Old and new exams put to the test

By Paul Burnell
The One Show

The One Show's Hardeep Singh attempts GCSE maths

With record numbers of pupils getting top GCSE grades, are the exams easier than O-levels? BBC One presenters sat maths and English papers to find out.

Employers such as the CBI have claimed standards have slipped compared to the rigour of the old O-levels.

O-levels, which were last sat in 1987 in the UK, were based on a quota system - only the top 20% of students could get an A grade.

GCSEs are based on a cumulative points system: in theory every pupil could get an A if they achieved a certain standard.

What they sat in 1970 Enlarge Image

Critics say this has led to a lowering of standards, whereas supporters say the exams are a fairer reward for a student's achievement.

But is the current exam easier? The One Show presenters Hardeep Singh, Ellie Harrison and Neil Oliver sat the maths exams.

Typical of a question from 1970 was the following: "Write down the quadratic equation which is satisfied by x = three and by x = minus a half.

Whereas the students of 2006 had to answer questions such as: "Work out the reciprocal of 1.5. Give your answer as a fraction in its simplest form."

Neil Oliver was unimpressed by the 1970 paper.

Presenter Lucy Siegle found GCSE English questions vague

"Who's interested, who needs to know and why would knowing it make my life any better? That's what maths is to me," he said.

He hoped the 2006 paper would give him an easier ride.

"Everyone says that the switch to GCSEs has made exams simpler," he said.

But his expectations were confounded.

"The volume of a sphere is double the volume of the cone. Show that X equals 2R. What am I ever going to do with that even supposing I learnt how to do it?

"It's nonsense and there's 20 of them."

His verdict: "I might as well have been asked to operate on somebody's brain."

And Hardeep Singh, blessed with more mathematical acumen, also found the 2006 paper an ordeal.

"It was horrible. I thought 'the GCSE - that's easy'. Unbelievably difficult," he said.

And self confessed "girly swot" Ellie Harris added: "GCSEs were harder than O-levels I thought.

What today's Maths students are sitting Enlarge Image

"I felt that you needed to have come fresh out of revision for GCSEs whereas O-levels, you could probably have just swotted up on your basics to have got by."

The 1970 English paper had questions which included asking students to write two to three pages on topics such as "My childhood fights or fears" or, "Discuss the causes of racial prejudice in this country and suggest some ways in which relations between the different races could be improved".

Among the questions students could choose from 36 years later were "Describe yourself", and "Explain what qualities a best friend should have and explain, giving examples, why you think this."

One Show presenters Christine Bleakley and Lucy Siegle were not impressed.

"These questions are so easy. Choose something you are interested in and know about. Write about it in a way that will inform other people. I mean I almost can't be bothered to pick one," said Lucy.

"They are the most vague questions ever. I just don't know where to start," added Christine.

The One Show, BBC One 1900 BST Thursday 23 August 2007.