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Original poster

Are these GCSE grades good enough for Uni

118 replies

TheGreekTaverna · 03/09/2022 08:35

So, dear child got there GCSE results last week and unsurprisingly, given lack of revision until day before each exam, ended up with 2x8, 4x7, 3x6, 1x5.

They were predicted at least 7s but basically, said that teachers had told them that University doesn't actually look at GCSEs for entry. Dear child is very lazy so will try and get away with doing absolute minimum.

I went to Uni in the 1980s so know that things are different now.

Given dear child's total lack of work ethic, not sure Uni is right place for them. Very bright but doesn't want to work. When I suggest doing any they got very defensive.

Dear child has also chosen notoriously difficult A Levels. Maths, Physics and Computer Science.

So, really looking for Mumsnetters input. Do you think that they still have a chance to turn things around and secure a place at a good Uni???

Thank you.

OP posts:
TizerorFizz · 06/09/2022 00:06

This old money grade equivalents is misleading. There’s now so much grade inflation, there’s no real comparison any more. Someone with 10 A*s years ago was bright. They could not do any more. Or achieve higher. DC are not somehow brighter now. They just keep being told they are. Employers are not so sure!

Cleopatra67 · 05/09/2022 19:54

Givinghope · 05/09/2022 14:24

They are poor for my DS s school but I imagine that there is always a few even at the most academic schools . He will have to work very hard now , hopefully this will happen.He is studying subjects that he is very interested in for A level 🤞. His university options will be affected but he has only himself to blame. I do wish the school had been tougher on him but my bank balance will be happier.

Not necessarily- if he does well at A level he could apply on the basis of those or go through clearing for a more competitive university. He’d still be in with a good chance of offers from most Unis.

Cleopatra67 · 05/09/2022 19:28

xyzandabc · 03/09/2022 09:18

In old money, that's 6 A's, 3B's and a C. Of course it's good enough to get in to university. However it's the A level grades that really count and they are much harder than GCSEs. His GCSEs show that he has the potential and ability to do well but he's going to have to apply himself and probably won't be able to cruise along like he's done so far. Year 12 is a bit of a shock for many

An 8 is actually equivalent to an A* not an A.

TizerorFizz · 05/09/2022 18:27

@Roomba @Givinghope
It is not just Oxford that look at GCSEs. Bristol definitely do and I’ve attached two statements from LSE. One course is less competitive but those 8/9 grades at gcse are mentioned. Just scraping into A levels is not all you need to do. But is for some!

Are these GCSE grades good enough for Uni
Are these GCSE grades good enough for Uni
Worriedpanda50 · 05/09/2022 18:24

Awful results. He's got a future of bin dipping ahead of him now. Nothing can save him.

Original poster
TheGreekTaverna · 05/09/2022 14:45

boysmuminherts · 05/09/2022 14:05

these are very good GCSE results - especially with no revision. I mean really good! I would almost thinking you were boasting. They are certainly a good base for A Levels and then a degree.

Nope - definitely not boasting.

OP posts:
Givinghope · 05/09/2022 14:34

@boysmuminherts apologies you probably meant that reply for @TheGreekTaverna
As I posted earlier in the thread my DS"s were fairly similar.

Roomba · 05/09/2022 14:30

Those are very similar to my GCSE results (including the B I got for the subject I studied at a top 10 uni in the end).

My son just achieved similar grades and was disappointed as many of his friends got loads of 8s and 9s. But that isn't the norm, even at his selective grammar school.

Unless your child wishes to study medicine/dentistry or is desperate to go to Oxford or Cambridge, the only thing that matters at this point is did she/he get sufficient grades to get into the sixth form/college? If so, great. I did much, much better at A Level as I actually enjoyed each subject I studied and began putting a bit of work in (did v little revision for GCSEs)! A Level results are what Universities look at, unless it is a borderline decision or a very competitive course.

Givinghope · 05/09/2022 14:24

They are poor for my DS s school but I imagine that there is always a few even at the most academic schools . He will have to work very hard now , hopefully this will happen.He is studying subjects that he is very interested in for A level 🤞. His university options will be affected but he has only himself to blame. I do wish the school had been tougher on him but my bank balance will be happier.

boysmuminherts · 05/09/2022 14:05

these are very good GCSE results - especially with no revision. I mean really good! I would almost thinking you were boasting. They are certainly a good base for A Levels and then a degree.

Rosehugger · 05/09/2022 11:52

Yes they are. I got similar results - 4 As 2Bs 2Cs, went to university and now work in a traditional profession (not prostitution, mind 🙂).

TizerorFizz · 05/09/2022 11:49

@Dannexe
Yes. However looking at Oxford stats, they don’t have many with 7s and below. The GCSEs profiles will have some 8/9 grades from state school applicants. 7 is an old A. Not A*. Plenty of DCs get the highest grades in state schools. The Oxford profile doesn’t suggest a 7 or two and then most others below that is good enough. However plenty of universities won’t worry about it at all. Just pick 5 of those.,

Dannexe · 05/09/2022 10:12

Oxford is one of those that ranks pupils against their school peers for their GCSEs I believe. So a child with straight 7s from a selective school where others averaged 8s will have a more difficult time than a child with straight 7s from a school where their peers averaged 5s

Givinghope · 05/09/2022 09:43

He likes some of the degrees at LSE @TizerorFizz and also UCL. Oxbridge was becoming more difficult even at his very selective private school. It would be highly unlikely from a less selective state 6th form college .His outcome will definitely be better where he is now . It was the completely wrong environment for him so I do still have hope.

TizerorFizz · 05/09/2022 09:11

@Givinghope
Getting top grade A levels does help with a weighted system. However it is off the mark with GCSEs for Economic at Oxford. So sim lower than that. Few university courses are more competitive than Oxford. Their worst is around 1:18 success rate. I don’t entirely believe 1:30 at unnamed RG. Publicity I think!

whiteroseredrose · 05/09/2022 07:39

As others have said, A Level maths is a bit of a shock after GCSE. Some of DS's friends struggled despite getting As (last year of old system). It is a big step up and you have to work from the get-go, no warming up period.

Give your DS the benefit of the doubt though. If he actually enjoys his subjects, and his friends are all working hard, it may rub off on him.

Original poster
TheGreekTaverna · 05/09/2022 07:11

We are also looking at having a couple of dear child's GCSEs that are two/three marks away from the next grade boundary re-looked at. Know it is a long shot but still...

OP posts:
Original poster
TheGreekTaverna · 05/09/2022 07:08

goherbie · 05/09/2022 01:00

Well, those GCSE grades are higher than my daughter's... and she's off to do a BSc at a Russell Group uni, on a very competitive course. The uni is ranked number 1 for her subject in the league tables and the uni reports that there are over 30 applicants for every place...

Like your son she was lazy at GCSE (and most of her A levels tbh) but she did manage to turn it around in time to exceed the required grades needed for A level.

So yes, it can be done, and at competitive unis too.

That's fantastic goherbie.

I had a conversation and asked dear child if they wished to switch to slightly less demanding A Levels and re-think their chosen Uni subject. They were adamant that they wanted to stick with physics, maths and computer science.

Dear child said that they know they will have to work to get into a good Uni for their chosen subject but that they will do it. They seem determined. We will see. I think maybe achieving less than stellar (but still good) results might have been the wake-up call that they needed. 🤞🤞🤞

OP posts:
Givinghope · 05/09/2022 01:04

@goherbie thank you, this is great to hear.
Best of luck to your DD at university.

goherbie · 05/09/2022 01:00

Well, those GCSE grades are higher than my daughter's... and she's off to do a BSc at a Russell Group uni, on a very competitive course. The uni is ranked number 1 for her subject in the league tables and the uni reports that there are over 30 applicants for every place...

Like your son she was lazy at GCSE (and most of her A levels tbh) but she did manage to turn it around in time to exceed the required grades needed for A level.

So yes, it can be done, and at competitive unis too.

Givinghope · 05/09/2022 00:19

I understand @TizerorFizz , I had thought that having already achieved A*'s at level may help.

TizerorFizz · 05/09/2022 00:12

@Givinghope
Its not necessary to wait as the entry requirements won’t change. If they weight GCSEs, they do. They won’t just look at A levels if they say they give 30% weighting to GCSEs/70% A levels. So cannot see the value in waiting post results.

Givinghope · 04/09/2022 23:34

He"s had a real wake up call. Hopefully he will want to do it now, he is already putting in work.
He enjoys the subjects that he's doing for A level.
I hope his positive attitude continues.

MsTSwift · 04/09/2022 23:21

If he “didn’t work” for GCSEs why will he work at a level? He won’t have his exam technique sorted. Dd worked SO hard got 9s for all her a level subjects then 8s and 9s for everything else bar maths which she has always found so difficult which she got a 7 for. State school. They’ve got to want to do it for themselves.

Givinghope · 04/09/2022 23:09

@TizerorFizz Would you advice waiting until after A level to apply for Economics at university.
With A*/ A already achieved. My DS sixth form thinks these could be achievable ( if he buckles down). He has a 9 in Maths and is one mark off a 9 in history (we are having it looked at). Economics is his 3rd subject and has a real interest in the subject. He won't need to be pushed and has already read widely in the subject.