tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10549832.post116498885121313641..comments2009-12-20T01:52:30.833+04:00John B. Chiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18208312356775869565uaeeconomist@hotmail.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10549832.post-1165003029717745752006-12-01T23:57:00.000+04:002006-12-01T23:57:00.000+04:00Yes - this happened with the Oxford entrance exam. It was banned through left-wing student union pressure because it was seen as discriminating against state school pupils who couldn't be "coached" for the exams by their teachers, like private school pupils were.<BR/><BR/>The reality was that the examiners were well aware of coaching and knew what they were looking for: the exam wasn't about a perfect score or rote learning, but original thought. But it was banned, making the only entry to Oxford through a face to face interview (even more intimidating for more shy pupils; the exam offered anonymity and no need to travel, whereas the interview took place in a confronting situation far from home, plus private school pupils were generally coached for interviews anyway, often by their ex-Oxbridge teachers) and then a near perfect score at A-levels (an exam which private school pupils find it more easy to score highly on than state school pupils, because they get "better" teaching - more resources, smaller classes, and so forth).<BR/><BR/>The exam ban effectively made the situation far more traumatic and more challenging for those it was designed to help.secretdubaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13115610824191031176noreply@blogger.com