C in chemistry gcse mocks - Can anyone explain foundation Chemistry gcse?

[Frankmonkey]

Dd is doing triple science but only got a C in both chemistry and physics mocks.

School have offered her foundation Chemistry instead?

What does that mean?

[botheredandbewildered]

Some subjects, at GCSE, are split into a higher tier exam(for grades A* to E) and a foundation tier (grades C to G). If she got a C in her mocks, it should be possible to push that up a grade by the summer, so avoid the foundation tier like the plague!

[Frankmonkey]

Thanks that's what I thought. I think she just scraped a C. But All her predicted grades in physics and chemistry so far have been Bs so I will encourage her to stay with the higher tier.

[catslife]

Most schools would still enter pupils obtaining a C in their mocks for the Higher tier papers. Most pupils would improve their grade between mocks and real exams so if predicted grades are Bs, she should be offered the chance to achieve this.
There is overlap between Higher and Foundation GCSE in that the grade C questions are the same, but because of the "easier" grade G to D questions on the Foundation paper the mark needed for a grade C is higher. So if your dds problem is poor exam technique there is a risk she may not achieve a C on the lower tier.
I assume your dd obtained a B (or even higher) grade in Biology. If she is considering Biology A level, then she would really need the Higher Tier content for Chemistry and Physics.

[Frankmonkey]

She got an A in biology. She thinks she didn't do enough past papers for chemistry and is confident she can get a B.

[LIZS]

She won't get above a c if she takes Foundation level.

[foragogo]

If its any help, long tine ago i know but I got a D in Physics in my mocks and Bs in Chemistry and Biology which gave me the kick up the arse I needed and i did lots of revision and past papers, particularly and I ended up with A* in biology and chemistry and B in Physics which I really was crap at but the past papers got me through.

[dottycat123]

In order to get a c at foundation you can make very few errors.Ds 1 was told that it may actually be easier to get a C at higher level than foundation.