New UK Study Culture
November 29 2001
Almost two-thirds of UK parents believe exams grades have improved in the last decade due to the fact that students now work harder. This is the main finding from a new Edexcel report just released on "Perceptions of the Examination System" using exclusive MORI research.
The report outlines how frustrated parents and teachers think the real level of academic achievement by young people in schools and colleges is being overlooked. This may well be due to claims in the media that good pass rates are the result of easier exams not hard work. Many students say such claims make them feel annoyed, disappointed, worried and even inferior.
In fact, far from sailing easily through "dumbed down" exams, most students admit to feeling nervous, anxious or panicked whilst preparing for exams, and new research from the examination awarding body, indicates many may not be telling their parents of the emotional and physical strains of revision.
In detail, the key findings from the Edexcel research include:
- Half of parents (51%) and three in five teachers (59%) feel "the media does not recognise students' achievements at exam results time."
- Two-thirds (66%) of AS level students think they earn respect from peers by working hard at school, rising to seven in 10 (71%) A2 level students.
- More than four in five (84%) parents have "a great deal" or "a fair amount" of confidence in the exam system - more than those who have confidence in the armed forces (81%), the police (77%) and the legal system (60%).
- More than nine in 10 parents (96%) attribute good exam results to good teaching, and almost as many (93%) credit students' hard work.
- The number of students who "felt nervous, panicked, anxious or tearful" while revising for exams was three in five (62%) GCSE students, rising to two-thirds (66%) of AS level and A2 level students.
- Among parents, just over half (52%) say they noticed their child was "nervous, panicked, anxious or tearful" whilst revising, and about the same amount (50%) noticed their child getting less sleep.
- One thing parents and students agree on is that revision makes students "moody and irritable".
Fiona Johnson, senior research executive at the MORI Social Research Institute, noted "Our findings indicate high levels of confidence in the exam system amongst its key stakeholders - teachers, students and their parents. Motivated young people are working hard - probably, in fact, harder than ever - and our respondents strongly believe that it's this, rather than any "dumbing down", which accounts for their success."
John Kerr, chief executive of Edexcel, added "This poll confirms what many of us in the education sector already believe: that our students are working harder than ever and they think it's good to work hard. This is one of the most extensive studies of its kind of students, teachers and parents. Commitment to qualifications across all these groups is extremely encouraging."
MORI conducted the research in two stages between February and August 2001. The survey was put to five different educational audiences: 501 GCSE students; 506 AS level students; 491 A level students; 500 parents of GCSE, AS and A level students; 550 teachers of GCSE, AS and A level courses.
All articles 2006-22 written and edited by Mel Crowther and/or Nick Thomas unless otherwise stated.
