Oh, please don't get me started... In the UK, state education has got far worse over the last fifteen years. The level of reliance on exams is ridiculous. I'm almost a hundred percent anti-exam, as it bears no resemblance to work in the real world. Who writes an article for a publication under exam conditions? What scientist writes a paper for peer review under exam conditions? What architect designs a building under exam conditions? It would be far better to teach children about budgeting, managing deadlines, etc, etc. The only exam I can think of with any value is a driving test.