when I did GCSEs the gap between them and A Levels was huge.
It was a mega leap

I know a few lads in their early / mid 20s now, who say the same thing.

I think O'levels were tougher than GCSEs, and the gap between GCSE and A'Level is too much

Weirdly the same lads I know who say that, say the first 2 years of their degrees were a waste of time as they were often similar to A'Levels or easier - which mirrors my own experience

I guess it depends on the course etc

but as a system its... maybe misaligned

Like wise saddling kids with so much debt is shit

And working through uni is harder now, less bar jobs for starters