Core maths with only grade 6

I don't know. York, for example, say 'Grade 7 maths GCSE essential if you don't have A-level' but Exeter say 'Grade 7 maths GCSE (or AS maths, FM or Core maths). So I wouldn't want to say Core Maths would definitely count and resitting to a grade 7 would probably be 'safer'.

Resit would be because quite a few apprenticeships, internships and also business type uni courses require 7+ gcse. Core maths presume would equate?

It depends on why you want to resit the GCSE?

GCSE is a level 2 qualification and Core Maths is a level 3 so if you're looking for UCAS points or contributing to a lower UCAS offer, then Core Maths is the one to go for.

@noblegiraffe what are your thoughts on resitting the GCSE to boost grade 6 to a 7 vs taking Core Maths with A levels.

You may already have had all the advice you need but I haven’t read the full thread!
I teach core maths and think it’s a really interesting course. We accept anyone with a grade 4 upwards but realistically only the grade 5 upwards are successful. She will be fine doing it having achieved a grade 6, it is the perfect level for her. At my school we teach 4 hours a fortnight (so 2 a week) over 2 years and they do the exam in year 13. Our partner school does it in 1 year with 7 lessons a fortnight ( but this amounts to quite a lot less teaching time).
I describe the course as ‘real world useful maths’. They learn how to calculate taxes based on salaries, how interest rates work on savings and loans, and some basic applied statistics (amongst other stuff!)

That sounds like a great combination for the EPO, especially with History and English Lit. Does she enjoy reading around subjects outside the syllabus too?

Ahh dropping one at half term is good. Do you know if the core maths / EPQ is over one year or two? Schools seem to vary.

Although essays are her strong point, doing 4 A levels is a LOT, even if only for year 12. Does she take AS levels? Core Maths will be useful for Psychology & Sociology as she’ll understand the maths involved in research methods plus everyday maths like AER/APR etc. DD2 did core maths (gcse 7) and said it wasn’t a step up at all but more like a continuation of gcse level. She’s not very mathsy but enjoyed it and found it useful for psychology. Hers was done in yr12. Although she’s an essay person she didn’t have a project in mind and I do think she’d have spent a lot of time flip flopping & changing her mind. It could be worth checking that whichever she chooses is done and dusted by year 12 for three reasons. 1) so it’s out of the way and can focus on A levels in yr13, 2) that she has the results so can target the universities that drop grades knowing her core maths / EPQ grade. 3) History has an NEA - a 4000 word research essay in yr13, which can be quite demanding.
Does she have to do 4 subjects AND core maths / EPQ?

Since essays are her natural strength, the EPQ gives her a huge home-field advantage. Which A-Level subjects is she taking?

My DS got a 6 at GCSE, lower than predicted. He had a choice between Core Maths AS in Y12 or an EPQ. He definitely didn't want to do a project so went for Core Maths and got an A.

He's really pleased he did it now as he's looking at unis that want around 120 UCAS points and he's got 20 points towards it now, or one grade drop in an A Level for another uni he's keen on. He's also very pleased to have it out of the way and no more maths lessons in Y13.

I should add already has GCSE stats at Grade 7 from year 10. Basically wasn’t well for one of the non-calc papers at GCSE which lowered overall grade

Exactly the Q I came to post! DS got a 6 lower than expected. A 6 will close doors some early careers jobs later so was wondering but whether to resit GCsE in Nov or do core maths. Econ, pol, eng at a level.

It was a one year course at DD2’s school so maybe it varies.

At my school it’s 2 hours a week over y12 and 13, no homework, we get really good results.

Hard no for Core Maths?

Tell her to go to a few lessons first, it probably won’t be what she is expecting. There’s basically no algebra in it for a start, it’s very much focused on stuff she will find useful in real life (personal finances) or her studies (statistical analysis).

My DS is about to start Core Maths. He got a 5 in his maths GCSE (he sat Foundation). At his 6th Form, the entry requirement for Core Maths is a 4+ so your DD should be fine.
His 6th Form insists students doing certain A levels take it if they're not doing Maths A level.
I also have some concerns about workload but I guess as it's a year course, it's out of the way before Yr13.
I also believe it's different to maths GCSE in that it's designed specifically to support A level elements like statistics which I imagine will be of help to your DD in her choices.

My daughter is doing sociology and geography A levels and I would love her to be able to do core maths (she also got a hard won 6 in gcse). Her otherwise excellent 6th form don't offer it.

There would be a LOT of resistance on her part though!!

@makemineadecaf so a uni may say they want AAA but with EPQ / core maths grade A or above will drop to AAB - so the ucas points are irrelevant. As far as I’m aware they don’t drop more grade requirements if the EPQ is Astar. Also some universities (Bath & York and maybe more) drop a grade for B or above in core maths. Have a look at potential universities too.

Do not get hung up on UCAS points unless the universities she’s likely applying to use the points system. A lot of universities disregard ucas points and focus on grades only. My DD2 did core maths (history, economics & psychology were her A levels). She found it very straightforward. Both Bath uni and York dropped a grade for a B or above in core maths. They sadly don’t offer it at DD3’s school as it’d be very useful.

UCAS points don't generally apply to higher tariff universities anyway.