Curious...

[la_marquise]

I had a go at this:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/quiz/2009/mar/27/gcse-science-quiz

mainly out of curiosity, as it is many years since I did my O'levels. I'm not a scientist at all and I haven't studied science since I was 15. I found that when it came to these questions, mostly I was answering based on what seemed most likely to me, rather than based on knowing the answer. I was expecting to do badly.
I scored 7/8.
I'm not sure what that says about me. Radio 4 listener, maybe?

Comments

[fleetfootmike.livejournal.com]

It says you're blessed with a lot of common sense. I could only find one of those questions that really required 'knowledge', as opposed to simply 'using your head'. And I guessed!

Have to say, though? 'Dumbed down' is right. Compared to what both you and I sat for what I hope were one or more of Physics, Chemistry and Biology O-levels, they're not a test of scientific knowledge.

[http://users.livejournal.com/la_marquise_de_/]

That seems to be the general concern.

[despotliz.livejournal.com]

I think 2 and 4 require some knowledge, and 7 possibly, but on the whole it looks pretty dumbed down compared to the GCSEs I sat ten years ago.

[seph-hazard.livejournal.com]

I can't believe I'm saying this (being highly skeptical of this sort of furore) but actually that was significantly easier than the questions in the science GCSE I sat four years ago...

[despotliz.livejournal.com]

I'm so old!

[frandowdsofa.livejournal.com]

7 out of 8 for me too. And I only have Grade 4 O Level Biology.

[tanngrisnir.livejournal.com]

I got 7/8 too. And the one it said I got wrong was the first one, for which I opted for She is aware of a risk but decides to go ahead rather than She believes the benefit outweighs the risk since I didn't (and don't) believe the question as given suggests Sara did any real assessment of risks v. benefits.

[autopope.livejournal.com]

I got bitten by that one as well. Also, the Polio question: they rate the correct answer as "the virus lives inside cells." WTF? (Says the ex-pharmacist with some background in cytology, pharmacology, and biochemistry.) This quiz is junk!

[tanngrisnir.livejournal.com]

Er, yes. :)

I took that as being the closest to the answer. I remember when you couldn't use the word "virus" and "lives" together without starting an argument.

If that is really the standard of GCSE I am shocked. Shocked and appalled, I tell you.

[http://users.livejournal.com/la_marquise_de_/]

This quiz is junk!
That may explain why I could do it!

[http://users.livejournal.com/la_marquise_de_/]

That's precisely what I did, and for the same reason.

Dumb?

[themis1.livejournal.com]

Also 7 out of 8 - and I didn't sit Physics or Chemistry O-levels (which would have been in 1969, so long before this 'dumbing down' started) because I failed both mocks (I got 13% for physics!)- I did manage to pass biology, but I think that was a, hm, I was going to say fluke, but that would be altogether too appropriate ...!

[inamac.livejournal.com]

I loved the scientist on the news who looked at the questions, thought "An eight year old could do this." and, like any good scientist, tested his theory on a handy 8yo (his son), who managed to get 55% right (a pass mark).

[klwilliams.livejournal.com]

I also scored 7/8. This set of questions had some that could be solved by logic as much as science, and one that made no sense to me at all. (I hope that's the one I missed.)

[maureenkspeller.livejournal.com]

8/8

I can only assume that this reflects the fact that I've spent many years listening to Radio 4 and reading New Scientist ... except that this didn't feel that 'scientific' to me. Judgements rather than certainties.

[watervole.livejournal.com]

I got 8, but I felt the first question was very badly phrased. Some of them definitely required knowledge, and some required you to think intelligently about the question - it's easy to forget that analytical skills aren't as common in the general population as among fans.

I can see both pros and cons of doing multiple choice. Some people know an answer, but don't know how to express it in the 'right' words. For them, multiple choice can be a boon. For others, it's a lazy option that requires less thinking.

[zaan.livejournal.com]

6 out of 8.. I am the lowest in the group, lol. I didn't do any science beyond the age of 14 cos I specialized in Art instead. I was good at physics, though. I got the first 2 wrong, choosing "She knew the risks..." That was a silly question I think, either answer was right. Got the 2nd one on radiation wrong as it was a 50/50 guess if it was Alpha or Gamms and I chose Alpha,
Bus passenger! lol. :) Fun, but when you put it into perspective in our education days, this is a farce. It is only fit for newspaper tests where folk like us try it and laugh at ours n each other's answers.
Social engineering like this began actually with Maggie Thatcher because that was when I was first told off by my Head Teacher for insiting on teaching kids their Times Tables (reciting 2 x 1 =2 etc) and for using Nouns not "naming word", and verb not "doing word", so the rot has been there a long while, ladies and gents. I predicted this outcome back then in the early 70's. I am disgusted that I was right. :(

[http://users.livejournal.com/la_marquise_de_/]

I thought that first question was badly phrased, too.
Thatcher was a disaster in almost every way and we'll be paying for that for years and years.