Active discussions

Help protect children from gaming harms.

Take our survey

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Further education

You'll find discussions about A Levels and universities on our Further Education forum.

Original poster

Workload - further maths

30 replies

autumn666 · 30/09/2023 00:07

My DS has just started year 12 and is taking 4 a'levels, with the 4th being further maths. He is coping fine with his main 3 subjects but is struggling with some parts of further maths, which is also making up the bulk of his homework, and affecting the time he can dedicate to his other subjects.

I have spoken to him about dropping it if it starts to impact his other grades, as he doesn't need further maths for what he wants to do but he wants to carry on with it. He is a really capable student, with all 9's at GCSE in his A level subjects but the jump seems huge.

Is this likely to be part of dealing with the transition to A level and will get easier or a sign that he needs to consider dropping it. How long should he give it a try for?

OP posts:
ItsReallyOnlyMe · 30/09/2023 09:24

If he needed it I would say stick with it - do lots of past papers and it will become easier.

However if he really wants to do medicine then he should use his time to concentrate on the other subjects and gain relevant experience ready for the UCAS process next year.

A lot does depend on what he wants to do though - if he wants to persevere then let him.

Original poster
autumn666 · 30/09/2023 09:22

@PerpetualOptimist thanks for your reply. He did further maths at gcse and also got a 9 in that so I think part of the issue may be that he just isn't used to finding something difficult and is letting it get to him.

He has been trying to read ahead but has limited time by the time he has done the homework so is stressing about not having done as much of that as he wanted. I have told him to speak to his teacher and give it a bit more time so will see how it goes for the next few weeks.

OP posts:
Original poster
autumn666 · 30/09/2023 09:16

@Livinghappy thanks for your reply, he is also doing maths, biology and chemistry and wants to study medicine.

OP posts:
PerpetualOptimist · 30/09/2023 07:32

I have DC who have taken FM. They were towards the lower end of the FM class initially when measured by preceding Maths GCSE grade, compounded by the fact some of the class had done Additional Maths GCSE (they had not). It was a big step up.

They overcame this by reading ahead in the syllabus book, watching videos etc so that when the concepts were being explained in class (often at speed), they were not left trailing from the outset. It got better and, in time, they overtook their less disciplined classmates.

They also said that the FM supported not only their Maths but also their logical thinking and general approach in other subjects. Don't give up just yet and perhaps encourage your DC to speak to their FM teacher. They won't be the first to find FM a challenge at the beginning of Y12.

Livinghappy · 30/09/2023 00:11

I would give it a little more time as Yr12 is an adjustment- but it is likely to get way more difficult. If he doesn't need FM or a 4th Alevel then I would encourage him to drop it as even Oxbridge only require 3 Alevels.

What are his other A levels and want is he likely to want to study at Uni?