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Original poster

Should DC drop maths to improve her chances of meeting her Cambridge uni offer for history

39 replies

nandio · 07/03/2019 17:43

DC does history English economics and maths A level.

Cambridge offer for history is A star AA and excludes the maths.

DC is currently working at a B in economics and a C in maths based on mock results. Other 2 subjects are at A star.

Should DC give up the maths to concentrate on economics?

All advice very greatly received.

OP posts:
DumbledoresApprentice · 07/03/2019 20:11

They still exist but most schools aren’t doing them any more. We don’t routinely enter our students for AS levels now. However, if a student is finding 4 A Levels too much and they only need 3 for their uni offers then we let them enter for AS instead, which examines them on just under half of the A Level content. Just last week we had two students (one with a Cambridge offer) ask to switch their 4th A Level for an AS, which we let them do.

Original poster
nandio · 07/03/2019 20:05

Dumbledore'sApprentice I thought AS levels were no longer available.

OP posts:
DumbledoresApprentice · 07/03/2019 19:50

I’m a history teacher and part of a Sixth Form leadership team. If this was one of my students I would say drop the Maths or just enter for AS and not the full A Level if they really don’t want to give it up entirely.

Original poster
nandio · 07/03/2019 19:18

Maths teacher has said not to make maths a priority. There have been discussions since getting the offer but DC rationialised not dropping it by saying that they should be able to do 4 well if they are to cope at Cambridge.

OP posts:
Whereareyouspot · 07/03/2019 19:06

Why are the school not giving her guidance on this?
There’s must be a good reason she was doing 4 in the first place and if she had been struggling to cope with four why didn’t she drop it sooner?

It seems odd to me she would get to within a few weeks of exams starting and only be having these discussions with you right now.

Original poster
nandio · 07/03/2019 18:48

Oh no, now I'm feeling a bit remiss as a parent. I think there may still be time to withdraw but would need to check.

OP posts:
LIZS · 07/03/2019 18:43

Might it not show as a fail as the entries are already done and you'd have to tell the unis .

Penguinsandbears · 07/03/2019 18:40

Would be tempted to give up.

NataliaOsipova · 07/03/2019 18:39

Yes from me too....

Whereareyouspot · 07/03/2019 18:37

What do school think?

SingaSong12 · 07/03/2019 18:23

What are the offers for the other places she might go? Would dropping the maths affect them?

Butterymuffin · 07/03/2019 18:21

Yes

PotteringAlong · 07/03/2019 18:21

Definitely

OVienna · 07/03/2019 18:20

Yes.

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