GCSE's
- BiggestNizzy
- Posts: 8932
- Joined: Sun May 27, 2007 6:47 pm
- Location: Kilmarnock
- Contact:
GCSE's
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-23779549
7 out of 7, the last one took a bit of thinking but then I did my standard grades 21 years ago.
Even back then I thought they were dumbing down from the 'o' level
7 out of 7, the last one took a bit of thinking but then I did my standard grades 21 years ago.
Even back then I thought they were dumbing down from the 'o' level
Sent from my ZX SPECTRUM +2A
Re: GCSE's
Good to see the examination boards keeping their finger on the pulse with a VAT rate that is years out of date
7/7

7/7

Re: GCSE's
These questions are not from exam boards - they are from BBC Bitesize.
They never test knowledge of current rates, etc., and any percentage rate like that would always be given in the question, so it doesn't really matter what percentage they use.
I've probably done every SQA Maths Standard, Intermediate 2, Higher and Advanced Higher past paper over the years my children have been at school, and generally I find the questions are quite good. I think this year's mathematics higher did have a duff question on it (a cubic that didn't factorize beyond a quadratic, which was confusing because normally you are expecting to factorize down to single powers) - that does cause problems because people waste a lot of time looking for an answer that's not there and thus run out of time to complete the paper. I am pretty sure we've had other incidents of that over the years.
My kids have finished maths, now, so apart from a bit of tutoring I am out of the loop at last!
Still got 7/7, though
Cheers,
Robin
They never test knowledge of current rates, etc., and any percentage rate like that would always be given in the question, so it doesn't really matter what percentage they use.
I've probably done every SQA Maths Standard, Intermediate 2, Higher and Advanced Higher past paper over the years my children have been at school, and generally I find the questions are quite good. I think this year's mathematics higher did have a duff question on it (a cubic that didn't factorize beyond a quadratic, which was confusing because normally you are expecting to factorize down to single powers) - that does cause problems because people waste a lot of time looking for an answer that's not there and thus run out of time to complete the paper. I am pretty sure we've had other incidents of that over the years.
My kids have finished maths, now, so apart from a bit of tutoring I am out of the loop at last!
Still got 7/7, though

Cheers,
Robin
I is in your loomz nibblin ur wirez
#bemoretut
#bemoretut
Re: GCSE's
7/7, but had to guess the last one.
tut
ps:- does that mean my maths is as good as Robin's?
pss:- they should put up a physics question to see if I can improve on my 5% at A Level.
tut
ps:- does that mean my maths is as good as Robin's?

pss:- they should put up a physics question to see if I can improve on my 5% at A Level.
Re: GCSE's
7/7 in maths.
Less good (or should that be fewer good) in history and science.... (a 3 and a 2!)
Less good (or should that be fewer good) in history and science.... (a 3 and a 2!)
'99 - '03 Titanium S1 111S.
'03 - '10 Starlight Black S2 111S
'11 - '17 S2 135R
'17 - '19 S2 Exige S+
'23 - ?? Evora
'03 - '10 Starlight Black S2 111S
'11 - '17 S2 135R
'17 - '19 S2 Exige S+
'23 - ?? Evora
Re: GCSE's
I reversed your trend Pete, 3/7 for Maths, 7&6 in History and Science. Apart from the History it reflects the results I got in the exams at school. History I hated an failed miserably but think that was down to teaching methods 

2015 Lotus Evora
2022 Polestar 2 LRSM Plus
2023 Skoda Kodiaq Sportline
2022 Polestar 2 LRSM Plus
2023 Skoda Kodiaq Sportline
Re: GCSE's
No.tut wrote:7/7, but had to guess the last one.
tut
ps:- does that mean my maths is as good as Robin's?![]()
You can test your fisics knowledge in the same style one topic at a time by clicking here:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/standard/physics/
Then choose a topic and press the "test" button in the right most column.
MTFBWY
Cheers,
Robin
I is in your loomz nibblin ur wirez
#bemoretut
#bemoretut
Re: GCSE's
7.
What is the speed of TV waves as they travel to a geostationary satellite?
340 m/s
2x108 m/s
2x108 m/s
Not very clever as the correct answer is 3x108 m/s (will not accept to the power of
tut
What is the speed of TV waves as they travel to a geostationary satellite?
340 m/s
2x108 m/s
2x108 m/s
Not very clever as the correct answer is 3x108 m/s (will not accept to the power of

tut
Re: GCSE's
Physics
Space physics
Signals from space - Test
2.
Which of the following describes the quantity of a light year?
You said: A light year is the time taken by light to travel to Earth from a distant star., A light year is the distance travelled by light from a distant star to the Sun., A light year is the time light takes to travel for one year., A light year is the distance travelled by light in one year.
Incorrect.
3.
Which of the following statements is true?
You said: The Earth is a planet and orbits the Sun., The Moon is a planet and orbits the Earth., The Sun is a star and orbits the Earth., The solar system is part of a universe which orbits around a galaxy.
Incorrect.
4.
The nearest star to our Sun is
You said: 1 light year away, 4.5 light years away, 8 light years away, 93 light years away
Incorrect.
7.
The following list shows some members of the electromagnetic spectrum in order of increasing frequency. Complete the list by choosing the best word from the drop-down list
Radio, microwave, infrared, visible, _ _ _ _ _ , x-ray, gamma ray.
Incorrect
8.
Photographic film will detect
You said: Microwaves, X-rays, Radio waves
Incorrect.
10.
Radio waves have a speed of
You said: 340 metres per second, 300000000 metres per second
Incorrect.
Glad I was not taking this paper. All the above I answered correctly, but not according to Headmaster.
tut
Space physics
Signals from space - Test
2.
Which of the following describes the quantity of a light year?
You said: A light year is the time taken by light to travel to Earth from a distant star., A light year is the distance travelled by light from a distant star to the Sun., A light year is the time light takes to travel for one year., A light year is the distance travelled by light in one year.
Incorrect.
3.
Which of the following statements is true?
You said: The Earth is a planet and orbits the Sun., The Moon is a planet and orbits the Earth., The Sun is a star and orbits the Earth., The solar system is part of a universe which orbits around a galaxy.
Incorrect.
4.
The nearest star to our Sun is
You said: 1 light year away, 4.5 light years away, 8 light years away, 93 light years away
Incorrect.
7.
The following list shows some members of the electromagnetic spectrum in order of increasing frequency. Complete the list by choosing the best word from the drop-down list
Radio, microwave, infrared, visible, _ _ _ _ _ , x-ray, gamma ray.
Incorrect
8.
Photographic film will detect
You said: Microwaves, X-rays, Radio waves
Incorrect.
10.
Radio waves have a speed of
You said: 340 metres per second, 300000000 metres per second
Incorrect.
Glad I was not taking this paper. All the above I answered correctly, but not according to Headmaster.
tut
Re: GCSE's
It seems as though the javascript it messed up - I just tried and it doesn't work ... it must be something to do with the radio button logic, because the drop down in the spectrum works correctly (ultra violet).
Cheers,
Robin
Cheers,
Robin
I is in your loomz nibblin ur wirez
#bemoretut
#bemoretut
Re: GCSE's
We did not get space and astronomy questions in my day Robin, but I scored max on those and on the common sense ones like health physics and energy, but no so good on the pure physics ones.
And obviously ace on any concerning the speed of light.......
tut
And obviously ace on any concerning the speed of light.......

tut
Re: GCSE's
7/7 - but then they're hardy taxing maths questions. Found the example Qs disappointingly easy TBH, are these genuine samples lifted from papers? * Presume these are the easiest, 'warm-up' questions.
* obviously the paper wouldn't give multiple choice answers (not that the multiple choice is required)
* obviously the paper wouldn't give multiple choice answers (not that the multiple choice is required)
Re: GCSE's
There are multiple choice questions on the SQA's papers - I would think there are also on the English ones. You still need to know the answer.
These questions are from BBC website, not past papers.
If you want harder questions, download the SQA Advanced Higher mathematics papers. Mass might be able to answer them, but most people would struggle I think.
Cheers,
Robin
These questions are from BBC website, not past papers.
If you want harder questions, download the SQA Advanced Higher mathematics papers. Mass might be able to answer them, but most people would struggle I think.
Cheers,
Robin
I is in your loomz nibblin ur wirez
#bemoretut
#bemoretut
Re: GCSE's
IMHO there's a difference between multiple choice in English/Arts papers and multiple choice maths solutions. ...and of course if you don't know the answer, you have a better chance of guessing the answer.robin wrote:There are multiple choice questions on the SQA's papers - I would think there are also on the English ones. You still need to know the answer.
Once upon a time I could have attempted solving some of them, immediately post-studies. But not a chance now!!robin wrote:If you want harder questions, download the SQA Advanced Higher mathematics papers.

Re: GCSE's
I meant English as in the exams set by English examination boards not as in English language.
They present plausible but wrong answers in the multiple choice, so actually it's really easy to get it wrong ... by using multiple choice they can test a wider range of topics in the time available (candidates need less time to answer each multiple choice question but generally still need appropriate knowledge to get it right).
Standard grade includes trigonometry of this ilk (right angled triangles).
Sine/Cosine rule (dealing with non-right angled triangles) doesn't come in until higher I think. I couldn't say what it was like 28 years ago here, but 90% sure I didn't learn the sine/cosine rules until lower sixth (first year A level) - I can remember pointing out to my teacher that cosine rule becomes pythag when A is a right angle - and him chucking a piece of chalk at me in response (which is why I remember it).
Cheers,
Robin
They present plausible but wrong answers in the multiple choice, so actually it's really easy to get it wrong ... by using multiple choice they can test a wider range of topics in the time available (candidates need less time to answer each multiple choice question but generally still need appropriate knowledge to get it right).
Standard grade includes trigonometry of this ilk (right angled triangles).
Sine/Cosine rule (dealing with non-right angled triangles) doesn't come in until higher I think. I couldn't say what it was like 28 years ago here, but 90% sure I didn't learn the sine/cosine rules until lower sixth (first year A level) - I can remember pointing out to my teacher that cosine rule becomes pythag when A is a right angle - and him chucking a piece of chalk at me in response (which is why I remember it).
Cheers,
Robin
I is in your loomz nibblin ur wirez
#bemoretut
#bemoretut