DS did really badly in AS mocks

Do the school offer any clinics /extra support?

My DS has really struggled with the step up from GCSE to AS level in maths and physics despite getting A/A* at GCSE. I don't think he realised how much harder he needed to work on a regular basis just to keep up. He has been going to regular lunchtime clinics for the last half term and is beginning to see some improvement.

When I posted a similar thread, someone suggested finding out if the school do peer mentoring which could be an option for your son.

It's hard watching them struggle

Thank you Phaedra 11 this was my first time on site I'll try and start a new thread !

I think it's been missed that alotofboys, a few posts above, has deliberately revived this thread because her DC is in a similar situation.

Alotofboys, I think you might get more of a response if you start a new thread. You have my sympathy as DS1 also didn't do particularly well in his mocks. He was taking five ASs and has now dropped one. I'm hoping having more time to spend on the other subjects will help.

It's relevant though Titchy because now is around the time kids are getting their mock results.
I wonder what the OP's boy did?

ZOMBIE THREAD!

he needs to forget about maths and physics I'd say.'U' is not needing tutoring or going through his mock paper.It is being totally lost and lacking in aptitude

In my 1st year of A levels I got an A in biology and a N in chemistry.
It prompted me to reevaluate what I was naturally good at (didn't have great work ethic!). Did English lit in a year instead and got a B.
Consider all options and good luck

This thread is nearly a year old.

Could you afford some Maths tutoring? He needs confidence building doesn't he?

Liverpool also take General Studies for humanities/social science subjects, or certainly did in my day. They said they regarded it as an intelligence test. I got an A so your DS is in good company..

It would really help to get a better idea of what he wants to do at university. I don't really understand how he can really want to go, but not have much idea of what subject to do. That makes it sound like it's purely a choice based on social life which won't be enough motivation to get the work done when he is there. What can he rule out that he definitely doesn't want to do? If he has no interest in doing Physics at university, I think he should seriously consider dropping that and Maths, and maybe picking up another essay based social science. Economics?

My son is doing As maths A2 Geo and A2 Business Studies and a Btec in science so far too overloaded but he needs to get them now ! In mocks he got Dist. In Btec and A in maths but U in both A2's anyone give me ideas to get him to turn these into at least D's ? Feeling v upset at him not knowing How to revise A levels

Going over his mock papers should help him to find out where he went wrong, maybe individually with a teacher if this would help, also good to show them how keen he is. I have discovered that at A level, they need to know the work, understand it, and, (crucially) be able to answer the questions in exactly the right way, for sciences anyway. These results may just give him a good fright. I think you need to help, support and believe in him, especially if you believe he is a hard worker. He can come back from this. Good luck :)

Does he know why he want to do maths and physics?

I unfortunately got it into my fool head at that age that I needed a "proper" a-level in chemistry - which I promptly got a U in - and then went on to waste a foundation year at uni where chemistry was required.

If I could have my time over I would have dumped it and taken an a-level to complement my strengths and what I enjoyed studying.

a b and e will get him into uni - try not to worry too much but he does need to work harder/focus

If he can get a B in History in his first AS mock I'd actually say that is rather impressive. I'm sure they either mark the mocks harder to force the students to revise loads or (like when I did mocks) tell you not to bother revising too much for the mock so you can see what you can do without revision and then give everyone E/Us to panic them into revision. If he can get a B in History he can surely pass Geography too. I understand that Maths and Physics are the hardest A levels and are usually done together. Like some people have said maybe his brain does not find those subjects innately easy. I would have thought that he would find both tough if he didn't get an A*/A at GCSE. That doesnt mean obviously that he can't do well in them, but that it might take him more effort than for other subjects. Can't he do all 4 AS real exams and then drop either Maths or Physics after if he doesnt do well in the AS.

I failed all my mocks as did most of my year group. This was a long time ago and I put it down to the teachers not knowing their arse from their elbow. Could this be the case here?

Sheffield accept General Studies as one of their approved A levels for some of their course, including law. So long as the other two subjects are sensible. So he could do GS, History and Geography.

I would say he's spreading himself a bit thinly. And also be aware that mocks are often harshly marked to ignite the rocket.

Has he not been doing past paper questions throughout the course? If not exam technique?

I'd also be concerned that the teacher's assessment was a B and he got a U. That's a big difference. I'd want to know what they based their prediction on, not in an accusatory way, just as a way of understanding.

Most of the past papers and mark schemes are available on the exam board websites so very easy to access. Good luck.

Possibly. It depends why he did badly. Does he understand the content or is it a case of poor exam technique? Had he done many practice A level questions prior to this mock. I would suggest he tries some past papers at home and identifies areas of weakness and understands why he is failing the exams.

Also had the teachers warned you that he was under performing prior to mock results. I would have thought that if he was struggling at a u level this would have come up at parents evening etc. If so perhaps the mock result is valid and a reassessment of what to do is needed. If not surely it is feasible that he just needs exam practice and additional support. I had a pupil achieve a u in his A2 mock who achieved an A in the real exam so it does happen.