level 7 Maths - extra test for A level

The 6th form college that ds is going to let you do A level maths with a 6, but you have to go on a four day algebra course before term starts.

local highly rated state 6th Form also requires A*s for maths and sciences too

I bet they're highly rated because they get such good results.

Students with A grades at GCSE are not doomed to get Ds and Es at A-level. If they are, then the teaching is crap.

A level results need to be good because when Ofsted come, a school that has students with a string of Ds and Es at A level will be roundly criticised. They will say the students have been failed, the teaching was not good enough and the students made no progress. They will fail the 6th form. If you accept A level results are a selection tool for university, then Ds and Es get the students nowhere. BTecs would have been better than very low grades at A level.

It is a selective school - yiu need equivalent of 7As and a B to get in.

Igcse Maths this year - cohort of 179 had 141 A* and 34 A s 3Bs and 1C.

They have a very high percentage doing Maths and Science. Obviously it is very competitive but the local highly rated state 6th Form also requires A*s for maths and sciences too.

lloydjam. I think you have highlighted the problem. Children have to be confident about maths and the teaching they will
receive. It's no good shoving everyone down the maths route if it is not for them. My DD would have been accepted into the maths course but she wasn't confident and knew she was stronger in MFL/Humanities. Yes, we need maths teachers but I guess ones with an E won't be on the Maths degree courses. You have to be comfortable on the course, be motivated to work, have talent and not play catch up all the time because others are much better than you. Do not just follow the advice of cheerleaders for the STEM subjects. Not everyone is cut out for STEM.

I think some of these high requirements are a way for schools to make their A level results look good, whilst keeping quiet to prospective parents the amount of weeding out that goes on post y11.

Nobkegiraffe answered for me. There are plenty of a level students at dd s college let in on a b who go on to do science at uni. Also one not got 2 a and 3 a at a level ( maths further maths and the 3 sciences and he didn't have all A in them but was well motivated.. Also where are our maths teachers to come from?

Completely unnecessary to restrict Science A levels to A*s. Is it a lack of confidence in A level teaching?

It's ridiculous, Phosphorus because it entirely unnecessary and not good for students or the economic good of the country to restrict access to A-level maths to those with an A*.

It is perfectly possible to be successful at A-level maths with an A. We need more people taking it, not fewer.

And confidence should not be a factor, because that reduces applications from girls who tend to be underconfident in their abilities. I had to convince one girl from my top set two years ago that yes, she was capable of A-level maths and no, she shouldn't take Core Maths instead. She just got an A.

Seems a good idea to me. If your DC can't pass the test then you can find a college/6th form that will be suitable for less able mathematicians at A-Level.

The school obviously only wants to take those they can be sure will excel, and an 'A' at GCSE, as other have said, might only be 50%.

RedHelen why is it ridiculous?

Maths A-Level really does require a bent for mathematics. Cramming for an A at GCSE won't cut it.

You can get an A at GCSE by having mastered basic operations.

A-Level requires that you can think in numbers.

My DD, years ago, did iGCSE Maths where the papers were harder than standard GCSE. They included differential equasions and other A level topics (at that time) to extend the brightest. She just failed by one mark to get an A* but got 81%. She would not have dreamed of doing A level maths. The harder elements just were not for her. I would say, take the test and know what you are good at and have confidence in your abilities. If a test puts you off, it maybe isn't for you.

DD's present school were originally saying at least an A (obviously should have been clearer than this and given a numbered grade) for Maths. Her new school focus on iGCSEs and require A*.

Alkthebest that is ridiculous!

I think its a great idea to weed out people who will struggle at A level. If you can't hack the A level you don't want to waste your time.

Our 6th form requires an A* (or equivalent ie. 8/9) to study Maths or any Science at A level.

Yes so will have covered harder stuff in lessons

We've done this for years at my school. Everyone taking maths has to sit it. It's a very basic test of algebra and some other concepts already learned at GCSE that also feature in the first module (of the old A-level).
If a student fails this test, then they are also extremely likely to fail maths and have wasted a year. As that's the case, we then say other courses would be more suitable (e.g. Core Maths).

We also set summer holiday homework to prepare for A-level. So if you've got your A, done your homework, studied maths for a few weeks and still fail this test, maths isn't for you.

Thought the whole point of these new exams was that they were harder so surely a 7 is harder than an old A potentially

Also it's possible to get a lot of marks on GCSE in certain topics that are not going to be a focus in A-level maths, and if she happens to be really good at those topics, and not as good, for example, at algebra, then it's worth knowing that before she starts as they can either say she shouldn't do it, or direct her to some remedial work to catch up.

It's not unreasonable . I understand there's a big step from GCSE to A level - that probably falls true for most subjects I guess . Good luck .

dd's school have a maths test a couple of weeks into term for everyone taking maths or physics - regardless of their GCSE results. It is mainly algebra afaik. There's also another maths test for those taking chemistry/biology/physics at the same time which is a mixture of things - conversion of units, statistics, data handling etc. They are expected to pass & advised to reconsider their A level choices if they don't.

Are you worried that she might not pass the test? Maths A level is tough, better to make sure that students make the right subject choice. Sounds like the school is being sensible.