Exams grades

[Cadiz Seagull]

In my day, very early 60's, it was very straight forward. 45% or more got you a GCE. Anything less got you nothing except possibly a bollocking for your parents.

This was at O level, I never went on to A levels as I left school at 16 and went to Westminster Hotel College. One of my better decisions, if I'd stayed and taken A levels I'd still have gone on to WHC. Leaving after O levels put me two years ahead of most others who took A levels before going to college.

 

[Thunder Bolt]

I thought maybe in your day it would have been 1-9 with 1-6 being passes...'in my day' it was A-E with A-C being passes...these were only introduced in 1975...you sure you weren't on the former?

Sorry I wasnt very clear the assessment was 1-9 but I converted that to what I thought was modern day terminology of A - B . I should stick with the old format.

It was definitely 1-8. I know, because I fainted during my biology O level and didn't complete it. I got grade 8, which was the lowest.

 

[LamieRobertson]

For O level I assume, because for A level D and E were even acceptable for universities.

Yep....i just remember going to a few interviews with my 'O's and being told sorry son those don't count....but i had 5 legit ones which in those days was ok

 

[Thunder Bolt]

Yep....i just remember going to a few interviews with my 'O's and being told sorry son those don't count....but i had 5 legit ones which in those days was ok

Yes, 5 O levels were the pathway to a lot of careers. Civil Service, State Registered Nurse, Officer in the forces, etc. English and Maths had to be 2 of the 5.

 

[LamieRobertson]

It was definitely 1-8. I know, because I fainted during my biology O level and didn't complete it. I got grade 8, which was the lowest.

I just googled it and it said 1-9...not necessarily the most reliable source
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GCE_Ordinary_Level_(United_Kingdom)

 

[Joey Jo Jo Jr. Shabadoo]

Correct.....but i remember employers not seeing D and E as passes

C has always been considered a pass, and 4 C grades and above have been needed for going on to study A Level. There is also a mandatory resit (either already introduced or about to be introduced) for English and Maths if you fail to get a C/4 grade.

 

[marlowe]

The letter grades only came in at 1975 ..not sure how BG got them

 

[Thunder Bolt]

I just googled it and it said 1-9...not necessarily the most reliable source
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GCE_Ordinary_Level_(United_Kingdom)

Maybe I got a mark for getting my name right!! It was all a blur that day.

 

[Triggaaar]

Yep....i just remember going to a few interviews with my 'O's and being told sorry son those don't count

****ing ****s! Sorry you had to deal with that shit without social media to console you babe. Who the **** do they think they are, telling you your qualifications don't count?

....but i had 5 legit ones which in those days was ok

Phew.

 

[Triggaaar]

In my day, very early 60's, it was very straight forward. 45% or more got you a GCE. Anything less got you nothing except possibly a bollocking for your parents.

You took a bollocking home to give to your parents?

 

[Triggaaar]

View attachment 88515

I already had that imagine in my mind.

 

[Triggaaar]

Maybe I got a mark for getting my name right!! It was all a blur that day.

Maybe you didn't faint until a few minutes in

Did you do O levels, post '65?

 

[carteater]

A*-C was considered a pass.

D-G was considered a not very good pass

U was complete failure.

A level

E is the pass grade, but C and above is considered good.

I don't like the new numbered system, there was nothing wrong with it before.

 

[Thunder Bolt]

I just googled it and it said 1-9...not necessarily the most reliable source
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GCE_Ordinary_Level_(United_Kingdom)

That's quite an interesting read, because the example given was the JMB (Joint Matriculation Board).

The O-Level syllabi, examinations and awards were made by 9 independent boards: Associated Examining Board, Durham University Examinations Board (dissolved 1964), Joint Matriculation Board, Oxford and Cambridge, Oxford, Southern, Cambridge, London, and Welsh Joint Education Committee.

Before 1975, each exam board had its own grading system (some used letters, others numbers), with grades only given to schools and not recorded on students' certificates

The latter part is true, because it only lists the subjects on my O level certificate, not the grade.

 

[Thunder Bolt]

Maybe you didn't faint until a few minutes in

Did you do O levels, post '65?

No, it was 1964. There, now you know my age

 

[LamieRobertson]

Maybe you didn't faint until a few minutes in

Did you do O levels, post '65?

I remember throwing up before every exam...hated them!!

 

[marlowe]

I already had that imagine in my mind.

Without even having ever seen BG you just know it bears an uncanny likeness (even in 1975).

 

[Gazwag]

All this whinging "its too hard" "its so unfair we have one exam now" well tough, that's how most of today's workforce had to do it

 

[Gwylan]

In my day everybody needed A & B to pass what is the criteria now.

It's "What is the criterion now"? That's an English fail

 

[The Oldman]

Took my O levels @ HCGS for boys in 1958. 45% was the pass mark. Got 5 of the blighters, including Maths, much to everyone's surprise