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Original poster

daughter year 12 struggling

38 replies

milliemac11 · 22/02/2014 14:15

My daughter who is in yr 12 despite her average Gcse results ABBBBBBBBB decided to take maths, biology, chemistry and classics for a-level; on the count that she would put up with the extra work because she really wants to be a scientist. However , when I recieved her first report I noticed how badly she is struggling with chemistry and maths, what should she do next?

OP posts:
MagratGarlik · 22/02/2014 17:18

I'd agree with TheAwfulDaughter (and was a senior lecturer in a science department of a RG university for nearly a decade). I know plenty of excellent chemists who do not have maths A'level because to be honest, the maths you need for chemistry is more about being numerate than anything else. Being able to confidently rearrange equations and use log functions are about as much maths as you need for A'level chemistry.

IME most science degrees include maths and stats modules in the first year which cover the areas needed for the degree. There is an awful lot of maths within A'level which will never be used as a scientist.

Further, my old department carried out analysis of which A'level subjects students came in with and how well students performed on the degree and for our subject (don't want to be too specific, but similar to biochemistry) and found no correlation between coming in already with maths A level and doing well on the course.

TheAwfulDaughter · 22/02/2014 16:35

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IamInvisible · 22/02/2014 16:31

DS2 is in Yr12. He is doing Biology and Chemistry as 2 of his subjects, he isn't doing Maths, but still getting As. I'd talk to the teachers, but if she were mine I wouldn't make her carry on with a subject she is struggling with.

TheAwfulDaughter · 22/02/2014 16:29

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hellsbells99 · 22/02/2014 16:26

Can you get a tutor? My DD (yr 12) goes to a chemistry tutor with her friend and that has helped lots. Also doing lots of past papers in all subjects. DD has particularly done lots of maths past papers (and soloman ones) and is finding them fine now - and she got an A as gcse not A*!
DD has worked every day of half-term - at least 4 hours a day and often more - she is getting up at 8am so she can still go out later.

yourlittlesecret · 22/02/2014 15:28

Drop a subject, classics seems the obvious one as it doesn't relate to her career plan. She can always continue to take an interest in classics without the exam.
The other thing I would say is that many young people underestimate how much more work is needed at AS than GCSE. It isn't enough to go to lessons and do the homework you have to do more.
I would suggest that she set herself a timetable to do a continuous revision process. In every subject and in each topic do as many practice questions as possible. Do past papers regularly, they are all available on line.

Catswiththumbs · 22/02/2014 14:49

When I say needs- it's supports them.
Statistics, molarity and loads of other things I can't remember off the top of my head are easy if your maths is fairly strong.

Catswiththumbs · 22/02/2014 14:48

See I would drop the classics. She needs maths for both bio and chem.
If she is driven and putting the work in she will succeed with some support- it's a big jump from gcses.
Does she know what she is struggling with, or is it a blanket everything? Has she spoken to the tutors?

TheAwfulDaughter · 22/02/2014 14:34

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Original poster
milliemac11 · 22/02/2014 14:26

Either a biochemist or microbiologist

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Original poster
milliemac11 · 22/02/2014 14:24

Well, she was thinking about it but it would mean that she would have to change her future career and she doesn't want to.

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TheAwfulDaughter · 22/02/2014 14:20

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TheAwfulDaughter · 22/02/2014 14:19

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