Sorry your browser is not supported!

You are using an outdated browser that does not support modern web technologies, in order to use this site please update to a new browser.

Browsers supported include Chrome, FireFox, Safari, Opera, Internet Explorer 10+ or Microsoft Edge.

Geek Culture / My GCSE options

Author
Message
stann65
20
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 3rd Feb 2004
Location: england
Posted: 16th Mar 2004 14:06
Link
hi all,
for my GCSE options i have opted to take I.C.T.

But there is two different ones i can choose from. Can you elaberate around these and put them into detail on what they will be like.

GNVQ I.C.T

Unit1 - presenting software
Unit2 - handling information
Unit3 - Hardware and Software

GCSE I.C.T

from booklet provided:




Also i am hoping to be a computer/ games programmer for a carrer so which one do you think would be more usefull to me.

thanks for taking the time out to read this long piece

go onto my site
Back to top
Profile PM Email Website
Dave J
Retired Moderator
21
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 11th Feb 2003
Location: Secret Military Pub, Down Under
Posted: 16th Mar 2004 14:48 Edited at: 16th Mar 2004 14:49
Link
Looks as if both are just information processing and management, absolutely nothing to do with programming. Most of the second one just seems to be solving information problems using information systems, ie. "So and so company will setup a local area network so all their employees can access the database." To me, the first one suggests more gathering information (first hand, second hand) and managing and validating it. Also a lot more to do with hardware, perhaps user input, etc.

I'd say it doesn't really matter though, look into any University/College courses you're interested in and see if they have either of them as prerequisites and choose the one that's nescessary. To be honest though, I don't think it will make a difference as what subjects you take in seconday school isn't really of that much significance.

Then again, I'm coming from an Australian Education System so I could be way off.


"Computers are useless they can only give you answers."
Back to top
Profile PM Email
adr
21
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 21st May 2003
Location: Job Centre
Posted: 16th Mar 2004 14:49
Link
Despite what everyone tells you, GNVQs are looked down upon.
Quote: "Also i am hoping to be a computer/ games programmer for a carrer so which one do you think would be more usefull to me."

I doubt an IT related GCSE will get you very far with regards to your career. Back in the day, when I did IT at highschool, you didn't really learn programming - it was a glorified typing class.

If you want my advice then just make sure you concentrate in maths/physics at highschool. Then take A-Level maths along with a compsci type course too. Depending on how much you like maths, you can optionally take Further Maths. Maths, Maths, Maths.

I can guarantee you, if you come out of university with a good software engineering degree (1st or 2:1 - unlike me ) and solid understanding of physics and maths, there are a lot of games houses (particularly in manchester, for some reason) that'll consider taking you on.

... and the rest is f-l-y
Back to top
Profile PM Website
stann65
20
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 3rd Feb 2004
Location: england
Posted: 16th Mar 2004 15:27
Link
ok thanks for your opinions people.

@adr

i am good at maths i am currently on the government thing for kids all over britain that are 'gifted and talented' in a certain field of school work.

go onto my site
Back to top
Profile PM Email Website
Philip 1337
22
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 27th Aug 2002
Location: United Kingdom
Posted: 16th Mar 2004 15:49
Link
Im doing GNVQ at school and its worth 4 GCSEs


http://gbros.dbspot.com/3dviewer.html
Version 1.5
Back to top
Profile PM
stann65
20
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 3rd Feb 2004
Location: england
Posted: 16th Mar 2004 16:01
Link
yeh we are getting told that at school but does it mean u can come out of it with 4GCSE's or that it is just working at that standard and you will not come out with anything.

go onto my site
Back to top
Profile PM Email Website
adr
21
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 21st May 2003
Location: Job Centre
Posted: 16th Mar 2004 17:04 Edited at: 16th Mar 2004 17:11
Link
GBros> Excuse me if I piss on your bonfire for a bit, but 1 GNVQ = 4 GCSEs? My arse. Obviously your school will feed you such statistical diarrhea because .... *drumroll* They get money for each student who's on a GNVQ... hooray!

I don't know that for a fact, to be honest. But it sounds about right.Way back when, the govornment decided that people who weren't very good with traditional GCSEs (maths et al) should at least get some kind of qualification. I think the original answer to that problem was "Modern Apprenticeships". People didn't actually come out of it with a paper qualification in subject x, and businesses usually look for people with a paper qualification in x.

So, they made GNVQs to cover that particular shortfall. That's why the first set of GNVQs/NVQs were in things like Cake Baking and Arse Scratching to accomodate the types of student who could only cope with Cake Baking and Arse Scratching. Now, to improve take up on these courses, the Govornment will have provided schools with money to facilitate these extra courses. I imagine this practise has carried on so that now, while the GNVQs are a bit more worthwhile the schools still need the extra money.

Unfortunately for you, GNVQs still carry the negative connotation which they gained when they first started. Why on earth do you think they gave rise to the phrase:
Generally Not Very Qualified

Fortunately for you, everyone loves A Levels and A/S Levels. So make sure you go into some kind of further education. (Is it further or higher? I forget which).

Arg... isn't it true that if you go to college now you get PAID by the govornment? wtf? I didn't get bloody paid...

Stann65 > keep up the good work

... and the rest is f-l-y
Back to top
Profile PM Website
stann65
20
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 3rd Feb 2004
Location: england
Posted: 16th Mar 2004 17:10
Link
thx adr i intend 2.

i think for my option i am going to take the actual GCSE route.
And because neither of them include anything to do with computer/game programming i will have 2 keep my knowledge alive at home after doing my homework and checking the forum.

go onto my site
Back to top
Profile PM Email Website
Philip
21
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 15th Jun 2003
Location: United Kingdom
Posted: 16th Mar 2004 17:12
Link
I don't know anything about the game programming industry but what I can say is that ADR's advice about studying so-called "black letter" subjects like maths and physics is very sound advice. In fact, the Government is busy bemoaning the continuing shift of students moving away from studying the sciences to social sciences or arts. So there will undoubtedly be incentives on offer for you to keep studying sciences, providing you use a bit of initiative and look for them.

Also, a degree in maths or physics can be used to enter a broad range of careers. So you are keeping your options open. Thats very important as well. Most people discover that the occupation they want to do when they leave university is quite different from that which they wanted to do whilst they were studying GCSES some 5 or 6 years previously.

Personally I always liked science. But at University I read law. Law is an art (except in crap universities where the class it a social science - what a joke). Why did I chose law over science? Because law pays... and I'm a mercenary bear.

Philip

What do you mean, bears aren't supposed to wear hats and a tie? P1.3ghz / 384 megs / GeForce MX 5200 128meg / WinXP home
Back to top
Profile PM Email
Philip
21
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 15th Jun 2003
Location: United Kingdom
Posted: 16th Mar 2004 17:15
Link
PS: The very best thing you and anybody else in school reading this can do is STUDY HARD. I remember that studying is boring. But consider education an investment. Trust me: there is a clear correlation between the grades you receive and the amount of money you eventually earn. The better the grades you get whilst in education, the more money you are likely to command when out at work in years time. So, that homework that you think is boring ... thats a car in ten years time, mate. So put your very best into it.

What do you mean, bears aren't supposed to wear hats and a tie? P1.3ghz / 384 megs / GeForce MX 5200 128meg / WinXP home
Back to top
Profile PM Email
stann65
20
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 3rd Feb 2004
Location: england
Posted: 16th Mar 2004 17:29
Link
Homework is boring but i always manage to do it.

also if you have any languages homework go 2 [href]www.freetranslations.com[/href] and convert your homework from english to whatever for better marks.

go onto my site
Back to top
Profile PM Email Website
Teh Go0rfmeister
21
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 17th Aug 2003
Location:
Posted: 16th Mar 2004 17:43
Link
to be honest, you should'nt need ICT to become a programmer, you're better off doing physics and maths. ICT is generally "this is a floppy disk" and "pressing capslock makes the letters appear in upper case" u kno, the stuff your grandma probably learns

http://www.tinnedhead.tk under re-construction.
Back to top
Profile PM Website
Martyn Pittuck
22
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 27th Aug 2002
Location: United Kingdom
Posted: 16th Mar 2004 19:16
Link
well

it dont make a $h|ts difference to what GCSEs u take. Get good grades, do a science, maths and english at college then you can get onto ANY course a uni (with the right grades and attitude).

i did GNVQ as there is a programming and 3D graphics option avaliable, just not too many of the lecturers have had training in it.

With GNVQ you can pop some programming in with Handling information in Excel and Access.

Whats so good about living anywho?
Back to top
Profile PM Email Website
stann65
20
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 3rd Feb 2004
Location: england
Posted: 16th Mar 2004 19:17
Link
yeh froogle that sounds about right.

Anyway from the options i posted before i can take 'dual-award' science and i can take physics in that.

Also from what i posted before about me been in the giftet & talented for maths it also allows me to do the following:

Do Maths GCSE's a year early
In the last year take college A level maths

go onto my site
Back to top
Profile PM Email Website
Dazzag
22
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 26th Aug 2002
Location: Cyprus
Posted: 16th Mar 2004 19:43 Edited at: 16th Mar 2004 19:43
Link
Heh, we were basically told to ignore the school bit from CVs. GCSEs mean nothing, NVQs are Not Very Qualified, and A-levels are only considered if they didn't go to Uni/Poly. And we only consider people who have done a degree related to computers (mainly computer science), or have been forced on us by the directors (friends, family, or both)

We then don't bother on the grade they got at Uni (anyone with a first is no fun at the pub anyhows 99% of the time), and judge them mainly on what their attitude is like (ie. not a complete w**ker). At the end of the day we will weedle them out in the training period anyway. Oh, and they don't even see me if they don't pass the standard logic test.

Obviously we miss out on some talented people. Personally I feel I could have done my job 10 years earlier (programming wise that is). But so what? There is plenty of people in the pile, and you have to draw a line somewhere.

Interestingly the company line for my department has always been to try to employ un-experienced people (in a computer job that is), so we can mold them into our way of working, rather than the other way around. This is *not* how everyone else works mind you. Just the way it was decided long ago, before I joined.

Also, about 10 years ago, when I was applying for jobs, basically the career advice bird told me to forget putting the references at the end (they can ask for them if they want), to only put the highest education (ie. scrap school entirely if you have a degree), and to keep it to 1 or 2 pages (no title pages!!!). This is to do with the 30 second rule, or something like that. Basically an employer is supposed to only give your CV 30 seconds or somesuch, so be brief and to the point. We don't really care that you like reading. And a two page list of every language you have ever touched isn't that important. Just list the important ones (ie. the ones you know well, sorted by the employers favourite language).

I say all that, but if you have a silly name that helps too. Honest.

Cheers

I am 99% probably lying in bed right now... so don't blame me for crappy typing
Back to top
Profile PM Email Website
Jonny_S
22
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 10th Oct 2002
Location: United Kingdom
Posted: 16th Mar 2004 23:01
Link
DON'T do GCSE do GNVQ! really GCSE is SHITE! much worse than GNVQ dooooooooooo the GNVQ

Supermonkey - The crime gifhting sex god monkey!
Back to top
Profile PM
stann65
20
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 3rd Feb 2004
Location: england
Posted: 16th Mar 2004 23:08
Link
no offence but just shouting stuff isn't gunna work.

GCSE sounds better becuase neither offer programming experience so at least if i take the first route i will get more academic GCSE's.

Also i found out that if i also take geography along side ICT there will be 3 lessons of geography a week and 1 of them will be using ICT.

go onto my site
Back to top
Profile PM Email Website
ReD_eYe
21
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 9th Mar 2003
Location: United Kingdom
Posted: 16th Mar 2004 23:26
Link
i don't do ICT as part of my gcse geography class...

In the beginning, the universe was created...
This made alot of people very angry and it has been widely regarded as a bad idea...
Visit http://redeye.dbspot.com
Back to top
Profile PM Email Website
Rob K
Retired Moderator
22
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 10th Sep 2002
Location: Surrey, United Kingdom
Posted: 16th Mar 2004 23:34 Edited at: 16th Mar 2004 23:34
Link
Hi stann,

I suggest that if you want a career as a programmer, that you learn about the languages you are likely to be using (probably C++ or some derivative of it), but more importantly, learn about general programming technique and how to solve the kind of problems that you'll face.

I didn't do GCSE ICT because I don't think it means very much as a qualification, you can get a GCSE in IT with only a fairly basic knowledge - looking at the syllabuses and example coursework. Generally speaking GCSEs vary quite a bit in their difficulty and value in my experience - the "core" ones, Maths, English, Science seemed fine, French seemed easier than it ought to have been. I think really that GCSE's should be made harder, because ATM. there is quite a big gap between them and AS level (I've heard them referred to as GCSE + 10%. Err... no.)

BlueGUI:Windows UI Plugin - All the power of the windows interface in your DBPro games. - Plus URL download, win dialogs.
Over 140 new commands
Back to top
Profile PM Email Website
David T
Retired Moderator
22
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 27th Aug 2002
Location: England
Posted: 16th Mar 2004 23:49
Link
Quote: "DON'T do GCSE do GNVQ! really GCSE is SHITE! much worse than GNVQ dooooooooooo the GNVQ"


I believe it is the other way round. GNVQs are vocational, whereas GCSEs are more academic.

If you're serious about IT as a career, ICT GCSE offers nothing - apart from Word and Excel :p

I'm doing:

Quote: "Maths
Further Maths
Eng Lit
Eng Lang
Music
Geog
German
French
Chemistry
Biology
Physics"


But, maybe I'm just a stuck up old posh school goer

If you're serious about science / IT etc. then you're better off with Maths, Fur. Maths and Physics at A-Level, with the relevant GCSEs.

"To do is to be" - Descartes
"To be is to do" - Voltaire
"Do be do be do" - Frank Sinatra
Back to top
Profile PM Email Website
stann65
20
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 3rd Feb 2004
Location: england
Posted: 16th Mar 2004 23:55
Link
all together i will have to do:

I.C.T
english - language and literature
maths
science dual award
D.T - i am opting for graphics
P.E
R.E
P.S.E
french or german- opting for german
geogrpahy

go onto my site
Back to top
Profile PM Email Website
stann65
20
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 3rd Feb 2004
Location: england
Posted: 16th Mar 2004 23:55
Link
@ rob K

i am going to go onto programming at college as soong a i leave secondary school.

go onto my site
Back to top
Profile PM Email Website
ReD_eYe
21
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 9th Mar 2003
Location: United Kingdom
Posted: 16th Mar 2004 23:57
Link
my gcse subjects:


i've got no idea what i want to do after school, something invloving IT quite possibly though.

In the beginning, the universe was created...
This made alot of people very angry and it has been widely regarded as a bad idea...
Visit http://redeye.dbspot.com
Back to top
Profile PM Email Website
Martyn Pittuck
22
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 27th Aug 2002
Location: United Kingdom
Posted: 17th Mar 2004 12:26
Link
Just a not on futher maths.

With maths and further maths there are 12 books to complete.

I am only doing 9, AS/A2 Math and AS Math.

To be honest in programming you will not need the futher 3 books.

Mechanics 1,2,3 and Stats, 1,2,3 are not really any use!!

Whats so good about living anywho?
Back to top
Profile PM Email Website
Philip
21
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 15th Jun 2003
Location: United Kingdom
Posted: 17th Mar 2004 14:40 Edited at: 17th Mar 2004 14:41
Link
Amazingly, I can still remember my GCSE subjects - I sat them in 1989. They were:

Maths
Physics
Chemistry
English language
English literature
Technology
Religious Education (that was compulsory)
German
French

and I also remember I got 5 As, 3 Bs and a C in French (I hate that language). Not bad for a bear, eh?

My A-levels are easier to remember.

Economics
General Studies
English
Technology
Business Studies

2 As, 2 Bs and a C (because I sat the Business Studies exam on a whim without having been to any classes on it - I'm quite proud of getting a C without having ever sat a class). Of all my A levels I preferred Economics.

I wish I'd studied harder and not spent four years of my life mucking about. I might have got some more As. Oh, and I should never have studied French at GCSE. I should have taken Geography or History or both instead. I was good at both of those.

Aaah ... the things we regret in later life.

Philip

What do you mean, bears aren't supposed to wear hats and a tie? P1.3ghz / 384 megs / GeForce MX 5200 128meg / WinXP home
Back to top
Profile PM Email
spooky
22
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 30th Aug 2002
Location: United Kingdom
Posted: 17th Mar 2004 15:03
Link
Just got out my CV:

1984 - School
-------------
'O' Level - Maths - 'A' (took year early coz I'm clever!)

1985 - School
-------------
'O' Level - Statistics - 'B'
'O' Level - Physics - 'B'
'O' Level - Technology - 'C'
'CSE' Level - Chemistry - '1'
'CSE' Level - History - '4'
'CSE' Level - English - '4'
'CSE' Level - French - '5'

1986 - College
--------------
'O' Level - English Language - 'C'
'OA' Level - Maths (Pure + Stats) - 'A'
'OA' Level - General Studies - 'D'

1987 - College
--------------
'A' Level - Maths (Pure + Stats) - 'C'
'A' Level - Physics - 'E'
City & Guilds - Applications Programming - 'Pass/Credit/Credit'

Looking back, should have done Geography as it comes up in everyday conversation, pub quizzes and the like.

For I.T. related stuff, maths, statistics and physics really teach you a lot although 'A' level physics went right over my head with complicated equations (and a really crap teacher)

General Studies is a complete waste of time at college and most students didn't turn up for most of the lessons!

Oh well, back to work...

Boo!
Back to top
Profile PM Website
Martyn Pittuck
22
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 27th Aug 2002
Location: United Kingdom
Posted: 17th Mar 2004 18:38
Link
I would say statistics is a waste of time, and same with mechanics unless you going to do physics engines and stuff.

D&D is algorithms, so very usefull.

Pure is algebra, needed

Stats is Stats, not needed

Mechanics is Physics, so needed if you want to do games/graphics.

there are at least 3 books to each subject, although the subjects are chageing, i have heard.

You do 3 books per year, so A-Level Maths and A-Level FM will be 12 books.

I have done D&D 1, Stats 1,

Doing Mechanics 1, and Pure 1 ATM

Going to do Pure 2, 3, 4 and D&D 2 or Mechancis 2 and Stats 2

Whats so good about living anywho?
Back to top
Profile PM Email Website
David T
Retired Moderator
22
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 27th Aug 2002
Location: England
Posted: 17th Mar 2004 19:13 Edited at: 17th Mar 2004 19:14
Link
Quote: "i am going to go onto programming at college as soong a i leave secondary school."


If you plan to study IT / programming in further education, I's shy away from using ICT GCSE as a means of getting in.

From Cambridge University:


4. Which AS- and A2-Levels should I take?

Quote: "The Computer Laboratory believes that A2-level Mathematics is essential; AS-level Further Mathematics is very desirable (if your school teaches it) and A2-level Further Maths would be helpful. An A2-level physical science (e.g. Physics or Chemistry) is desirable. Electronics, English, a modern or classical language, or a social science would all be helpful at either AS- or A2-level. Some of the Computing A-levels are helpful (the ones which teach the scientific and mathematical side of the subject) and some are not (the ones that emphasise vocational skills); there is no requirement to take any AS- or A2-level computing courses.

You may find that different colleges have slightly different criteria, so you will need to check this out with the admissions secretary or admissions tutor at your prefered college. Some colleges may ask candidates to take the Advanced Extension Award or STEP papers in Mathematics."


There isn't actually any requirement to have studied IT at GCSE / A-Level, and some of the vocational courses (which ICT GCSE is very very much) don't aren't recommended. Maths, Further Maths and Physics will help your cause no end

"To do is to be" - Descartes
"To be is to do" - Voltaire
"Do be do be do" - Frank Sinatra
Back to top
Profile PM Email Website
Dazzag
22
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 26th Aug 2002
Location: Cyprus
Posted: 17th Mar 2004 19:25
Link
Of course. Hell, even in Uni they make you take other courses just incase you decide the degree you are doing isn't for you. Personally I knew IT was for me about 8 years earlier. But there were still people there that wern't positive, and even changed after a month or two.

Cheers

I am 99% probably lying in bed right now... so don't blame me for crappy typing
Back to top
Profile PM Email Website
jrowe
22
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 12th Oct 2002
Location: Here
Posted: 17th Mar 2004 20:34
Link
Martyn Pittuck : I disagree, statistics is very useful if you intend to go into anything science based, for example if you are a doctor, it is required to understand what all the data means for clinical trials.
Statistics isn't half boring though, which makes me wonder why I'm going to choose it over machanics and decision maths for my AS .


For Fathers and Sons who enjoy wholy spirits.
Back to top
Profile PM
Teh Go0rfmeister
21
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 17th Aug 2003
Location:
Posted: 17th Mar 2004 21:09
Link
Quote: "Also from what i posted before about me been in the giftet & talented for maths it also allows me to do the following:"
heheeh i was in gifted and talented list, all the teachers were like "you should do better than this, ur even on the gifted and talented list" im like "yes miss" after a while i told them where to shove the gifted and talented list so now when they ask me to do homework its like "miss, im not on the gifted and talented list, you're not allowed to expect work off me anymore"

and wtf u on about "GCSE's are not important"? without GCSE's you cant take A level, without A level u cant go to uni... unless ur ubergifted and talented.

ATM I'm doing:
double science predicted A
maths A
english lang B
english lit C
drama B (which i'd taken music instead)
ICT (full course) B (laziness)
RE (half course) E
Geog B
French A*
German C (wish i'd taken engineering instead)


For A level im gonna take
Physics
Maths
F. Maths
geog
Chemistry (AS)

my 2 cents

http://www.tinnedhead.tk under re-construction.
Back to top
Profile PM Website
stann65
20
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 3rd Feb 2004
Location: england
Posted: 17th Mar 2004 21:19
Link
all the qualifications i can get would be nice.

i have also been told at my school for GCSE science i can not take physics alone i have to do all 3 parts which are biology,chemistry and physics.

go onto my site
Back to top
Profile PM Email Website
Martyn Pittuck
22
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 27th Aug 2002
Location: United Kingdom
Posted: 17th Mar 2004 21:28
Link
giftet & talented



The scheme was piloted in my town, and i was in the first summer school for the gifted and talented

Big Brains.

Whats so good about living anywho?
Back to top
Profile PM Email Website
David T
Retired Moderator
22
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 27th Aug 2002
Location: England
Posted: 17th Mar 2004 21:44
Link
Quote: "i have also been told at my school for GCSE science i can not take physics alone i have to do all 3 parts which are biology,chemistry and physics."


Makes sense

What's this about half courses? I though you just took the exam!

Whatever happened to good ol' fashioned exams. It seems today there are more an more ways to get good marks, for exmaple the double award system.

Methinks Tony Blair has something to do with it :p Just like University top up fees and the scandals over how many state and independant school pupils get into University. It's a shambles really

My view:

If you're clever, go to university
If you're not so clever, do something more suited to you like college

My 0.011 pence (2 cents)

"To do is to be" - Descartes
"To be is to do" - Voltaire
"Do be do be do" - Frank Sinatra
Back to top
Profile PM Email Website
stann65
20
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 3rd Feb 2004
Location: england
Posted: 17th Mar 2004 21:55
Link
well i consider myself to be clever even though i might not show it . I am going to go to university if i get good enough grades in college.

go onto my site
Back to top
Profile PM Email Website
David T
Retired Moderator
22
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 27th Aug 2002
Location: England
Posted: 17th Mar 2004 22:12 Edited at: 17th Mar 2004 22:12
Link
Quote: "I am going to go to university if i get good enough grades in college."


Cool, good luck.

"To do is to be" - Descartes
"To be is to do" - Voltaire
"Do be do be do" - Frank Sinatra
Back to top
Profile PM Email Website
Teh Go0rfmeister
21
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 17th Aug 2003
Location:
Posted: 17th Mar 2004 22:25 Edited at: 17th Mar 2004 22:26
Link
Quote: "Whatever happened to good ol' fashioned exams. It seems today there are more an more ways to get good marks, for exmaple the double award system"


blair invented it so george bush's kids cud come to england, get high marks and good grades, and go bac to america. blair sucks up to buch so hard he wouldnt dare expect george bush to make his own country's education system loose its rep. any country would hav to sink low for bush's offspring to get good grades... if they're anything like him that is

http://www.tinnedhead.tk under re-construction.
Back to top
Profile PM Website
David T
Retired Moderator
22
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 27th Aug 2002
Location: England
Posted: 17th Mar 2004 22:29
Link
hmm, I sort of agree Froogle. Sort of. Maybe that's a bit OTT

"To do is to be" - Descartes
"To be is to do" - Voltaire
"Do be do be do" - Frank Sinatra
Back to top
Profile PM Email Website
Jonny_S
22
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 10th Oct 2002
Location: United Kingdom
Posted: 17th Mar 2004 22:49
Link
I go with what RobK says, I wouldn't even do ICT at all its really not going to help at all and I didn't shout, I highlighted the points you should read

Supermonkey - The crime gifhting sex god monkey!
Back to top
Profile PM
stann65
20
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 3rd Feb 2004
Location: england
Posted: 17th Mar 2004 22:50
Link
froogle lets just hope non of Blairs "men" are watching out or for that matter make sure uncle sam isn't watching out.

go onto my site
Back to top
Profile PM Email Website
Martyn Pittuck
22
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 27th Aug 2002
Location: United Kingdom
Posted: 17th Mar 2004 22:53
Link
double awards are great. i mean they take about an extra hour or 2 a week and u get another grade.



Whats so good about living anywho?
Back to top
Profile PM Email Website
Dazzag
22
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 26th Aug 2002
Location: Cyprus
Posted: 17th Mar 2004 22:55
Link
Quote: "and wtf u on about "GCSE's are not important"? without GCSE's you cant take A level, without A level u cant go to uni... unless ur ubergifted and talented."

Of course you need them to do A levels, which are the norm for getting into Uni. But for getting an IT job (make that decent IT job), then GCSE's are about the same as someone with a year or two of McJob experience. Honest. Unless you are lucky of course or extremely confident (and the employer likes that). My main point is that I hope people don't leave school after doing only GCSEs expecting loads of IT jobs to be available. Hell, these days even if you get a degree it is not easy. Is not like it was a decade or so ago (almost like picking jobs off trees). There are like loads and loads of us now. And the IT industry is not at it's healthiest either.

Personally after hearing about how much self employed plumbers, electricians, builders, and even ice cream van guys (90k for around London apparently if you are really good... cough....), it makes me slightly annoyed no-one suggested that to us IT type guys years ago. A friend of mine fully owns (at 35 years of age) his own 5 bedroom detached house in London, with large inside pool, and 2 cars worth about £40-50k each. And what does he do? Yep, he sells stuff to garages. Not for selling to customers, nope, he sells the stuff they need to run the store. Toilet paper, pens, the paper for the tills etc. And he was an ordinary Joe before he started, about 10 years ago now...... damn damn damn damn damn!!!!

Heh. Slight rant there. Having a bad work day Bloody hate Slough (see The Office for an idea, the building at the start is around the corner somewhere from where I work).....

Cheers

I am 99% probably lying in bed right now... so don't blame me for crappy typing
Back to top
Profile PM Email Website
stann65
20
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 3rd Feb 2004
Location: england
Posted: 17th Mar 2004 23:14
Link
when refering to The Office do you have a boss just like david brent(ricky gervais) or are you a david brent.

go onto my site
Back to top
Profile PM Email Website
Robin
21
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 22nd Feb 2003
Location: United Kingdom
Posted: 18th Mar 2004 14:28
Link
I didn't take ict when I was in secondary school, becuase it was only worth half a gcse or something, and the most advanced thing you seemed to learn was how to make a website
I'm doing my A levels now, and i wanted to take computing, but then decided not to because it didn't fit in with the rest of my options i wanted to do. In computing at A level in my school, you do visual basic programming, and i'd recommend taking computing at a level if you want to be a programmer when you're older. (i don't want to be a programmer when i'm older so it didn't really bother me that much)
Some colleges offer 'ICT', which I think is a complete waste of time - you get taught how to use word and excel etc.
Definitely take Maths at A-Level though - i am and it's helping me loads with programming.
back to gcse's though, ict might be different in your school, but it doesn't really matter if you don't take it - university courses related to programming etc look more for Maths as a qualification.
'DT - Graphics' is a good option to take - ask your teacher if you can make a computer game for your coursework lol

Robin

http://www.thegameszone.tk | robin@thegameszone.tk
Back to top
Profile PM Email Website
stann65
20
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 3rd Feb 2004
Location: england
Posted: 18th Mar 2004 17:46
Link
i know one of the local colleges near me has a computer programming programming course that runs for about 2 years. Would that be worth taking for the general side of programming.

go onto my site
Back to top
Profile PM Email Website
Hamish McHaggis
21
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 13th Dec 2002
Location: Modgnik Detinu
Posted: 18th Mar 2004 18:47 Edited at: 18th Mar 2004 18:54
Link
I couldn't be arsed to read the whole post, and I'm probably just repeating what people have said, but...

- My friends took IT GCSE and IT GNVQ and both said they were boring and simple. The only programming you do is a bit of HTML while doing Frontpage, and I learnt HTML on my own in a week.

- You need neither IT GCSE or Computing A-Level to become a professional programmer, especially if you do it as a hobby anyway, although I am doing A-Level Computing as I like programming . Taking a computing course at uni is all you really need. Also I have been told on the open evening at the local college that the more able computing students drop it after 1 year to concentrate on their maths and other subjects .

- Oh and I've been told Maths A-Level is MORE important (not to mention essential) in a programming career than computing, and Further Maths is handy but not nesecerry (I'm not doing it cos although I'm predicted A* at GCSE I don't really enjoy maths all that much).

Trying is the first step towards faliure.
The Basics of DBPro Tutorial, on my site now!
Athelon XP 1600 Plus (1.4ghz) - ATI Radeon 9600 Pro - 256mb RAM
Back to top
Profile PM Email Website
stann65
20
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 3rd Feb 2004
Location: england
Posted: 18th Mar 2004 19:15
Link
OK THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO HAS POSTED AND HELPED ME OUT.

at 18:00 GMT i am going to my school to finilise my GCSE options.

i will be doing:


[i]enlgish - language and literature
science - dual award
maths
D.T- graphics
I.C.T
P.E
P.S.E
R.E
geography

go onto my site
Back to top
Profile PM Email Website
Killswitch
22
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 2nd Oct 2002
Location: School damnit!! Let me go!! PLEASE!!!
Posted: 18th Mar 2004 20:00
Link
GNVQ ICT is sooooo boring all it involves is print screening each and every word you type! URGH!!! I HATE IT!!!!

(exaggeration)

~I see one problem with your reasoning: The fact is that is a chicken~
Back to top
Profile PM Email
Dazzag
22
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 26th Aug 2002
Location: Cyprus
Posted: 18th Mar 2004 20:09
Link
Quote: "when refering to The Office do you have a boss just like david brent(ricky gervais) or are you a david brent"

Arf. Nah, I had a boss similar to David Brent once. Current one is bit distant really.

Oh, and a few things off the top of my head...

1. We had the singing fish painting thingy a few years earlier
2. We also modified a hardcore pornographic picture of a woman "servicing" several blokes at once *ahem*, by replacing her head with one of the teamleaders. And then emailing everyone in the building. Luckily the MD saw the funny side. Good olde PSP.
3. We got took over by a company in Slough and had to move there (we work in travel, and this was 2 months after 911....). Although we didn't come from Swindon.... erm... I did live near there about 25 years ago though....

There were other smaller similarities, but can't remember them right now...

And you have to work in Slough to appreciate how utterly crap it is. Put it this way, in the first few months of working there we got emails on being careful with laptops getting into our cars, because theives were about with knives and stuff outside every night. And we work in a security enclosed area. Also guidelines about driving in traffic (lock the doors, and leave a gap so you can zoom off down the pavement if someone attacks). Nice. We also went to a local pub, and some of the cars had been broken into by the time we came back. And this was the nice area. Second pub we went to a few weeks later, and *all* the cars in one of the car parks had been broken into. Lovely place.

Oh, and look up Slough in the dictionary. Is about right. And don't forget it is an *old* word, so they probably knew what they were calling it....

Right, off to do my little dance...

Cheers

Ps. Bring those bombs from the poems now, as I am at home again.

I am 99% probably lying in bed right now... so don't blame me for crappy typing
Back to top
Profile PM Email Website
David T
Retired Moderator
22
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 27th Aug 2002
Location: England
Posted: 18th Mar 2004 21:34 Edited at: 18th Mar 2004 21:34
Link
Quote: "when refering to The Office do you have a boss just like david brent(ricky gervais) or are you a david brent."


Ahh that theme tune.

Free love on the free love freeway....

On the BBC website there is a map of sloughand where the title was shot.

Quote: " Bloody hate Slough (see The Office for an idea, the building at the start is around the corner somewhere from where I work)....."


Lucky you!

Quote: "1. We had the singing fish painting thingy a few years earlier
2. We also modified a hardcore pornographic picture of a woman "servicing" several blokes at once *ahem*, by replacing her head with one of the teamleaders. And then emailing everyone in the building. Luckily the MD saw the funny side. Good olde PSP.
3. We got took over by a company in Slough and had to move there (we work in travel, and this was 2 months after 911....). Although we didn't come from Swindon.... erm... I did live near there about 25 years ago though...."


The resemblance is spooky...

Quote: "- Oh and I've been told Maths A-Level is MORE important (not to mention essential) in a programming career than computing, and Further Maths is handy but not nesecerry (I'm not doing it cos although I'm predicted A* at GCSE I don't really enjoy maths all that much)."


I echo that, in fact I echo all or your points Hamish

Just wondering... what is PSE GCSE!?! How to cope with bullies?

"To do is to be" - Descartes
"To be is to do" - Voltaire
"Do be do be do" - Frank Sinatra
Back to top
Profile PM Email Website
Back to top

Login to post a reply

Server time is: 2024-11-24 23:45:54
Your offset time is: 2024-11-24 23:45:54