Latest exam question blunder

[Smethwickian]

"I have memories of Settle station and a visit to Malham Tarn in the Dales for a rivers investigation... the choice of location being for no apparent reason other than that the teachers fancied a visit!

Lucky you - sounds like a great day out. In my humanities degree many moons ago I did some geography modules and one of the tutors' apparent passions was the brick industry of the West Midlands. It seemed to crop up regularly as an example of all kinds. Anyone else fancy a coach trip touring various bleak industrial sites on the outskirts of Walsall?

 

[Crossover]

Errors on exam papers aren't just confined to GCSE and A-level exam papers.

At the University of Exeter, where I'm studying at the moment, there were several errors on this years exam papers. On one of the questions on the Contract Law paper, the words 'bought' and 'sold' were swapped and used incorrectly, and the invigilators didn't correct this until 40 minutes into the exam. On one of the Maths papers, one of the questions was apparently so difficult no-one could answer it. One of the Accounting papers gave incorrect figures in a question as well. Basically there were far more errors on exam papers this year than in previous years.

I've had problems with my uni too - the exam I had the other week had a multiple choice question listed with answers a, b, f and c...not sure how that happened but common sense prevailed on that and I just wrote the letter with the complete answer next to it to make it clear.

The same exam paper seemed to have one of the questions not completely finished - on that one, after analysing the information available, I, as well as a few of my friends as well, guessed what the rest of the question should be and answered based on that (another MCQ so was a one in 4 chance anyway)

 

[43021HST]

The worst exam paper for dithering around and not getting to the point is the 'preperation for working life' exam, it just involved asking common sense questions in business-speak.(For those of you not familiar with that particular exam, it involves mostly pointing out health and safety 'issues' and asking questions about office ergonomics.) It didnt have many questions about proper jobs.

I remember one science paper cocked up a question that was worth the majority of the marks in the paper by actually telling you the answers in the question.

 

[HST Power]

I remember one science paper cocked up a question that was worth the majority of the marks in the paper by actually telling you the answers in the question.

I had that when I did my Year 9 RS Exam. It was only for the first two parts of the paper (the third being an essay) but nobody noticed, and I still settled out with 92%.

 

[Mojo]

I had that when I did my Year 9 RS Exam. It was only for the first two parts of the paper (the third being an essay) but nobody noticed, and I still settled out with 92%.

What you didn't tell us is that the final question only accounted for 1% of the marks

 

[HST Power]

What you didn't tell us is that the final question only accounted for 1% of the marks

I still got an A in my RS A Level!

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

I still got an A in my RS A Level!

Did that stand for Agnostic?

 

[HST Power]

Did that stand for Agnostic?

I'm about 60% atheist and 40% agnostic at time to typing, and was probably about 90% atheist at the time of A Level, but as far as I can recall, I still picked up the A grade!

 

[LE Greys]

In exams where you are supposed to answer two out of six, it might be worth putting in a question made deliberately impossible, to test the candidates' elimination skills. And if any of them try to answer it, to see how close they get to a viable answer. Something like one of those papers where instruction 1 is "Please read carefully through the questions"
2-99 are difficult questions and 100 is "You do not have to answer any of these questions".

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

I'm about 60% atheist and 40% agnostic at time to typing, and was probably about 90% atheist at the time of A Level, but as far as I can recall, I still picked up the A grade!

Not only did you receive TOP marks in that examination, your latest posting on THIS particular thread makes you the TOP poster, with 25 postings on one subject.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

An oxbow lake is a U-shaped body of water formed when a wide meander from the main stem of a river is cut off to create a lake.

Another meaning is a lake formed by the continued narrowing of a meander-neck resulting in the eventual cut-through of the neck as two outer bends join. This results in the straightening of the river channel and the old meander bend becomes cut off, forming an ox-bow lake.

 

[Clip]

Im just impressed that the OP never even managed to get in what they were on about in their oiginal post.

 

[HST Power]

Not only did you receive TOP marks in that examination, your latest posting on THIS particular thread makes you the TOP poster, with 25 postings on one subject.

In three pages! hock:

Now that is ever so slightly embarrasing.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Many a time the University of Manchester have for light of a better term, screwed up the exam papers, twice on the side of the Mathematics Department for their service teaching, and twice on the part of two tutors each. Primeraly because the're researchers, not tutors. And have been pushed into teaching beacuse of budget cuts. Not to sound old, but they never had researchers teaching or MMath students teaching when it was UMIST.

What has happened to the large now-combined University at Manchester is in part the reason why there was so much disquiet there when intending redundancy details were leaked to the press, as an attempt to cut the running overheads. You have cited some examples in your posting.

All I can say is that I was pleased to have been studying Mathematics there in the early 1960's, when there were excellant professors to give you the best possible chance of obtaining a degree, which went automatically with the certainty of obtaining a good position in a career. Coupled with that, there were no worries about Student Loans and the like....all we had to worry about was the actual attendance at lectures and thesis preparation.

 

[43021HST]

What has happened to the large now-combined University at Manchester is in part the reason why there was so much disquiet there when intending redundancy details were leaked to the press, as an attempt to cut the running overheads. You have cited some examples in your posting.

All I can say is that I was pleased to have been studying Mathematics there in the early 1960's, when there were excellant professors to give you the best possible chance of obtaining a degree, which went automatically with the certainty of obtaining a good position in a career. Coupled with that, there were no worries about Student Loans and the like....all we had to worry about was the actual attendance at lectures and thesis preparation.

Go on tell us a few 'stories' about getting drunk at uni. You know the type, getting hand cuffed to a lampost stark naked all night etc.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Go on tell us a few 'stories' about getting drunk at uni. You know the type, getting hand cuffed to a lampost stark naked all night etc.

In the immortal words issued in "House of Cards":-

YOU MAY SAY AND THINK THAT, BUT I CAN'T POSSIBLY COMMENT

 

[HST Power]

Go on tell us a few 'stories' about getting drunk at uni. You know the type, getting hand cuffed to a lampost stark naked all night etc.

I never went to University, but one way or the other things start to go off the rails the second you become old enough to get within touching distance of the alcohol!

 

[passmore]

I find it amusing the OP's insinuation that these exam 'blunders' are somehow representative of the standards of modern education.

Whilst I find the education system of today far different then when I was at school, making mistakes was the one constant I can relate to and I hardly think these 'blunders' say a lot about our education standards.

 

[Hydro]

I find it amusing the OP's insinuation that these exam 'blunders' are somehow representative of the standards of modern education.

Whilst I find the education system of today far different then when I was at school, making mistakes was the one constant I can relate to and I hardly think these 'blunders' say a lot about our education standards.

I'd agree. I'd say it was more declining quality assurance rather than declining education. Not that I get the feeling that exams are a quality indicator of education levels anyway. Could anyone undergoing exams tell me if they feel that they're merely being taught to pass the exam? Or actually gaining any useful, inspiring knowledge that the mere receipt of encourages you to broaden your mind and fill it with questions, debate, facts, techniques and inspiration?

As this is an education based question, it must be aimed at those of all abilities so I'll rephrase thus:

Your teacher, Edna Krabappel from "The Simpsons", or Robin Williams in "Dead Poets Society"? Discuss. (12 marks)

 

[43021HST]

I'd agree. I'd say it was more declining quality assurance rather than declining education. Not that I get the feeling that exams are a quality indicator of education levels anyway. Could anyone undergoing exams tell me if they feel that they're merely being taught to pass the exam? Or actually gaining any useful, inspiring knowledge that the mere receipt of encourages you to broaden your mind and fill it with questions, debate, facts, techniques and inspiration?

As this is an education based question, it must be aimed at those of all abilities so I'll rephrase thus:

Your teacher, Edna Krabappel from "The Simpsons", or Robin Williams in "Dead Poets Society"? Discuss. (12 marks)

I have just finished all my exams, I think the general attitude was to just pass, teachers talked about exams, but they never talked about the real job situation. They would also talk about higher education but they never spoke about what you do after higher education.

I know someone who has A levels in this, PHDs in that, so guess what job shes doing; she works flexi hours at Dominos. I often wonder what will happen to a the majority of students when they leave university and college. They certainly wont have some high flying job for many years to go yet.
The teachers and tutors make you think that if go on to, University that you are guaranteed a brighter future than the rest of the rat race. Ha that really is Bull****.

 

[sprinterguy]

I have just finished all my exams, I think the general attitude was to just pass, teachers talked about exams, but they never talked about the real job situation. They would also talk about higher education but they never spoke about what you do after higher education.

I know someone who has A levels in this, PHDs in that, so guess what job shes doing; she works flexi hours at Dominos. I often wonder what will happen to a the majority of students when they leave university and college. They certainly wont have some high flying job for many years to go yet.
The teachers and tutors make you think that if go on to, University that you are guaranteed a brighter future than the rest of the rat race. Ha that really is Bull****.

Higher education does offer more opportunities to get into your preferred job sector though and gain more experience. Although it really is just luck of the draw as to how many people manage to do so.

 

[HST Power]

I know someone who has A levels in this, PHDs in that, so guess what job shes doing; she works flexi hours at Dominos. I often wonder what will happen to a the majority of students when they leave university and college.

True, they may have a while to wait before they can get to the big stage and actually implement the functions they learned in their degree, but in an age when unemployment is high and competition for jobs is fierce a degree makes a huge difference in the eyes of an employer in contrast to somebody who only has 'A Levels.' I know of HGV drivers who have degrees (I'm not a HGV driver, despite my avatar).

 

[yorksrob]

I have to say, in my day I'm sure all the A-Level papers used to be set by the Universities and I don't remember there being all of these problems. Wouldn't it be better to go back to this system. Let's face it, they could certainly do with the revenue !

 

[43021HST]

True, they may have a while to wait before they can get to the big stage and actually implement the functions they learned in their degree, but in an age when unemployment is high and competition for jobs is fierce a degree makes a huge difference in the eyes of an employer in contrast to somebody who only has 'A Levels.' I know of HGV drivers who have degrees (I'm not a HGV driver, despite my avatar).

I think with jobs a lot of the time, its not what you know, its who you know. Thats why managers are so incompetant.

 

[sprinterguy]

I think with jobs a lot of the time, its not what you know, its who you know. Thats why managers are so incompetant.

You’re very sceptical of the work sector.

I’m in my current job specifically because of what I know and what I’ve done before; maybe I’m just lucky, but I hope that this will continue to be the case in the majority of any jobs I have in the future. I have also been fortunate enough in the past to get into a job because of who I know, but again, they wouldn’t have taken me on the strengths of my contacts alone if I didn’t already have some relevant experience.

Trying to make the leap from being out of work to getting into a job is an awful situation though, and a process that I’m going to have to repeat in the not too distant future.

 

[LE Greys]

You’re very sceptical of the work sector.

I’m in my current job specifically because of what I know and what I’ve done before; maybe I’m just lucky, but I hope that this will continue to be the case in the majority of any jobs I have in the future. I have also been fortunate enough in the past to get into a job because of who I know, but again, they wouldn’t have taken me on the strengths of my contacts alone if I didn’t already have some relevant experience.

Trying to make the leap from being out of work to getting into a job is an awful situation though, and a process that I’m going to have to repeat in the not too distant future.

You're luckier than I am. I graduated at a time when nobody was being hired in my area (zoology) with less than a Masters', and usually a PhD. Junior research assistants were simply not required. Those who had more sense than I stayed on, whereas I spent a year on the dole, went back, failed, another year on the dole and now I'm going back again. I'm hoping that there will be a funded PhD at the end of it, or at least a worthwhile job. Lack of connections does not help (neither parent has anything to do with the scientific community).

 

[Hydro]

Higher education does offer more opportunities to get into your preferred job sector though and gain more experience.

I'm doing things in the reverse order. I'm working in my preferred job sector and I've got an opportunity to go to University next year to do some more Engineering because I already do the job. It's block release studying alongside my current job, 2 weeks at Uni every so often, use the day job to complete case studies and papers and I keep my current salary level. It's basically going to uni and getting some higher qualifications whilst already having the job, getting into no debt at all, and in fact making a bit of profit out of it. The best part is, I've already done a lot of what the course I'll do is asking of me. I've already studied a lot of it, and more importantly, I've actually done most of it.

The career opportunities will then broaden, because any profession (engineering, law, medicine etc) does need pieces of paper saying "I STUDIED THIS AND GOT THIS IN IT" to advance. In the words of Phoenix Night's Paddy, that'll dink-dank-do for me.

 

[sprinterguy]

I'm doing things in the reverse order. I'm working in my preferred job sector and I've got an opportunity to go to University next year to do some more Engineering because I already do the job. It's block release studying alongside my current job, 2 weeks at Uni every so often, use the day job to complete case studies and papers and I keep my current salary level. It's basically going to uni and getting some higher qualifications whilst already having the job, getting into no debt at all, and in fact making a bit of profit out of it. The best part is, I've already done a lot of what the course I'll do is asking of me. I've already studied a lot of it, and more importantly, I've actually done most of it.

The career opportunities will then broaden, because any profession (engineering, law, medicine etc) does need pieces of paper saying "I STUDIED THIS AND GOT THIS IN IT" to advance. In the words of Phoenix Night's Paddy, that'll dink-dank-do for me.

Yeah you’re doing it the same way as someone I know from my time at National Express; having the job first and then gaining a degree whilst working. You have the benefit of already knowing how the theory applies in practice which I always find makes things considerably easier to understand.

It definitely makes sense from a financial viewpoint and you already have the job security without having to worry about what on Earth is going to happen when you get spat out of the end of the education system with a degree but no guarantee of any kind of job! LE Greys is an unfortunate example of this, and I'll have to bite the bullet when I graduate next summer as well.

I would think that it would take a greater mental dexterity and dedication though, trying to balance out the day job and university studies at the same time. Although that said, I've spent a lot of time working in transport throughout the course of my degree programme, full time around my studies.

It’ll be the approach I take if I decide to do a masters at some point in the future as well.

 

[HST Power]

I think with jobs a lot of the time, its not what you know, its who you know. Thats why managers are so incompetant.

100% agree. I would never have made it in my current job if I hadn't spent 90% of my spare time as a teenager out on the campaign trail with the Conservatives. Had I not done such thing I'd probably have applied for train or lorry driving.

 

[Hydro]

I hadn't spent 90% of my spare time as a teenager out on the campaign trail with the Conservatives.

I nearly said that you would have been better spending that time as a teenager screwing everything that moved, but then I saw that you spent time with the Conservatives.


(Arf arf!)

 

[HST Power]

I nearly said that you would have been better spending that time as a teenager screwing everything that moved, but then I saw that you spent time with the Conservatives.

Oh dear.

:roll:

Only joking, that did make me smile!