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Original poster

Will this GCSE grade ruin DS’s future choices?

29 replies

Blownawash · 05/09/2021 10:29

DS did GCSEs this year. One of his grades was much lower than he has ever had in previous assessments. He got a 5 but has never had less than a 7 in tests from school and even his teacher for this was subject was puzzled. We did query it with school but there’s nothing we can do as JCQ signed of their procedure for GCSEs etc. His school took a very tough approach to GCSEs no mini assessments, basically as close to GCSEs as they could have been.
He got 7s and 8s in all his other subjects but typically the one he wants to do at university is the one he got a 5 for. He’s doing it for A’level and his teacher said he’s confident he can do well in it but I’ve been worried that university will look at his GCSE grade and reject him. What do you think?

OP posts:
Scarby9 · 05/09/2021 10:41

The part from your OP that stoodout was 'even his teacher for this subject was puzzled'.

S/he really shouldn't be puzzled this year when teachers gave the grades. Even if his teacher was low in the department, they would surely have been involved in collating the evidence and moderatining within the department.

That's what I would be questioning.

If he genuinely 'never had less than a 7 in a test' and his teacher who saw all his day to day work is surprised, then the 5 is an incorrect grade because this year there is nothing else that could be taken into account when assessing his overall grade.

clary · 05/09/2021 10:38

Sorry for multiple posts! What I am trying to say (not well I fear) is that his predicted grade at A level is what will count for unis. So if in 12 months' time that is an A, great.

However, if his 5 was actually realistic, especially in relation to other options for A level, then maybe think about that.

clary · 05/09/2021 10:36

I meant to add, does depend on the subject - MFL or maths, not great; history or eng lit perhaps not such an issue (because they are modular rather than linear), as long as there was a good reason (hated Animal Farm, mucked up essay on Germany)

clary · 05/09/2021 10:34

I genuinely cannot imagine it will be an issue, unless he is thinking of Oxford or Cambridge. Tho the fact that he wants to do it at A level and uni does give me pause. Do you mind saying what the subject is op? A 5 at GCSE is not the best start for A levels - mate of ds's did something he got a 5 in, found it tough and got a C, a good grade but not one that will get him into the most competitive unis.