what grade does your school require to do an A level in that subject?

[user1484040234]

My Kids' school currently requires a B grade to do an A level subject. For next year it's going to be a grade 7 with a grade 7 in Maths to do science subjects. Have other schools changed their requirements with the new linear GCSE/A levels? A 7 is supposed to be an A. This is a local comprehensive school.

[Judashascomeintosomemoney]

Just on the way home from DDs GCSE info evening. They are required to get 7 or above to study the subject in sixth form. Two associated schools with a sixth form each so required grades get you in to either. One is a selective girls school, the other a super selective boys school (both sixth forms are mixed).

[Tissunnyupnorth]

Has stayed the same at DD’s comp. Minimum of a 6 (B) required for A level. Though some subjects, Maths & Science require a 7. A 6 at GCSE in Maths is the required minimum to do an A level in Science.

[Stickerrocks]

Our local 6th forms have so many places to fill that they will accept 5s, with a 7 for maths being the exception. You don't need a GCSE in history or geography to take them at A level either.

[Kazzyhoward]

Our local 6th forms have so many places to fill that they will accept 5s,

That's just setting the kids up to fail and waste their time.

[clary]

My DCs' school will require a 6. To do psychology A level this year you needed a 6 in maths. B in letter subjects was fine so it makes sense.

[Ta1kinPeece]

It depends on the subject.
DCs college has always wanted top grades for maths and sciences (old A* / A)
and good for languages (B minimum)
fluffier subjects allowed lower grades

[ButFirstTea]

7 isn't quite an A, more like a very high B/low A. Lots of A levels required an A in the school I used to work in but it depends on which subject I think.

[Sofabitch]

grades C/5 and above.

I scraped into college with 5 Cs and did fine.

Has the boundary moved that far!

[user1484040234]

I thought 4 is low C, 5 is high C/low B, 6 is high B, 7 is A, 8/9 is the old A* split up. The school required B for this and previous years, so I think they have gone up a grade, a 6 would be a good B.

[BackforGood]

Just back from an open evening tonight (at a Grammar school). they want 7s for the subject you want to study at A-level, or 8s in Sciences and / or maths.
It's my first one of the round this year, so don't know how typical that will be, or if it reflects the fact this is an over-subscribed 6th form.

[user1484040234]

Wow back for, that's A*s in science and maths!

[noblegiraffe]

7 is definitely an A, they're setting the proportion of 7+ to be about the proportion that got A+ in the last year of the old GCSE. The 8 isn't A, it's high A, low to middle A, so it's actually easier to get an 8 than it was to get an A*.

[charlmum60]

Most 6th form's in our area are looking for an average of B across 5/6 subjects with certain specific subjects requiring an A (7) or higher (Maths)

[Stickerrocks]

It isn't setting them up to fail though, It's giving them the opportunity to take A levels in subjects they want to take. There are many people who don't expect to get into RG universities, but who genuinely want to study a subject at A level. 6th forms should not and cannot shut the doors to thousands of students who have met the government target for an acceptable number and level of GCSEs. What about all those kids in failing schools who haven't had the opportunities which grammar & private schools offer? Why should they be written off when they may flourish in a different environment.

[Allthebestnamesareused]

Ours needs an A*/A or a minimum of 7 to do that subject at A level.

(Entrance to 6th Form requires a minimum of 7 x A(or 7) and 1 x B(6) from their best 8 results though.

[Allthebestnamesareused]

Yes ours requires 8s for Further Maths and Sciences too but you can do Maths with a minimum of 7 .

[BubblesBuddy]

They are not necessarily going into a different environment if the GCSE requirements are at their own school or another similar school. Neither do they have to study academic A levels. They should look at what mid level GCSEs usually lead to regarding A level results and take it from there. If these results mean the students come out with DDD at A level then university choice will be limited. That may not matter of course. Alternatively there are other qualifications that may be much more suitable where the student would enjoy greater success. All avenues should be explored.

[noblegiraffe]

It's giving them the opportunity to take A levels in subjects they want to take.

Is it fair to the students to let them take subjects they want to take knowing that the most likely outcome is that they will crash and burn? When you look at the stats, the lower your GCSE grade, the bigger the chance you have of completely failing an A-level. Now most schools are restricting kids to 3 subjects, they don’t even have the option of dropping their worst subject - they would probably have to resit Y12 on a more suitable path that they should have been guided into from the start.

[ifonly4]

DD has just left secondary. An 8 was required for maths and A for a language or science.

The school she moved to required an 8 in maths if doing a science subject and As in any subject she wanted to continue with (I was so relieved when she unexpectedly received an 8 in maths and could do biology). I do know of another school that requires what where As in every subject they continued with, but they had to gain at least five As. Around here a lot of schools seem to require higher grades and the feel is that higher grades will be required for other subjects.

[BringOnTheScience]

Average of 6 across the board to get in, with 7 or 8 required for some specific subjects.

IB providers locally wanted 7/B for Higher subjects.

[cricketballs3]

don't forget that it is only maths and english that have history with the new grading, so other GCSE subjects are guessing as to the requirements for the new A Level specs which have also increased in difficulty

[sadeyedladyofthelowlands63]

I teach English in a comprehensive school and we require a level 6 (in English language and English literature) for A level.

[AlexanderHamilton]

The school Ds has just left required an old B grade (new Grade 6) to do A levels. Interestingly it's a selective school.

At his new school (comp) it's Grade 6 in most subjects except for maths & science where it is Grade 7.

At dd's school you need Grade 6's.

[MaisyPops]

We accept on a 5 but strongly recommend a 6 to give us confidence of a student doing well.

As English we tend to find we get a lot of GCSE borderline students who get their 5 Cs with lots of intervention and then decide a level is for them when we know they were dragged over the threshold. Often whoever taught them at GCSE will give advice based on knowing the students. E.g. I've got 4 of my GCSE students who were 6s but had rubbish days. They'll be fine at a level. (But that's the benefit of being a school with 6th form)