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Markers award students for writing obscenities on GCSE papers
Timesonline.co.uk ^ | June 30, 2008 | Joanna Sugden

Posted on 06/30/2008 1:50:29 PM PDT by forkinsocket

Write ‘f*** off’ on a GCSE paper and you’ll get 7.5%. Add an exclamation mark and it’ll go up to 11%

Pupils are being rewarded for writing obscenities in their GCSE English examinations even when it has nothing to do with the question.

One pupil who wrote “f*** off” was given marks for accurate spelling and conveying a meaning successfully.

His paper was marked by Peter Buckroyd, a chief examiner who has instructed fellow examiners to mark in the same way. He told trainee examiners recently to adhere strictly to the mark scheme, to the extent that pupils who wrote only expletives on their papers should be awarded points.

Mr Buckroyd, chief examiner of English for the Assessment and Qualifications Alliance (AQA), an examination board, said that he had given the pupil two marks, out of a possible 27, for the expletive.

To gain minimum marks in English, students must demonstrate “some simple sequencing of ideas” and “some words in appropriate order”. The phrase had achieved this, according to Mr Buckroyd.

The chief examiner, who is responsible for standards in exams taken by 780,000 candidates and for training for 3,000 examiners, told The Times: “It would be wicked to give it zero, because it does show some very basic skills we are looking for – like conveying some meaning and some spelling.

“It’s better than someone that doesn’t write anything at all. It shows more skills than somebody who leaves the page blank.”

(Excerpt) Read more at timesonline.co.uk ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; United Kingdom
KEYWORDS: education; exams; expletives; uk
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1 posted on 06/30/2008 1:50:29 PM PDT by forkinsocket
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To: forkinsocket

This should be an intersting $#%%!! thread!


2 posted on 06/30/2008 1:53:23 PM PDT by Las Vegas Ron (Election '08, the year McCain defined the word "dilemma")
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To: forkinsocket
I write that to a woman, I'll never hear from her again! But then I'm the last of my kind in the world.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

3 posted on 06/30/2008 1:54:21 PM PDT by goldstategop (In Memory Of A Dearly Beloved Friend Who Lives In My Heart Forever)
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To: forkinsocket
One pupil who wrote “f*** off” was given marks for accurate spelling and conveying a meaning successfully.

I have no idea what he meant.

4 posted on 06/30/2008 1:54:26 PM PDT by DManA
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To: forkinsocket

“It’s better than someone that doesn’t write anything at all. It shows more skills than somebody who leaves the page blank.”

I beg to differ. Is he serious? It think it’s kind of funny, but this isn’t exactly a situation to be funny. Besides anyone can spell “f*** off”. It doesn’t take a degree in English or linguistics to figure that one out.


5 posted on 06/30/2008 1:55:07 PM PDT by djsherin
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To: forkinsocket; indylindy; Liz; calcowgirl

So does John McCain expect a better grade from conservatives?
He has used this phrase on them a lot!!


6 posted on 06/30/2008 1:56:56 PM PDT by TommyDale (I) (Never forget the Republicans who voted for illegal immigrant amnesty in 2007!)
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To: djsherin

“It’s better than someone that doesn’t write anything at all.”

As someone else pointed out, this is someone grading an English paper, and doesn’t know that “someone that” should be “someone WHO”...

That being said, I’m sure this is more evidence of “the evolving standards of decency of a maturing society”.


7 posted on 06/30/2008 1:58:21 PM PDT by MrB (You can't reason people out of a position that they didn't use reason to get into in the first place)
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To: MrB

haha, sad but true.


8 posted on 06/30/2008 2:01:21 PM PDT by djsherin
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To: MrB
That being said, I’m sure this is more evidence of “the evolving standards of decency of a maturing society”.

Ha. Actually no doubt that the more (ahem) mature Justices would agree with this grading system. Scary.
9 posted on 06/30/2008 2:05:04 PM PDT by socialismisinsidious ( The socialist income tax system turns US citizens into beggars or quitters!)
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To: socialismisinsidious

I’m going to shove that phrase in every lib’s face.

It’s pretty obvious that our “standards” are D”evolving”, thanks to liberalism.


10 posted on 06/30/2008 2:07:31 PM PDT by MrB (You can't reason people out of a position that they didn't use reason to get into in the first place)
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To: TommyDale

If I express my feelings toward McCain and his liberal agenda, will I receive high marks or will I be banned?

From some of these conservatives we are dealing with lately, they also give high marks to this, they love voting for a candidate that has told them to F**K Off.

Sad thing is, this guy has yet to tell Obama to do the same.


11 posted on 06/30/2008 2:15:08 PM PDT by dforest (I had almost forgotten that McCain is the nominee. Too bad I was reminded.)
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To: forkinsocket

How many points for writing “bollocks.”


12 posted on 06/30/2008 2:17:10 PM PDT by Army Air Corps (Four fried chickens and a coke)
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To: Army Air Corps

Blast!

That should have been:

How many points for writing “bollocks”?


13 posted on 06/30/2008 2:18:20 PM PDT by Army Air Corps (Four fried chickens and a coke)
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To: forkinsocket

14 posted on 06/30/2008 2:20:15 PM PDT by OCC
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To: djsherin

“Besides anyone can spell “f*** off”. It doesn’t take a degree in English or linguistics to figure that one out.”

In today’s United Kingdom, spelling two words correctly in a proper sequence could very well be the upper limits of their capabilities. I’m sure they’re setting the bar at a level at which no one will feel left out and everyone can retain their self esteem. /sarc


15 posted on 06/30/2008 2:51:38 PM PDT by Spok (Liberty lives only in proportion to wholesome restraint.)
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To: forkinsocket

Boy, could I ace that test! I know tons of dirty words. I’d look like a fr@#$% genius!


16 posted on 06/30/2008 2:53:07 PM PDT by BruceysMom ( My heart is in Baggs)
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To: Spok

You know, I wouldn’t be surprised.


17 posted on 06/30/2008 4:00:19 PM PDT by djsherin
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