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Looking for Mathematics past papers from around 1920s onwards

Last post 12/01/11 at 14:02 by Polecat, 245 replies
Post started by intuitionist1 on 02/01/11 at 00:40

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  • pencho avatar
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    Posted by: pencho 03/01/2011 at 21:48
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    This is likely to be my final post on this topic.  You continually fail to address the fact that the exams of 1950's and 1960's (the golden age as you may call it) had a different task to the GCSE's of today.  You simply cannot compare like for like.  I am sorry.  

  • Karvol avatar
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    Posted by: Karvol 03/01/2011 at 21:54
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    pencho:

    This is likely to be my final post on this topic.  You continually fail to address the fact that the exams of 1950's and 1960's (the golden age as you may call it) had a different task to the GCSE's of today.  You simply cannot compare like for like.  I am sorry.  

    It is ok. He is just one of the usual well meaning but deluded individuals who thinks that success in one field instantly makes him successful in another.

    If he ever actually bothered teaching properly, rather than playing at being a teacher in a Sunday School for two hours a week, he would realise the absurdity of his position.

    However that is not very likely.

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    Posted by: intuitionist1 03/01/2011 at 21:56
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    DM:

    Do you believe all children have a right to this enhanced education Sabbir or just Muslim children?   I ask as you only "teach" Muslim children.

    Your website alarms me.   It is a known distributor of malware.   Google says "Of the 7 pages we tested on the site over the past 90 days, 2 page(s) resulted in malicious software being downloaded and installed without user consent. The last time Google visited this site was on 2010-12-28, and the last time suspicious content was found on this site was on 2010-12-28."

    Can you explain your history on the sci-tech website?   On this site you are accused of "using the handle of a dead mathematician" and are then called a "f**king deceptive piece of ****"  and a "fraud" by the moderators.  

    This took me 5 minutes to uncover.   God knows what might be revealed if I dug deeper.

    Wow, thank you for this truly profound and insightful analysis. No hint of prejudice or bias or delusional paranoia there at all.

    I cannot help but notice also that you use the handle of a 1980s animated comic rodent. Sinister indeed!

    Best wishes,

    Sabbir.
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    Posted by: DM 03/01/2011 at 21:58
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    We all accept the current mathematics examinations are somewhat less demanding than qualifications of the past Sabbir.  

    Could you tell me what you believe happened on 9/11 now?   I am fascinated by your assertion that it was a "government planned black flag operation" - I understand you have similar views on 7/7.   Please share.
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    Posted by: intuitionist1 03/01/2011 at 22:17
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    DM:

    We all accept the current mathematics examinations are somewhat less demanding than qualifications of the past Sabbir.  

    Well that's a relief. I thought I had lost you for a moment.

    Best wishes,

    Sabbir
  • DM avatar
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    Posted by: DM 03/01/2011 at 22:24
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    intuitionist1:

    I cannot help but notice also that you use the handle of a 1980s animated comic rodent.

    The original DM enjoyed exposing comically loopy villians.   I can see the attraction.

    Tell me about how five years ago you discovered the secret of the universe (that we live inside a sequence of nested black holes) and how your discovery is backed up by the Qur'an.   It is not everyday a mystic visionary pops in to see us.
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    Posted by: Betamale 04/01/2011 at 05:46
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    On the issue below 

    DM:

    I will not comment on the Pre-U as other members of this forum know a lot more about this qualification than me but STEP is aimed at the top 2% of Year 13 mathematicians in the country Sabbir.   It is not supposed to be for everyone.  

    "If today's exams were as well-designed and challenging as they were in the past", hardly anyone would pass them.   They would then cease to be fit for purpose.   We work with what we are given.   This does not mean the "vast majority of students are having their education crippled."   It just means that you are out-of-touch with reality.

    Mr Rodent

    I was interested in this. Im not sure I am reading it right.

    Do you believe the human being is getting 'thicker' or do you think that control in school has gone and we just have to hang on to whatever control we have, ergo make things easy to keep them passing?

    Im not questioning you but asking what you think on this one?
  • DM avatar
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    Posted by: DM 04/01/2011 at 07:07
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    I don't think humans have got 'thicker' or more intelligent during the past century.   I would agree that there has been some shift in power from teacher to student that is unwelcome and detrimental to learning.   I don't think it is necessary for exams to made easier.   Pass rates don't NEED to improve year-on-year.
  • Polecat avatar
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    Posted by: Polecat 04/01/2011 at 17:20
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    Like many threads this one has got a bit silly.However, I'm not concerned about the possible other agenda of the OP.

    I noticed that the Pre-U popped up in a couple of postings. Having a little interest in this qualification, let me correct some misconceptions. Although it is true that the first exam papers were only taken by candidates from fairly expensive schools, it is not the case that the exam is aimed at the elite, either socially or intellectually. My understanding is that the candidature for the 2011 exams is expected to be much more diverse.

    Some claim that the Pre-U is a return to some golden era. That is not the case. It is really a new venture which aims to prepare kids for the realities of post-school mathematics in the current century and to encourage the view that mathematics is a wonderfully interconnected and useful subject. I grew up in the 'golden era' of the 50s/60s and prospered. However, I didn't understand mathematics holistically until much later.

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    Posted by: Betamale 04/01/2011 at 17:35
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    DM:

    I don't think humans have got 'thicker' or more intelligent during the past century.   I would agree that there has been some shift in power from teacher to student that is unwelcome and detrimental to learning.   I don't think it is necessary for exams to made easier.   Pass rates don't NEED to improve year-on-year.

    Thanks David

    I believe what you have said is true. Too much 'PC' and fearing the consequences of actually disciplining kids. A fair % the SEN kids I teach are not, they are just naughty kids who seek a lable. This is not tolerated in other countries. I want to spend time and focus on kids with SEN, not p*ssyfooting around the class clown who has 'emotional issues'

    Bring the power back to the teachers/school, make pupils accountable for their actions and make schooling a compentency based system rather than a fixed period. ie...you pass the year you move on, you don't you resit til a max age of 18. Those who truly are not going to pass even with the effort should be found alternative programs that require the same passport out of education.

    Just making exams easier, as we agree, is helping nobody.

    23rd in the world for schooling at the mo? 50,100? by the year 2020

     
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