To have not known kids have to attain grade 4 in maths?

I haven’t demeaned anyone. Preparation is just as important for those aiming for 4s or 2s as it is for those aiming for 7s or 9s.

I haven't tried to convince you that I'm trying to convince you of anything.

Then why mention it in response to my post?

I think you need to look at your own critical thinking skills, you can take an interest in your child’s exams and simultaneously be invested in your child’s wellbeing and to think independently and critically.

its not one or the other.

To the OP who said exams don’t measure intelligence, in the world we live in they do, children need specific qualifications to often obtain higher education, most importantly most professions/employers seek basic qualifications for employment.

it’s a good thing and not something to be sneered at.

And I haven't tried to convince you that I'm trying to convince you of anything.

Of course it's most excellent to help, nurture and encourage your own children to do really well.

If that's getting them from a 7 to an 8/9 at GCSE, that's great.

It's a huge source of pride and a super achievement.

It just shouldn't be used as a means to demean other people.

My rabbit can't swim and my goldfish can't eat carrots.

They're both really good at what they do though (bob and shit pellets - respectively - mostly).

Well one example that I wouldn’t call limited is paper 1s for GCSE AQA maths, GCSE Edexcel maths and Cambridge IGCSE maths are non-calculator, but paper 1s for GCSE OCR maths, IGCSE Pearson maths A and IGCSE Pearson maths A are calculator papers. Knowing whether you need and can use a calculator is rather important both for the exam itself and the preparation beforehand.

Wow.

They're quite limited though, aren't they?

Unless you're tripping.

Even in maths there are differences.

Preparation isn’t just for those who are aiming for the top grades. It is for anyone sitting any exam.

Otherwise you get parents not understanding you need the revision guide for the right board because AQA’s history revision book isn’t helpful for OCR history A and vice versa because the content is different.

I didn’t try to convince you of anything or mention anything about fairness or intelligence. Besides, from your posts tonight, you are obviously set in your views and it would be pointless trying to convince you of anything. You don’t want to hear any explanation.

But this is about maths.

It's not the causes and effects of the 2nd world war expressed in maths.

The history of the American west in maths.

What does Macbeth tell us about masculinity. In maths?

It's just maths! 😂

No. I don't understand. Sorry.

Good for you to invest so much.

I'm sure it's great for 16yr olds to enjoy all that comes with getting a terrific set of results.

But I don't think there anyone who can convince me that GCSEs are fair or a measure of actual intelligence.

Not Mumsnet good.

DD isn't mumsnet good either.

I don’t know why anyone would think someone who takes an interest in knowing what exams their child is sitting isn’t also invested in their child's wellbeing and ability to think independently and critically.

Well said @perpetualplatespinning

Thank you.

My birth children are both pretty good academically.

Not Mumsnet good.

Youngest is 6/7 in their least favourite subject.

Eldest worked his socks off to scrape a 4 in Maths. Excelled in the rest. With a few surprising high grades.

They're really nice, well rounded people too.

My adopted step children are each lovely, really bright people.

Absolutely traumatised by exam conditions and schooling more broadly.

Both actually way more adept at numeracy in practice than my own kids.

Both made to feel inadequate (in addition to the absolute neglect they suffered in their formative years) through not being as good at exams as children who didn't face those challenges.

It's not fair.

But, if GCSE is a standard measure of ability, there shouldn't be any difference between revision guides from different exam boards.

Surely you can understand just because exams are regulated there are difference?

For example, how would having a revision guide/past papers/other resource about South Africa 1960-1994 help you with AQA History GCSE when it isn’t on AQA’s syllabus? And conversely how would having AQA’s revision guide/past papers/other resources help someone sitting OCR History A’s South Africa 1960-1994 component?

I don’t know why anyone would think someone who takes an interest in knowing what exams their child is sitting isn’t also invested in their child's wellbeing and ability to think independently and critically.

Passing an exam isn't about learning. It's about passing an exam. Which some people are good at. And others aren't.

I don't disagree with you on this, but practising past papers is a good way to learn exam technique and build confidence, and it's free. Why would you not want to help your child to do well?

Buying a revision guide doesn't make you any more 'invested' in your child's education than a parent who can't afford it or choses not to.

Revision guides can be useful.

But, if GCSE is a standard measure of ability, there shouldn't be any difference between revision guides from different exam boards.

Passing an exam isn't about learning. It's about passing an exam.

Which some people are good at. And others aren't.

Instantly, this creates inequalities.

I'm surprised how many parents aren't invested in their child's wellbeing and ability to think independently and critically.

I have just re-read the OP.

The retaking GCSE maths until 25 is something I have never heard of, but not knowing that students need a grade 4 minimum in maths and English is surely something every secondary school parent should know.

It's in the press and media, schools communicate this to parents and pupils, so how can any year 11 parent not know this?

Knowing which exam board your dc is sitting and what level paper means that you can download the right past papers, buy the right revision guides etc as the syllabus’s can vary slightly between different boards and definitely are different for different levels (foundation tier or higher tier for example).

it’s not about buying an advantage, just helping your dc to prepare as well as they can for the exams that they’ll be sitting.

Genuine question: do other parents really research the exam board and other external factors when their children sit GCSEs?
What will that achieve?

Of course, we would need to know what exam board to use for previous pass papers and youtube videos.

Just because exams are regulated doesn’t mean there aren’t differences.

For some subjects, even within a board, there are differences e.g. some subjects have more than one specification even within one exam board and some subjects have choices within the specification.

The revision guides weren't "pushed" but suggested as a good idea. And a very good idea they were too.

Downloading past papers for DD to practice on was also a very good idea.

It helped her with exam technique and timing, especially for maths and the sciences.

I'm surprised at how disengaged some parents are about their DC's education.

And I didn't suggest it was sold to you at a premium.

I just thought there were too many basketball hoops and not enough biscuits.

I counted 18 hoops and not a single digestive. Chocolate or otherwise.

But I did AQA.

Maybe if I'd have sat under another exam board, it might have been 17 basketball hoops and a custard cream?

I am the same as you, always read reports and attended every parents evening and didn't know this. Daughter is currently sitting GCSEs and predicted 6 so it has never been raised

Oh. A revision guide.

I've not had than pushed at me at parents evenings. But they can be bought through school.

It's supposed to be a general certificate of education. And it's regulated.

How can one exam board's questions vary so much from another if they're all testing the same thing?

That's great.

So it is regulated.

Phew!

I'll sleep easier tonight knowing I haven't failed as a parent by not buying something that explained a difference between exam boards, learning and exam questions that contravenes regulatory standards.

They didn't sell at a premium. They sold them at cost. I know because I checked. The school wanted their students to do well and did everything they could to enable it.

Cross posted with @noblegiraffe