Maximizing chances of GCSE grades at 8/9 is essential

At GCSE? Post uni all they wanted was Uni grades and potentially A level … and maybe maths and English gcse

It’s not essential to get 8’s and 9’s but i wouldn’t be happy that a child capable of it wasn’t taught to their potential. 7’s will be fine for most good unis but to go for Oxbridge and the top courses in the top unis then it may be a disadvantage not to have them in some subjects. Also our school won’t allow you to do A level maths physics or chemistry without 8’s in maths GCSE

If you can afford a tutor and it will help them improve their grades then why not?

I'd be interested in peoples thoughts on how much children should be studying above and beyond their actual school time going into Year11 to achieve 7s and above?

I know it's partially dependent on the child and subjects but would love to hear some effective tips for how they can maximise study and exam success in GCSEs.

Most Uni's don't give a toss what GCSE's you got (as long as you have a pass in maths and english) it's the A level grades that matter.

My DS has been predicted the same. I'm fairly chilled about it and have asked if he would like a tutor in any subject, he said maybe 1 subject next year which is his weaker subject. Outside of school he participates in alot of sports and hanging out with friends. I hope he does well, but know that they get quite a lot of pressure from school to get top grades and I don't want to add to that (I had pushy parents). I also think our children will have about 50 years of work ahead of them, I think there teenage years should be about having fun.

For teaching, yes.

It's quite competitive from what I've seen and I'm in grad recruitment.

Get the best grades you can I'd say.

However, do remember to maintain balance and do the best you can within your abilities, no need to dig oneself into the ground as there will be various options post school.

Only a certain proportion of children will get 8/9s it is crazy how 7's -an A in old money - is starting to be spoken about as not good enough by some.

Don't forget there has been grade inflation for a few years due to Covid so grade profiles will start to settle down to more normality. Their grades might not be quite as high as they'd been in the last few years but they will be competitive agaist each other in the same cohort (not saying those children who got GCSEs during the Covid years didn't have a tough time and experience disruption to their education by the way just saying grade inflation happened during that period.)

The best way to maximise potential is to get into a good rhythm. Help/support setting up a reasonable revision time table and stick to it. Identify gaps in knowledge from mocks and work on those. Be an active parent but not helicopter. It’s been my hardest parenting stage as I felt so unprepared - dd just took her GCSEs so we’re waiting for results. She’s worked so bloody hard and I hope her results reflect that.

Would you really need great GCSEs across the board? I went to Oxford. I had an E and a couple of Bs at GCSE and a B in one of my A levels I think (can't remember). But I had my 3 As so that was enough to get an interview and then the interview is what decides the place. No one who made the decision to offer me one would have looked at my GCSEs, why would they?

Edited to add: that was 20 years ago though. But is it so different now?

The ideal is that a child aims for their potential, without putting undue pressure on themselves. If they get 7/8/9 at GCSEs they will be able to choose the A-levels they want, keeping all their options open.

I wouldn't put any pressure on a kid by suggesting 7s would limit their uni choices, that is just demotivating, and also not true.

Are GCSEs really looked at for jobs though?

I'd rather my children come out of the education system with good (for them) grades, well-rounded with life experience, emotionally healthy and with realistic goals.

I'm happy to put tutoring into something specific and meaningful- my 11yo has tutoring to support his dyslexic skills gaps. I had a tutor in one subject at A-levels as I was struggling and my teacher damaged my confidence. What I wouldn't want is to hot house beyond their comfort zone and set them up with unrealistic expectations on courses that are not the best fit socially or academically- that's an excellent trigger for burn out and low self-esteem.

Working hard is important and so is playing hard. I worked consistently through my exam years so was happy to continue normal routines like swimming right up to the night before exams. In contrast, my friend crammed herself into a frenzy and dropped all external life for 4 months before A-levels and was a wreck before each exam. Guess who dropped out of uni...

Exam grades are only one part of being employable and thriving as an adult.

Afaik Cambridge doesn't require top gcse grades across the board - it certainly didn't used to, They've got the sense to know that some people are asymmetrically talented.

Well if it’s any consolation, apparently either Oxford or Cambridge stated they wouldn’t distinguish between 8’s and 9’s.

Depends on what they want to study at A level, if they want uni, if they want Cambridge or Oxford etc

This isn't true, for vet anyway. The vet schools mostly stipulate 5 or 6 GCSEs at grade 7. There's no advantage if you get more. Admissions tutors don't even look at what GCSEs you got. If you get the minimum required GCSEs along with required predicted A levels and work experience you will be through to the next selection stage, usually interview or sometimes sitting a test. Sometimes they look at personal statement but several don't look at that either.

8/9s across the board (rather than just in the subjects relevant for subsequent a level and degree subject) might be relevant at Oxford, for med/vet and maybe one or two other cases.

But if someone who's obviously at a very good school can't get appropriate gcse grades for some 'top' course without tutors and massive effort then probably wouldn't thrive if they got a place anyway.

If he wants to study maths at A-level, then working hard to get an 8 or 9 over a 7 will definitely benefit him in September. Otherwise he'll just be playing catch-up.

Depends on university choice . Top unis want to see them , daughter has had to send her GCSEs certificates for entry this sept

Define "not very common". In most schools 8's and 9's are not very common. They are old school A and A* grades, very high. When the average across the country is circa 22% of children getting a 7 and over, and that includes 7's.

I don’t agree with either. I think teens should be encouraged to achieve the best grades they are capable of. For some that will be 8-9’s, for others it will be 4-5’s. Pushing too hard and expecting a teen to work flat out is going to lead to burn out. There is a balance.

A level grades are far more important. But why don't you have a look at the university website pages to get an idea of grade requirements? It will vary depending on the popularity of the course and institution

You don't need lots of 8s/9s for top unis.

You do need to be shit hot at what you are applying for and preferably interested in it as well - so lots of stuff outside school, reading around it etc,

Lots of people studying maths have appalling results for foreign languages etc at gcse.