Clik here to view.
A-Level Further Mathematics Examination, 1981
I’ve been forcibly evicted from my office this afternoon while a highly-trained operative of Cardiff University’s esteemed Estates Department replaces a broken window. It’s been broken since I moved...
View ArticleClik here to view.
By Gove, I agree!
I never thought the day would come, but I have to admit it. I agree with Michael Gove. There. I said it. Not with everything he says, of course. But I do think that universities should take over...
View ArticleClik here to view.
More Maths, or Better Maths?
telescoper:Interesting view from a Biosciences perspective about the recent recommendations to increase the number of students taking Mathematics at A-level. I’ve always had a problem with the way...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Open for Clearing in Physics and Astronomy
It being A-level results day, I thought I’d try a little experiment and use this blog to broadcast an unofficial announcement that, owing to additional government funding for high-achieving subjects,...
View ArticleClik here to view.
A-level Chemistry Examination Paper, Vintage 1981
I don’t know how many followers of this blog are interested in Chemistry, but I thought I’d continue my irregular series of postings of old examination papers with my Chemistry A-level. This particular...
View ArticleClik here to view.
A-level Chemistry Examination (Paper 2) from 1981
A few days ago I posted Paper 1 of the Chemistry A-level examination I took way back in 1981. Judging by the blog stats, that seemed to attract a bit of interest so I thought I’d follow it up with...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Credentialism and Overexamination
Only time for a quick post this morning as I have to go into the department to get my things ready for tomorrow, when the Autumn Semester starts and I have to begin lecturing (at 9am on a Monday...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Physics and Statistics
Predictably, yesterday’s newspapers and other media were full of feeble articles about the A-level results, and I don’t just mean the gratuitous pictures of pretty girls opening envelopes and/or...
View ArticleClik here to view.
How to Address Gender Inequality in Physics
Last night I was drinking a glass or several of wine while listening to the radio and thinking about a brainwave I’d had on Friday. Naturally I decided to wait until I reconsidered it in the cold light...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Charlotte Church and Physics
I just noticed an interesting news item about popular vocal artiste Charlotte Church. Apparently she is thinking about doing a degree in physics. She is quoted on the BBC Website as saying “I just...
View ArticleClik here to view.
How to Address Gender Inequality in Physics
Last night I was drinking a glass or several of wine while listening to the radio and thinking about a brainwave I’d had on Friday. Naturally I decided to wait until I reconsidered it in the cold light...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Have we reached Peak Physics?
One of the interesting bits of news I picked up concerning last week’s A-level results is a piece from the Institute of Physics about the number of students taking A-level physics. The opening...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Worrying Times for UK Physics
As I’m more-or-less in between jobs at the moment, this is the first August in many that I haven’t been involved the clearing and confirmation process that helps students find places at university...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Results Day Advice!
Today’s the day in Ireland that students get the results of their school Leaving Certificate examinations and, over the other side of the Irish Sea, tomorrow is when A-level results come out. For many...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Age, Memory and Learning
Today’s a big day for prospective students at Irish universities. It’s the day when the Central Applications Office (CAO, the equivalent of the UK’s UCAS) makes offers of places to students based the...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Is there a role for rote learning?
So here we are, then, back to work here in Maynooth for the last week of teaching. Or, to be precise, the last four days – yesterday was a Bank Holiday. With university and school examinations...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Another easy physics problem…
Many moons ago I posted an `easy’ physics problem from the Physics A-level paper I took in 1981. The examination comprised two papers in those days (and a practical exam); one paper had long questions,...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Yet another easy physics problem…
Last week I posted a little physics problem that generated a large amount of traffic (at least by the standards of this blog), so I thought I’d try another one. The examination comprised two papers in...
View ArticleExamination Shenanigans
So here I am in my office while the first batch of our repeat examinations gets under way here in Maynooth. They seem to have started correctly so I’ve taken a break to have a cup of coffee and catch...
View ArticleDisturbing Admissions
So, as the second day of Repeat Examinations at Maynooth University gets under way, students in the United Kingdom are receiving their A-level results. I’ve already heard a number of stories from...
View Article
