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Original poster

English GCSE struggle

32 replies

Wafflesandcrepes · 28/11/2024 19:54

Hi - DD, who used to excel at English, got another 5 in English Lit today - one month before the mocks. I’m at a loss. This is a child who used to love reading and has now been put off English completely. She says her hand hurts and she can’t write that much. But she doesn’t seem to have that problem in history for example.

Anyone else in the same boat?

Thank you.

OP posts:
Singleaftermarriage · 28/11/2024 21:19

English language is the one that matters the most. English lit only matters if you want to continue it. Just focus on other subjects. No point stressing her out over something she isn't interested in.

clary · 28/11/2024 21:18

It’s interesting you say she is told she is not writing enough - and yet her hands are hurting.

IME candidates often think they have done well bc they have written lots - but it is not relevant to the question. Better to write less but make good points supported by textual evidence. But if teachers say she’s not writing enough then it’s not that, by the sounds.

Have you had past papers back and seen where she has dropped marks? Could she do a past paper and check it against the mark scheme (maybe with your help) to see where she is going wrong? Or maybe her teacher would mark it (I would).

Agree tho a 5 is a fine mark, nothing wrong with that. Certainly if she can push to a 6 by May that will be fine for just about any uni (I agree some do ask for a6). What grades is she getting in other subjects? What board fit Eng lit and which texts?

redskydarknight · 28/11/2024 21:16

Wafflesandcrepes · 28/11/2024 20:18

Congratulations to your daughter on her 9 @redskydarknight. My DD can’t wait to drop English at the end of the year. She wants to do humanities at uni though and I worry a lower grade might affect her chances to get into her chosen uni.

I don't think most universities care much about GCSE results for humanities degrees (as long as you have sufficient number of them and English and maths passes).

(When I say most, I'm thinking that the likes of Oxford and Cambridge might, but most won't).

Original poster
Wafflesandcrepes · 28/11/2024 20:18

Congratulations to your daughter on her 9 @redskydarknight. My DD can’t wait to drop English at the end of the year. She wants to do humanities at uni though and I worry a lower grade might affect her chances to get into her chosen uni.

OP posts:
Original poster
Wafflesandcrepes · 28/11/2024 20:09

She also got a 5 at the end of last year. School reassured us that they’d be focusing on it this year. I see no progress. DD is confused on structure still - nobody seems to understand why. And she’s not writing enough. Teacher says it’s all in her head but seems physically unable to write to the extent that is required. I’ve lost all trust in the school so not sure how much of this I believe or not.

OP posts:
redskydarknight · 28/11/2024 20:04

Is it exam technique/understanding what they need to write for high marks?

If it helps, my DD got a 6 in English Lit mocks and then a 9 in the real thing - the improvement was solely down to focusing on how to format "model" answers.

Although, unless she wants to study English at A Level (which I guess is unlikely) a 5 (likely to improve) is a perfectly respectable grade.

(To note, I think English Lit GCSE puts off a lot of people)

fruitbrewhaha · 28/11/2024 19:57

What feedback have you been given last year and this year so far. There must have been progress reports and parents evenings to talk through how she is doing.

Is she getting feedback on what she needs to include to get further marks? Ie spelling and punctuation, structure of her essay, making she her introduction includes her point and then summarising at the end.