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Original poster

Confused- what is the difference between higher maths GCSE,Foundation and advanced GCSE?

30 replies

IroningMountain · 08/09/2017 17:57

Just that really.Confused

OP posts:
LIZS · 08/09/2017 19:59

There is an Additional Maths gcse equivalent separately.

Original poster
IroningMountain · 08/09/2017 19:57

Our school has mentioned an additional advanced maths paper. I guess that must be it. Will it make the standard GCSE less worthy or is it just an addition i.e. nice to have?

OP posts:
TeenTimesTwo · 08/09/2017 19:52

I don't think there is an advanced GCSE.
Advanced is the full name for A Levels which are taken in y13.

There is a further maths GCSE that the very bright top set kids can do. But not all schools do this, and with the harder specs for the standard maths GCSE there may be less demand anyway.

Original poster
IroningMountain · 08/09/2017 19:52

What is the advanced GCSE paper?

OP posts:
TeenTimesTwo · 08/09/2017 19:50

There is one basic Maths GCSE.

For that GCSE you can take harder exams if you are good at maths. That is called the Higher tier.
Or if not so good at maths you take easier exams called Foundation tier. If you take the Foundation exams you can't get above a new grade 5 (a low B in previous grading).
If you take the higher paper but can't do it instead of getting a low grade you can end up ungraded U.
Either tier you end up with 1 final overall grade and it doesn't say on your certificate which tier of papers you took.

The school should decide/recommend what tier a pupil is entered for. For the top and bottom sets this will be obvious. For some pupils in the middle it may not be decided until the spring of y11.