Annual discussion about exam standards demotivates young people with knock on effect into their working lives.

Not a time to spoil a celebration

Right now students all over the country are worrying about their exam results, due out in the next two weeks or so. This is such an important time for them. It is the culmination of most of their lives’ work. The results may well define the rest of their lives!

A recent small survey of students taking GCSEs, AS levels and A levels this year shows that on average they spent almost seven hours a week studying, apart from their time in school and the average student sitting nine exams at exam time. This does not include time spent outside school on course work.

The other related event that will take place during the same time period will be the denigration of their achievements! Comments like “the exams are easier than in my day”, “the exams have been dumbed down” and “there are too many getting high marks” abound.

Each year we demotivate our students with these remarks…and then expect them to pick themselves up and become eager and enthusiastic in the workplace.
One survey question , “How do you feel when you hear comments about “dumbing down” exams and people saying, “well, the exams are much easier nowadays?”

The answers show the effect these comments have.  “Well, they are totally wrong!” “It is one of my pet hates”, “It upsets me because I know they are hard and I study for them and struggle, and then I hear that they are easier than previous years.”

In effect, we say to the students that their achievements are worthless and that their failures much greater than they realise.

How many of us have taken both the old “O” levels and the modern GCSEs, so that a true comparison is made? Have we thought that standards may have risen? Or that the teaching standards have improved?

Or maybe the young people just work harder?

So let’s make this year different. Celebrate their successes very loudly, commiserate quietly with those who do not achieve all they wish. Give them all support and wish them good luck in all they do.

We can discuss any problem with exams quietly, in the depths of winter, February maybe. But definitely not in August.

Anne Walker Co-Founder

Motivation Matters

Tel: 01787378851
Fax: 08701400232

email: anne@motivationmatters.co.uk

www.motivationmatters.co.uk

Company History

Formed in 2004 Motivation Matters is a management consultancy which aims to make work more profitable and more enjoyable. We believe that scant management attention has been paid to the motivation of people at work.