GCSE exams are taken by pupils at the end of school year 11 in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. The exams are a uniform framework for academic performance, with students given grades ranging from “A to G.” Scotland has an independent system in which three different levels of exams are given to different age groups. Proponents argue that the GCSE encourages students to work hard in school and provides clarity for college admissions and employers. Opponents argue that standard end-of-year exams will encourage a narrow academic focus, over-regulate teachers and discourage instruction of the arts.
Statistics are shown for this demographic
Parish
Response rates from 578k UK voters.
61% Yes |
39% No |
61% Yes |
17% No |
22% No, vocational or skill based qualifications should also be available |
Trend of support over time for each answer from 578k UK voters.
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Trend of how important this issue is for 578k UK voters.
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Unique answers from UK voters whose views went beyond the provided options.
@8FC68665yrs5Y
No GCSE exams are not a good source of measuring education and qualifications.
@B5N86Z93mos3MO
Yes, but if students wish to focus on vocational and skills-based qualifications, only require maths, english, and Combined science (unless two or more science subjects are sat), as well as a coursework-based humanities subject.
@9MPZR7D 1yr1Y
Yes they should for basic, English, Maths, science, IT but also offer vocational/skill based qualifications.
@9MPC8VW1yr1Y
Yes, but the curriculum needs reworking and certain compulsory subjects such as English and Maths should not be part of it. We need maths in context to live life but we don’t need to force kids who are never going to understand numbers to do quadratic equations to get to where they want to be
@9MQ2YWG1yr1Y
No vocational skill qualifications should be available as long as they will be considered equivalent
@9PCPZPZ1yr1Y
Yes, GCSE exams should be required, but not for people with learning disabilities or people going to vocational schools.
@9MPWSXM1yr1Y
No I believe a GCSE does not prove a child’s intellectual ability. Basics of reading, writing and maths should be assessed.
@B6KNRDR3 days3D
Exams aren’t very good at actually showing one’s skills in a certain subject, especially when the student is deliberately put under stress - we should really be focusing on coursework & practical skill, ideally measured over the course of a school term.
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