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Original poster

GCSE retakes 2021

40 replies

sorrelli · 03/04/2020 15:35

If students decide to retake their GCSE’s next year what will be the consequences?

Will they apply as usual next year for sixth form places even if they’re 17 by then?

Sorry not very knowledgable so forgive my ignorance.

DD doesn’t like the idea as she’ll be behind her friends but I’m thinking she’d be on much better footing next year and have better grades therefore a better sixth form start.

OP posts:
Original poster
sorrelli · 03/04/2020 16:26

@PeacockPies sorry I wasn’t clear, yes they’ll have options to retake in autumn or next summer

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TeenPlusTwenties · 03/04/2020 16:26

aut If your DD gets enough to do her chosen A levels she would imo be better off then focussing on good A level results rather than spread herself thin chasing GCSE grades.
The only people that will care much about GCSE grades once she is doing A levels is uni, and they will see they are 'resits' anyway. It only makes sense to 'resit' if they can be done early Sept.

Original poster
sorrelli · 03/04/2020 16:25

@aut0replenish

Really understand where you’re coming from. My DD has been going through depression, anxiety and other issues but had really pulled herself together lately.

Now her place at sixth form which she was working hard towards looks unlikely. They sent an email saying they won’t be flexible and will be sticking to entrance requirements.

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Original poster
sorrelli · 03/04/2020 16:23

@TeenPlusTwenties

There’s no sixth forms with lower entrance grades around so her only option would to do a BTEC in a subject she isn’t interested in.

Looks like retaking in the autumn is her only chance.

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aut0replenish · 03/04/2020 16:22

My dd will want to take 3 or 4. Has had a rotten couple of years so will have shitty data all over the place but would have done fine if not well in the exams. She is saying she wants to sit some as wants what she could have had. Very able but under no illusions doing them alongside Alevels will be tough. No other choice though. It’s such a nightmare.

PeacockPies · 03/04/2020 16:18

As you put 2021 in your title I thought that's when she must have been going to take her actual GCSEs.

I didn't know that there was an offer of them doing them next summer instead. It sounds like a difficult option. Can't she just study and study for those subjects now and take them as resits in the autumn or whenever they decide the appeals exams are going to be?

PeacockPies · 03/04/2020 16:17

As you put 2021 in your title I thought that's when she must have been going to take her actual GCSEs.

I didn't know that there was an offer of them doing them next summer instead. It sounds like a difficult option. Can't she just study and study for those subjects now and take them as resits in the autumn or whenever they decide the appeals exams are going to be?

TeenPlusTwenties · 03/04/2020 16:12

3 subjects seems a lot to be thinking about 'retaking'.
Is this a 6th form with high entry requirements? Is there one with lesser requirements instead?
If she is going to miss the grade in 3 subjects, should she really be doing A levels at all?
Remember this isn't mock grades, this is where the teacher assess she would have got to by the time of the exams.

eg

  • If you are trying for a 6th form that needs all 7s and is expecting some 6s I'd just find a different 6th form.
  • If she needs 6s in 2 Sciences & Maths specifically and is awarded 5s I'd question the sense of doing the specific chosen A levels
Original poster
sorrelli · 03/04/2020 16:04

@peacockpies

Yes I’m talking about this years cohort if they take up the offer of doing this years GCSE’s next summer instead.

Just heard id probably need to register dc as home schooled until examinations took place next year.

Only concern is that if we did this as another poster has mentioned, it might be harder to get a sixth form place.

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PeacockPies · 03/04/2020 15:59

So it's this year you are talking about? Not next year? This year everything is different. If you are unhappy with,the grade you can do the exam 'as soon as possible' but at the moment nobody knows when that is.

In normal years, so next year, if you get below a 4 in maths or English then you resit them in the autumn. If your sixth form won't give you a place on the course you wanted to do, then you switch to another course or another sixth form with lower entry requirements.

If you fail geography or art etc. then you've failed.

Original poster
sorrelli · 03/04/2020 15:50

@soma

Thank you, can’t get these answers from teachers or sixth forms at the moment - understandably theyre too busy.

Can understand that so at the moment I’m just hopeful that they’ll be flexible this year with requirements as DD needed to improve 3 subjects at GCSE to get in which she was working hard towards but it’s unlikely now.

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Soma · 03/04/2020 15:46

@sorrelli, some 6th forms give priority to applicants who are 16. Have a look at what your favoured 6th form says on their website. A DC I know was offered a place at several really good 6th forms when he was 16, but had to delay for a year and wasn't ever given a waiting list place when he reapplied the following year.

Original poster
sorrelli · 03/04/2020 15:46

@SavoyCabbage

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Original poster
sorrelli · 03/04/2020 15:46

What if they won’t be getting in to sixth form due to not reaching target grades

thanks for clearing that up, surely it’d be unlikely they could do a-levels and study for GCSE resits at the same time?

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SavoyCabbage · 03/04/2020 15:43

Usually they take their resits along side their A’levels. They don’t miss a year of school to do their resits.