GCSE's - do they run out?

GinG

GinG

GinG

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I was speaking to a friend the other day, well having a bit of a discussion really.

I have always thought GCSE's are a waste of time, I have never needed them for any job I have had and tbh they dont really show a lot...

Anyway doesnt really matter what we were discussing, however my friend said that he was talking to his boss at work and asked why he never got asked for qualifications, it was because his boss was under the assumption after 6 years or so the qualifications pretty much run out and its on life/work experience there after.

Obviously I was quite pleased that this supported my arguement about them being pointless, but...is it true? Do you go through them for no reason and after x amount of years they are pretty much redundant?
 
Lol the thread title is ace - GCSEs best before 2012.

But in an indirect sense he's right for most people and their situations; GCSEs are still used as a measure of intelligence but are superseceded by A2 levels and experience etc. By 6 years after people have gained their GCSEs, most other things you've gained will render them not that useful / people will not pay as much attention to them.

They just depreciate over time, as you gain more skills that show your development. Happens with everything.
 
My manager and colleagues (who interviewed me) didn't ask about my GCSEs or A levels (had my interview on alevel results day last year). They were surprised when I said I did A level maths a few months ago even though it was clearly on my C.V.

I think it depends on what sort of job though.
 
yes, they expire, just like all qualifications!
seriously wtf?

after 6 years or so the qualifications pretty much run out
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well your mates boss is an idiot.

dunno about you, but i'd be pretty miffed if i spent £50,000 on an MBA and then being told 7 years later that, "sorry mate, your MBA is over 6 years old. it ain't worth squat."
 
mjt said:
yes, they expire, just like all qualifications!
seriously wtf?


well your mates boss is an idiot.

dunno about you, but i'd be pretty miffed if i spent £50,000 on an MBA and then being told 7 years later that, "sorry mate, your MBA is over 6 years old. it ain't worth squat."
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think an MBA is quite different than GCSE / A Levels.

I think what I was trying to say is that those you get forced to do are acctually pointless...
 
when i did my gnvq's my gcse results were only considered if less then 5 years old, if after that 5 years then i would have had to have done more work in the key skill areas; maths, english and IT.

As it was my results were within the time limit and i didnt have to bother with any of the keyskills work.
 
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GCSEs are not pointless though. they might be too easy, but if you don't get A*s As and Bs, it shows prospective employers that you're a bit thick :p
 
GinG said:
I was speaking to a friend the other day, well having a bit of a discussion really.

I have always thought GCSE's are a waste of time, I have never needed them for any job I have had and tbh they dont really show a lot...

Anyway doesnt really matter what we were discussing, however my friend said that he was talking to his boss at work and asked why he never got asked for qualifications, it was because his boss was under the assumption after 6 years or so the qualifications pretty much run out and its on life/work experience there after.

Obviously I was quite pleased that this supported my arguement about them being pointless, but...is it true? Do you go through them for no reason and after x amount of years they are pretty much redundant?
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They're the building blocks for academic achievement. You don't NEED them if you don't want them and although they don't expire, after a certain period when you have either other qualifications, or some relevant work experience, they become worth less and less.

A 17 year old applying for a job will have a hard time without any GCSEs.

A 27 year old applying for a job will rely primarily on work experience, GCSEs are no longer that relevant.

The trouble is that you don't go straight from 16 to 27, you unfortunately, have to go through the tedium of getting older...and unless you are very fortunate you'll really struggle at 17 to either get a decent job, or make a decent living on your own. It can be done, of course, with hard graft.

I couldn't do what I do for a living now (and thoroughly enjoy) without jumping through educational hoops.
 
In a sense, they're the most important exams you will ever do, because you can't get anywhere without them. However, they do depreciate in value after you've done AS/A levels and a degree and then get experience, but they're certainly important when being considered for College/University.

They don't 'run out' but certainly become worth less after more qualifications and experience are gained.
 
Qualifications show commitment to a task.

Usually the higher up the academic tree you go the more specialised the subject matter of the task becomes. Also the qualification covers a lot of fundamental subject matter too to provide a good sound base for reasoning.

So as others have stated GCSEs are important. A levels are important, as are degrees, masters and doctorate. However it depends on the what you're attempting to do.

I had the chance to look at a PhD in supercomputing - the modelling of perfume scent in a room based in their chemical make up - or leave and join an international consultancy with better prospects to make some money. I chose the latter although the former would have been rewarding.

In my work I've known some hideously bright individuals. Many from Cambridge, Imperial etc etc but it I've know that they couldn't design software to save their lives because their specialisation where in Physical sciences.
So the relevancy of education and the job also play a goal - just because you're smart and older doesn't mean you know more than someone that's done a qualification in something more relevant..
 
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GinG said:
think an MBA is quite different than GCSE / A Levels.

I think what I was trying to say is that those you get forced to do are acctually pointless...
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As Mr^B says they're simply stages that you've got to complete in order to reach the next level but even for the ones that you're forced to do they aren't necessarily pointless where they can give you a fuller and more rounded education - excluding certain subjects which are simply there to fill up space in the curriculum.
 
With A-levels and a degree I was still expected to do some Key Skills for my employer due to the fact GCSEs are only really counted if they are attained within the past 5years or so.

Bit stupid with an IT based degree and Maths a-level.
 
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