Re: Cambridge drops law entrance test


"The Real Doctor" <ubergeekian@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:c89fa68a-049a-4374-b986-f456c24a6599@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
On 4 Sep, 12:03, Palindrome <m...@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
The Real Doctor wrote:

What's unfair about expecting people who are going to study law to
have a good grasp of english? Or are you saying that black or asian
third generation Britains find these tests difficult but newly arrived
(white) Czechs sail through?

All the candidates reaching that point of the selection process will
have already demonstrated a good grasp of English. Good enough to handle
the course without difficulty.

Maybe. But Cambridge isn't after "good enough", is it? It's after "the
best" ...

The difficulty Oxbridge faces is that most applicants would be able to cope
with the course and get a low to mid 2:1. There are few 2:2s at either
instituation, cerainly fewer than at other places. How then do they pick
those candidates who will get a 1st? Or pick those people who will make a
positive difference to the College? Well, some candiates will be simply
outstanding. I knew a few people like that. The rest of us are fairly
similar, and not all that different from those who didn't get in. Then it
comes down to finding a means to pick from pretty much similar people. You
could use interviews, and this is still the mainstay of selection. However,
that they are often claimed to be subjective and biased towards independent
schools. Kowing how much effort tutors put into making sure this doesn't
happen I don't believe it, but the papers do. So then they look at a
broader system of slection. They have interviews, pervious results,
extra-ciricular activities and so do. However, the candidates and their
schools get wise. They all do a whole wealth of things: treking, playing
sport, music, languages, everything. Often these things are said to be
biased beacuse they cost money to do. So they introduce additional exams to
try to tell people apart.


.

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