon with, and then I won overall. I thought they had made a mistake. It was amazing."

Mr Davey, who now plans to see if he can study creative writing, encouraged anyone considering trying for GCSEs to take them on.

"Have a go. It doesn't matter whether you pass it or not," he said.

"Challenge yourself and, you never know, you might end up like me – totally surprised at what you're able to do.

 

[john luke]

The above article is copied from the BBC News Website.

I have been thinking of retaking GCSE exams; they were GCE O levels and A levels when I took them.  As far as passing I think I could pass English Language and Maths, however, for the subjects which require knowledge I doubt if I have retained the necessary information.  

[Lemondropkid]

If I had to take them today with no revision I'd be confident on Economics paper, the rest not so much. Would I remember my enough of the  Bible those Dominican nuns beat into us for the R.E paper 😀 

Good idea as a retiree to exercise the brain. I'm really enjoying learning a little Thai. Has definitely got parts of my brain working again that were laying dormant.

Good luck with it @john luke

Edited August 23 by Lemondropkid

[Yesitisdakid]

I have trouble passing a public bathroom without having to stop to piss

[Derek Dangleberries]

1 hour ago, john luke said:

I have been thinking of retaking GCSE exams; they were GCE O levels and A levels when I took them

This is the key!!!

GCE O levels were damned hard! 

Nowadays I am sure I could pass GCSEs in the following subjects with ease.. (Original O levels no way !)

- English Language

- English Literature (Once I've read the books of course .... and perhaps "Coles Notes")

- Home economics (Cooking !)

I could pass the following with one month self help revision on each subject for GCSE!

- Physics

- Maths

- French

- History

- Geography

- RE

As for subjects that need physical dexterity like Woodwork or Metalwork, I'd achieve A++ in the Reg Prentice Award Scheme !!!!

 

[john luke]

24 minutes ago, Derek Dangleberries said:

This is the key!!!

GCE O levels were damned hard! 

Nowadays I am sure I could pass GCSEs in the following subjects with ease.. (Original O levels no way !)

- English Language

- English Literature (Once I've read the books of course .... and perhaps "Coles Notes")

- Home economics (Cooking !)

I could pass the following with one month self help revision on each subject for GCSE!

- Physics

- Maths

- French

- History

- Geography

- RE

As for subjects that need physical dexterity like Woodwork or Metalwork, I'd achieve A++ in the Reg Prentice Award Scheme !!!!

 

For me Physics is a grey area; it was my favourite subject at school.  However History, Geography and RE, I would doubt with only one month revision.  

I wonder now if English Language is taken by students on a computer and if so what grammar and spell check assistance is allowed.  

[Lemondropkid]

42 minutes ago, Derek Dangleberries said:

GCE O levels were damned hard

I used to tutor overseas students in Economics to enable them to pass Economics at A Level and help them to cope with University studies.

Was fun finding challenging questions for them as they developed. Early on I was digging out the odd GCE O Level question from the early 1970s, and they were damned hard compared to the current equivalent at that time.

Was a real buzz having students at University telling me how easy they were finding it after what I had taught them. Had good students to work with for sure but being thanked I was to later discover was a rare thing in the work place.

 

Edited August 23 by Lemondropkid

[Glasseye]

1 hour ago, Derek Dangleberries said:

This is the key!!!

GCE O levels were damned hard! 

Nowadays I am sure I could pass GCSEs in the following subjects with ease.. (Original O levels no way !)

- English Language

- English Literature (Once I've read the books of course .... and perhaps "Coles Notes")

- Home economics (Cooking !)

I could pass the following with one month self help revision on each subject for GCSE!

- Physics

- Maths

- French

- History

- Geography

- RE

As for subjects that need physical dexterity like Woodwork or Metalwork, I'd achieve A++ in the Reg Prentice Award Scheme !!!!

 

 

I was gonna say DD would be the one to ask....   lol

 

I doubt I would pass any of it and probably have some kind of anxiety attack.

 

When I took the ATC exam for college entrance I got so pissed off with the math section that I just randomly penciled in the circles... I got a 4 on the math section....lol

Overall I ended up with a 19 which was pretty good considering the math score was 25 % of the exam.

[Derek Dangleberries]

1 hour ago, john luke said:

For me Physics is a grey area; it was my favourite subject at school.  However History, Geography and RE, I would doubt with only one month revision.

I enjoyed Physics too. We were taught the CSE curriculum but the teacher took extra classes at lunchtime to fit in with the GCE curriculum. I bloody loved it!!

The important thing to note is that for the Physics exam you didn't need to prove the equations mathematically .. you just needed to know them. That's where Banks' Flashcards came in. My sisters tested me over and over at night until I knew the content of every card.

It is true that we were taught how to pass an exam...We weren't taught the subject content to learn...

To pass a CSE I think you only needed a grade 5 or something like that to "pass" which is why I am so confident "passing" a GCSE .....

[Derek Dangleberries]

The only "O" Level I haven't mentioned is Technical Drawing which I got a low pass in. I was shit at it then and it'd be impossible nowadays with my alkie shaky hands !!

[Zambo]

My kids have PSLE (primary school leaving exam) in singapore. Similar to the old 11+ and i could pass english, math and science - chinese no. I was looking at secondary school math the other day and although the topics are familiar i think a lot of effort needed to achieve a good mark, passing would be a reasonable target.

[john luke]

1 hour ago, Derek Dangleberries said:

I enjoyed Physics too. We were taught the CSE curriculum but the teacher took extra classes at lunchtime to fit in with the GCE curriculum. I bloody loved it!!

The important thing to note is that for the Physics exam you didn't need to prove the equations mathematically .. you just needed to know them. That's where Banks' Flashcards came in. My sisters tested me over and over at night until I knew the content of every card.

It is true that we were taught how to pass an exam...We weren't taught the subject content to learn...

To pass a CSE I think you only needed a grade 5 or something like that to "pass" which is why I am so confident "passing" a GCSE .....

I can remember Boyles's Law, Charles's Law and the Ideal Gas Equation, by name but doubtful now how it was applied.  P1V1 divide by T1 = P2V2 divide by T2.  

I passed Technical Drawing although it was called Geometrical and Engineering Drawing in the Certificate.

[Glasseye]

3 hours ago, Derek Dangleberries said:

I enjoyed Physics too. We were taught the CSE curriculum but the teacher took extra classes at lunchtime to fit in with the GCE curriculum. I bloody loved it!!

The important thing to note is that for the Physics exam you didn't need to prove the equations mathematically .. you just needed to know them. That's where Banks' Flashcards came in. My sisters tested me over and over at night until I knew the content of every card.

It is true that we were taught how to pass an exam...We weren't taught the subject content to learn...

To pass a CSE I think you only needed a grade 5 or something like that to "pass" which is why I am so confident "passing" a GCSE .....

 

I barely got through chemistry, too much math. Physics ?  I almost had a stroke at the age of 14 when I opened the book.

[Painter]

Having taught for more years than I care to admit, I've seen many changes in the style and content of GCSEs. The content has, I fear, been dumbed down since I and you did our O and A levels, but so has the style and methods changed. As any parent about helping their offspring with Maths homework, and most will admit they are unable to help... The constant style and content change was one of the reasons I got out.

As for passing exams now.... I doubt I'd get a decent pass now in the subject I taught, let alone any other subject!

 

[Glasseye]

3 hours ago, Zambo said:

My kids have PSLE (primary school leaving exam) in singapore. Similar to the old 11+ and i could pass english, math and science - chinese no. I was looking at secondary school math the other day and although the topics are familiar i think a lot of effort needed to achieve a good mark, passing would be a reasonable target.

 

I hated my H.S. shop teacher (he was my best friends dad and a real prick). I was awful at drafting. 

[Butch]

My O levels were the Oxford board and effing difficult. Not helped by changing schools from a comprehensive to a Grammar in exam year!

I managed to get English lang and lit, French, Geography and chemistry.

I was very proud of getting French as I'd literally picked it up within a year, which in turn highlighted the flair I had for languages, even to this day I'm known in some circles as a cunning linguist.

My daughter got her results yesteday, managed to pass 7 out of 8 subjects with a 6 or above. Somewhat marred by the fact she managed to come home pissed after a party with her mate, and they're both 16.

I let the wife deal with that one. suffice it to say she won't be doing that again. Ever.

[galenkia]

16 hours ago, Yesitisdakid said:

I have trouble passing a public bathroom without having to stop to piss

I couldn’t pass an off license at one time.😀

But I never got to take exams, got kicked out of school at 14 for being a c**t, then at 16 went into the motor trade. Done alright for someone with little education. For me exams would have done nothing for me.

[Phantom51red]

18 minutes ago, galenkia said:

I couldn’t pass an off license at one time.😀

But I never got to take exams, got kicked out of school at 14 for being a c**t, then at 16 went into the motor trade. Done alright for someone with little education. For me exams would have done nothing for me.

Kinda same when i was supposed to be in school around that age,hardly there,to busy picking and eating magic mushrooms,or floggin crates o cider from the university and having a laugh.

Us gen x didnt give a feck eh,hell some of the swats as we d call them back them havent done well at all in their chosen careers.

Edited August 23 by Phantom51red

[galenkia]

6 minutes ago, Phantom51red said:

Kinda same when i was supposed to be in school around that age,hardly there,to busy picking and eating magic mushrooms,or floggin crates o cider from the university and having a laugh.

Us gen x didnt give a feck eh,hell some of the swats as we d call them back them havent done well at all in their chosen careers.

Come out of university owing 50k and can’t get a job in your chosen field due to lack of vacancies and too many applicants, so end up doing a dead end job like most people.

[coxyhog]

Being in aircraft maintenance I was taking exams up until my mid 50's.Every new aircraft course meant phase exams & a final.

But the worst was after we joined EASA when I had to become an aircraft electrician so had to take & pass 5 modules,one of which was the theory behind AC generation.It was all formulae & all had to be learnt as that was what the final exam was full of.There was 4 of us on the course,all contractors & self funded.Myself & another guy passed.That was 2004 & I was 51yo.Then when you're in the real world it means f**k all,it is never,ever used.

[Yesitisdakid]

3 hours ago, galenkia said:

I couldn’t pass an off license at one time.😀

But I never got to take exams, got kicked out of school at 14 for being a c**t, then at 16 went into the motor trade. Done alright for someone with little education. For me exams would have done nothing for me.

Never graduated high school

[Derek Dangleberries]

5 hours ago, galenkia said:

I couldn’t pass an off license at one time.😀

But I never got to take exams, got kicked out of school at 14 for being a c**t, then at 16 went into the motor trade. Done alright for someone with little education. For me exams would have done nothing for me.

Exactly the same as my eldest son mate. He is a now a confident and polite man that has employers seeking him for new jobs.

My youngest son went to Uni and has the same attributes with the same result..

[Pumpuynarak]

5 hours ago, galenkia said:

But I never got to take exams, got kicked out of school at 14 for being a c**t,

BINGO, me same same at 15 but from that moment onward i never made the same mistake again. Got a job as an apprentice Aircraft fitter on helicopters/Aero engines with the MOD (Navy) and passed my City and Guilds and Ordinary National Certificate with distinction and then when i was working in financial services i took the Financial Planning Certificates 1, 2 and 3 and passed with credits.

My headmaster when kicking me out of school said ''no doubt you would have achieved good results in your GCE's but your failure to comply with school rules means you won't get the chance'' lol

Big mistake which i was determined never to repeat.

I would like to think that i could do quite well at GCE's now providing i studied for them, which ain't never gonna happen lol

[Derek Dangleberries]

3 hours ago, coxyhog said:

Being in aircraft maintenance I was taking exams up until my mid 50's.Every new aircraft course meant phase exams & a final.

Goodness me the course transitioning from bi-plane to single wing must have been tough mate! .... 

Being serious for one minute though, when I was being trained in Swindon on 1G TACS equipment it was hands on learning in the classroom and mainly OJT.

When I went to Chicago for equipment manufactured there it was basically how to find the answers in manuals. Manuals that weren't available when you were on site working of course !!

[Glasseye]

5 minutes ago, Derek Dangleberries said:

Goodness me the course transitioning from bi-plane to single wing must have been tough mate! .... 

Being serious for one minute though, when I was being trained in Swindon on 1G TACS equipment it was hands on learning in the classroom and mainly OJT.

When I went to Chicago for equipment manufactured there it was basically how to find the answers in manuals. Manuals that weren't available when you were on site working of course !!

 

Did you do any of the hookers up on N. Sheridan Rd. ?     5555555555555555555 !