Maths is not my strong point, says Malc, but when the Ministry of Education said in a report that two thirds of candidates were below the average in maths exams I wondered how the average was calculated and if the Ministry's grasp of maths was as questionable as mine. It actually meant, apparently that these candidates had failed to score 10/20 (the normal French marking system is based on 20 as the top mark). To my thinking 10 is 50%, not the average, but half marks.
It would be a sad commentary on maths education if there was such a wide gap in achievement. Given that nonetheless 84% actually passed the brevet as a result of course work taken into account it makes you wonder why bother with the exams.
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