Core maths with only grade 6

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.

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

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.

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

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?

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.

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?

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!)

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

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.

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

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'.