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Further education

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Original poster

DS failing A-Level maths, too late to change?

83 replies

falalalalalalalallama · 17/12/2025 07:25

DS has just completed the first term of A-Level and it looks like he made either the wrong choice or something has gone very wrong.

He's done two assessments in maths and got an E in both. Meanwhile, he has an A in the assessment for his other subject and is predicted an A - this is a humanities subject. (Third subject hasn't done an assessment yet.)

He's a very bright and articulate young man. He's on the spectrum and doesn't have good organisation. He says also didn't realise he was doing so badly in maths, although it turns out he often wasn't doing his homework.

I feel like history is repeating itself. I was a bright child with (at the time undiagnosed) ADHD and I flunked A-Level maths despite having a lot of promise, because it's so easy to get behind and then everything builds on what comes before so it's easy to lose the thread.

He'll have to work hard to catch up and he says he wants to do this, but I feel he is being unrealistic as he has no plan for how to actually do this, and since getting the low grade he's focused on his extra curricular stuff, not maths.

He's interested in STEM based careers, but he excels in humanities. He's well read and well informed and writes and researches well.

I suggest changing subject but he said it's too late.

I suggested a tutor but he said he doesn't want one.

The universities he wants to go to ask for results like 3 As. That seems totally unrealistic now, although I know it would absolutely be doable for him if he was studying all humanities subjects.

If he's going to stick with maths I think I am going to insist he tries a tutor.

Are there any other options?

WWYD?

I am going to talk to his 6th form college, but I would really appreciate any advice.

OP posts:
Original poster
falalalalalalalallama · 17/12/2025 07:59

In the humanities subject he loves, he researches the subject in his own time, he already knows most of the stuff they're teaching and is obviously driven by a genuine passion.

His approach to the two subjects is chalk and cheese.

OP posts:
Original poster
falalalalalalalallama · 17/12/2025 07:57

Minnie798 · 17/12/2025 07:49

It depends on why he got the E. If it's because he just hasn't been putting the work in, he can improve on that.
What grade did he get for gcse.
I think you're doing all the right things. College will be able to advise about whether changing subject is possible. I wouldn't have thought it would be easy after a term though.

He got the E because he's not been putting the work in.

I'm not sure he knows how to, though.

He says the problem is because he hasn't got a good memory, but I suspect the problem is also that he doesn't appreciate how much you need to repeat things in maths to make it stick.

It's certainly possible in general terms to catch up from this point, but I'm not sure he has the organisational skills or the focus to do that. He does say he enjoys maths though, that's a good start!

Perhaps we try with a tutor and then see where we are at Easter. Maybe the right tutor might make all the difference.

If it looks like he's going to flunk maths, could he do a crammed Alevel in humanities in a year or something like that? Or start a new one in September and be a year behind? Or is that madness?

OP posts:
herbalteabag · 17/12/2025 07:57

I would get in touch with his maths teacher and ask advice as to what they think is going on and his capabilities. If he ends up wanting to change subject, yes it will be too late this year, but he can potentially change next year, meaning that he will be doing 3 years in 6th form. He will probably have to be doing something else as well as just maths for the 3rd year, so an epq or something.
edit to say - I meant the new subject in the 3rd year, not maths!

CrawlingBackToYou · 17/12/2025 07:54

My DS is in yr 13 now doing maths; he got very far behind and finished yr 12 with a U in maths.

He was determined to stick with it as he really wants a career where maths is essential.

We got a weekly tutor and he is doing really well his last assessment was B and he knew he could’ve got the last questions but he run out of time; essentially he’ll probably get A by the end once he’s worked on speeding up.

It is possible to recover this but I’d say a tutor is necessary to catch up; they’re not cheap but I see it as an investment so we are making cuts elsewhere to make it work.

Minnie798 · 17/12/2025 07:49

It depends on why he got the E. If it's because he just hasn't been putting the work in, he can improve on that.
What grade did he get for gcse.
I think you're doing all the right things. College will be able to advise about whether changing subject is possible. I wouldn't have thought it would be easy after a term though.

vincettenoir · 17/12/2025 07:48

I think if he wants to do maths he should stick with it and you should insist on a tutor. It might all fall into place for him later down the line.

Whyherewego · 17/12/2025 07:34

It's not ideal to change now but there's certainly the possibility of doing so, especially if he works over the summer too and tries to catch up.
If he's failing it this badly now, I'd say push for a change. How did he do in gcse ?

LaneCaneCandy · 17/12/2025 07:32

In my child's sixth form if you failed to hand in homework there was immediate intervention and a compulsory timetable slot over lunchtime to tackle it either the same day or the next day if the missing homework was due in after lunch.

That way they establish the routine of actually completing homework and using their free periods to study. The sixth form also had two distinct areas, a chatty area you could eat in and a more quiet study area.

To catch up he already has everything he needs as he should have all his work when it was taught. Mine had the walk through maths to show how it should be done then the question to check they can apply that knowledge.

Your son is a child, you get to decide if he has a tutor, you are trying to do your best for him. Hopefully he would engage with a tutor. What does he want to do post A level? Definitely talk to the college, he only needs 3 A levels but they may insist on him starting with 4.

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