Could my eight-year old pass a GCSE?

I reckon there is a real possibility she could, based on these GCSE papers posted at the Libertarian Alliance blog.

Biology

Chemistry

Physics

Go through to the LA blog to get links to the marking schemes. Alternatively ask a passing toddler: they'll probably know the answers.

Comments

[Kit]

She may be able to pass them now but with another 8 years of schooling the exams should be a real challenge.

[robin horbury]

Note the global warming/acid rain propaganda/nonsense at the beginning of the chemistry paper. The greenies have definitely won the keys to the asylum!

[Kit]

My favourite question in the Physics paper:

9D A neighbour objects to planning permission being given for the turbine.
The most likely reason for this objection is that the neighbour thinks that . . .
1 the turbine may cause a decrease in property prices in the area.
2 the turbine is a health risk.
3 the turbine will cause air pollution.
4 having a turbine is a status symbol.

(The answer is 1)

[Jack Hughes]

Bish,

I wept when I saw the "physics" paper. Every single freaking question is about global yawning.

Kit's question (above) is a corker - it's got bugger all to do with physics.

[Cleanthes]

In Q5 of the physics paper, they even feel that they have to give the most staggeringly simple Energy = Power x Time equation at the top.

If you can't work this out from the units involved then you are essentially completely incapable.

This stuff is just a disgrace. Utterly unbelievable.

[Jack Hughes]

Looks like the physics curriculum has been well-and-truly hijacked by the green lobby.

Did no-one try to stop this hijacking ? No teachers or headmasters or parents say "hang on a minute" ?

One other important aspect of this ongoing fiasco is the narrowing of the curriculum. This would be equally bad if every topic had to be related to say crime prevention, or dental hygiene, or something that was not even vaguely political. It would make the curriculum narrow and boring.

Why not just some neutral questions - like "which circuit will work", or "what is the current in the 25 ohm resistor", or "how far will the trolley travel in the next 10 seconds".

[Jack Hughes]

A similar piece on the American Thinker http://www.americanthinker.com/2009/02/save_the_children_from_global.html