Yearly warning not to take A-level maths with less than a 7 at GCSE

My ds has just got a 7 for maths and determined to do Maths and Further Maths. No bridging work as no school sixth form.

I have bigger worries about his third subject and which of two colleges he will go to, as he got a 4 for English language.

He is only in Y12 now (from September) but is predicted an 8 in Physics, he really likes it. As I said before he is better at Maths where its applied than in just Maths

Thank you both.
DS isn't keen on Maths, he is good enough at it (set 2) and probably could be better if he worked hard BUT he is unlikely to.
I actually don't think Maths A level is a good option for him but DH thinks it is as he loved it but as I keep pointing out DS (and DD) are not us and have different preferences, plus things have changed in 30 odd years.
As I said before I will ask DS Maths teacher (who is great) and tell DH that he doesn't advise it (assuming he doesn't)

If he's keen, and he's now realising the effort he needs to put in, it could be fine. If he's aware of the odds in that table, he will hopefully understand the need to work hard to make sure he beats the odds. (That should start now - the school may set some bridging work, but if not, look for bridging work on other sixth forms' websites, or just work through GCSE topics again, especially algebra.)

I was rather worried to discover that my first A-level set included someone who had got a C at GCSE. He was a model student at A-level, making sure he understood everything, and asking for help as soon as he didn't. He got a B at A-level (before Astar existed). The outgoing head of maths had told him that he was not doing A-level maths while she was in charge - reading between the lines, he had been the class clown, and possibly needed the change of teacher/peer group as well as attitude in order to get down to work.

Grade 6 in Maths is fine for Economics generally @Hoppinggreen. In fact being of a more practical bent might help him. Many's the top mathematician I have to re-teach percentage change to in Economics class in September of year 12 😂.

@elliejjtiny I wouldn't advise physics A level with 4-5 in combined science. Is there any way of getting the breakdown tho - is he much stronger in physics than the other two? Coupled with a 6 in maths it's a tough ask.

Would he consider sociology or psychology? Might play to his strengths in geography/social sciences.

@Hoppinggreen physics A level without taking maths A level is unusual and not advised by a lot of schools IME. What did he get in physics?

@Hoppinggreen from experience the college will advise you on the best subjects to take…do consider though some colleges will happily let you choose even tough they may ‘know’ the course will be tough for the student, then they will potentially suggest next year retaking year 12. That is a risk for the student so maybe worth listening to some of the information on here. Physics is a very hard A level and a good Maths and Physics GCSE grade really does matter.

Thank you. Ds2 did combined science so he didn't get separate grades for the different sciences. He is good at physics but struggles with biology and is average at chemistry. He got 5-4 in science and 6 in maths. He doesn't have any mitigating circumstances unless you count being homeless for the first 2 terms of year 10 and being on the autism assessment pathway but not getting as far as an assessment yet. He had a meltdown during one of the music exams but still managed to pass that one.

Another question if @noblegiraffe or anyone else knowledgeable would be kind enough to answer.
DS is considering Psychology, Physics and Business or Economics for A level - would a 6 in Maths prevent him doing those? He will be going to 6th form college as his school doesnt have a 6th form. I knwo they are maths heavy but DS lijes subjects he can apply, so just maths not so much but maths he is using for something else he prefers and is better at.

Also worth noting for those with a 6 in maths -
It has ruled out LOTS of Management and Business degrees for my child at top Unis who has A* x 3 predictions (not maths) because they only got a 6 at GCSE maths (rest 8s and 9s)

@noblegiraffe - I've seen your table a few times and mentioned it to my son this morning. He did iGCSE (if that makes any odds one way or the other) and got a 7 but 4 marks off an 8.

He's definitely only really "found" the concept of working at school recently and is really keen on doing maths. Does it sound like a stupid idea? Thank you.

Dd1 is in y13. She did GCSE in only one year due to being anorexic and in hospital and ill at home for y10. She is neurodiverse. She is doing maths in sixth form and so far her maths prediction is a ‘C’. While school acknowledge teaching has been tricky (maths teacher received a cancer diagnosis), I also wonder if she missed some fundumentals because she missed a year of school. Her MH is better, but not great.

dd2 got a 9 today for maths and an 8 for FM. She will do this for sixth form also. She is also neurodiverse. I hope she finds maths easier than dd1. Even a high mark at GCSE is no guarentee.

btw - dd2 5 marks of a 9 in FM and school advised a remark - any advice on this one? Nothing ventured, nothing gained, I guess!

I'd be surprised if the school would be happy with a student taking A level physics with a 5, unless massive mitigating circumstances. The other problem is that maths and physics sort of go hand in hand. It's hard to be good at physics if not strong in maths.

What is his longer term plan, in terms of Uni or jobs?

As pp have said, there are students who buck the trend and get a better grade at A level than at GCSE but it's far more common to go in the other direction.

@WinkyTinky yes get a review, I would.

Argh! Having looked at the grade boundaries, DS missed getting a 9 for maths by one mark. Is it worth appealing? There is a letter in his envelope which says his teacher thinks he could appeal. I haven't told him about the grade boundaries yet as he might just be frustrated on missing out so narrowly, so will broach the subject when I get in from work... This is the one 9 he really wanted!

Almost as if some of the posters have a poor understanding of how statistics work and would struggle with GCSE maths...

Having seen this post several times over the years (thank you @noblegiraffe ) I had words with DS when he chose to do Maths A Level and said I would not recommend him doing it unless he got a 9 or a high 8. Same with Physics and Chemistry. Luckily he's just achieved 9s but has also been doing the transition work for all three subjects in the past few weeks to make sure he is prepped for the big step up in content.

What's the source @noblegiraffe? I'm not questioning, I would just be interested to know for my dc who had just received GCSE results what the projections are for other subjects. I'm also betting its a similar pattern for maths and science GCSE results feeding into Psychology A level.

DD got 9s in maths and further maths and is very much looking forwards to maths A level. She loves maths and seems to " speak" maths.

DD got her 8 - I am going to have to trust that she can do maths……. 🎉🎉

So DD got an 8 in maths after all the stress! Not too far off a 9 which is a miracle based on paper 1. She also got 9s in every other subject so we are very happy today. Thanks for the reassurance from PPs on her taking A level maths, she is going to enrol for it soon.

All makes sense, thanks op.

(I seem to have to click on the first part of the link not the second, don't know why)

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a7589f0ed915d6faf2b3c55/DFE-RR195.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwiB78bD94eIAxVPRkEAHQhoDVkQFnoECA8QAQ&usg=AOvVaw0WuiKNBHyGaToq_2j7ZiYQ

@FantasticFox27 If you go far enough in this document there are various bar charts of similar data, page 19 onwards.