[Lauren]

They're not applicable to the real world, and they're based on your ability to recall facts to some extent.

However, I have a really bad memory (due to a knock on the head a few years ago - silly me, I know), but I put every ounce of energy, spare time, and my soul into those exams and got what I thought was some damn good grades.

I know there are smart people who don't get good grades, it'd be silly to say that everyone who has bad grades aren't intelligent (I have many friends as examples) - but I have quite high grades and the only way I can explain that is because I don't just recall facts etc- it's because I understand concepts.

I'm far from intelligent, but because I put so much of my effort into exams (and have made myself seriously ill a lot of times from it) I learn each concept and really have to understand it.

I think I'm referring more to AS/A2 levels than GCSE though, because the majority of GCSE was multiple choice (bar some Science and English) - whereas with AS/A2 you can't just learn facts - you HAVE to understand.
I did averagely on my GCSE's (1 A*, 3 A's, 3 B's, 4 C's) but got higher than average on A2 levels because they're based on understanding, whereas GCSE is based on memorising facts.