The fact is that A-levels, at least in maths and hard science, have got progressively easier since the 60s. When I sat my A-levels, we had books (bound in red covers, as I remember) containing copies of all the A-level maths papers for 20 years or so. It was the experience of every one of us that the questions at the end of the book were quite easy, and the ones at the beginning were more difficult. It wasn’t just a case of topic drift either - it was not uncommon to see an almost identical question reappear several years later. The later version, however, would break down the steps of the calculation with enormous signposts to tell you how to solve the problem.

I absolutely agree with you that it’s not the fault of the pupils. They do what they’re told, work hard, earn good grades, but don’t really have the tools to judge how what they are being taught compares to what the previous generation learned.

I disagree with you when you say we have “a crisis of confidence” in A-levels. What we have is not a lack of faith in the exam, it’s a lack of content and rigour. The reason that Universities are having to run more and more remedial courses for first years because they come poorly prepared has nothing to do with confidence, and everything to do with content.

The fault is not with the pupils. The fault lies fairly and squarely with the education system, and with the parents (who should bear thr responsibility for their child’s education,even if they chose to devolve that responsibility to the state.)

Q How many Daily Mail readers does it take to change a lightbulb?

A Change? What is change?