How Clever Am I? 2007 edition
"6 As, really? Your 18yr old? How amazing. I would have never thought it"
"Yes, you only got 2 Bs and a C yourself, didn't you?"
"Well remembered, I feel such a failure"
We've all had this type of conversation with either a youngster or their parents, and although unable to deny the facts, felt that something wasn't quite right.
The problem is inflation. Most people understand price inflation, e.g., no-one would let this conversation stand:
"£400m a year, really? Your 18yr hold - A hedge fund? How amazing, I would never have thought it"
"Yes, you only started on £8,400, did't you?"
"Well remembered, I feel such a failure"
Because obviously £8,400 in 1987 is worth much more today. About £25,000, or something like that. The same goes for exam results. They were HARDER in our day, just as policeman were younger*.
But how do we quantify that? Now in its 3rd year, the "How Clever Am I?" ready-reckoner has won international acclaim from leading journalists, and offers an easy way to tell people just how clever you were, and how unclever their little brat is. In other words, it provides a real level of exam results, to allow historical comparisons to be made fairly. The methodology is simple - it assumes there has been no improvement in standards and thus all of the increase in grades is due to pure inflation**. If you believe there has been some increase in standards you will need to lower the multiplication factor, but if you believe standards have dropped you will need to increase it.
First, calculate your A-level points using the old-fashioned method of 10 for an A, 8 for a B, 6 for a C etc. So for example 2 Bs and a C would be 22 points. Then multiply that by the multiplication factor, which is the number next to the year in which you took your A-levels. There are two examples given below. If you have done A-level mathematics in the last five years then I suggest you use a calculator.
It can also be used in reverse. 6 A-grades? That's 60 points, which back in 1994 would only have been 44 points, or 4 As and a D.
Coming next: A ready-reckoner to calculate how many blonde girls would have been jumping up and down to celebrate their results in YOUR day. This one has a much higher multiplication factor.
* As Christopher Howse said after last week's Lord Lucan story, "you know you are getting old when Lord Lucan is getting younger".
** I tend to believe that better teaching for specfic exams is behind most of the rise in results, but I'm in a minority. Conversely, even if you do believe that all of the gain has been due to higher standards, then the multiplication factor can still be seen as telling you what position in 'class', so to speak, you would have got if you were doing your exams now.
Update: I am in negotiations with Britain's leading 500 companies to allow the "HCAI" adjusted A-Level points score to go on one's CV.
Labels: easy and quick repeat posts, Exam results
posted by Matthew @ 8/16/2007 10:25:00 AM
Comments: 9
