I do not know what the exams are supposed to quantify any more.

There are for example maths exams that are as far as possible based on aptitude rather than knowledge but these are often merely quizzes, not standard exams.

I certainly know that in my Physics paper I wrote learnt the answers without any understanding of what I was writing. Does that prove I'm any good at Physics or prepared to put the work in?

Increasingly I hear that people require grades in subjects - but it has nothing to do with the subject per se, more that to get a high mark requires a decent amount of work and to get high marks in a spread of subjects again generally indicates the ability to apply oneself rather than an interest in a narrow field.

I'm a pragmatist and I need to jump through the lovely little hoops and even stomach such phrases as "matrix environment", "self starter" and the rest as talking the talk is part and parcel of getting the job. Thinking it's all a pile of drivel isn't going to win brownie points.