GCSE Overhaul in England and Wales

[SummerRain]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-24759476

Changes are being made to GCSEs which include:
- A number instead of letter based grading system
- More marks for spelling, punctuation and grammar
- Less frequent exams, meaning subjects can be studied in more detail
- Less coursework

Personally I think less frequent exams and coursework is a good thing, at school I was definitely taught to pass exams - not taught subjects. We studied exam marking schemes and our lessons were very exam-focused. It wasn't an enjoyable way to learn.

 

[Clueless Git]

Another ten years on ...

- Letter based grading system replaced by 'smilie' based system.
- Correct placement of hash-tags and imaginative use of 'l33t-sp33k' replaces spelling, punctuation & grammar.
- Exams and coursework replaced by system of making a mark on paper and getting it correctly witnessed.

 

[SummerRain]

A smilie based system would be cruel to the kids who just got loads of: