Should my daughter resit Maths GCSE?

MackenCheese · 2025-09-09T12:41:15+00:00

My daughter is academically able, but struggled massively with the school environment, including EBSA for the whole of year 10. She returned to school in year 11, with quiet spaces, starting the day at 11am everyday (so missing the 1st 2 lessons each day) and cutting down her subjects. Despite this, she managed to achieve 8 passes 5-7 . (They were 7,7,7,6,6,5,5,5). She has got into an independent 6th form, doing A level sociology, criminology btec and biology. She has had a bit of a wobble about Biology because she only had a 5 in maths, but her Head of 6th form felt that the 5 did not reflect her academic ability and she should trial biology, and switch to another subject eg. Btec Sport by half term if there were problems. We also plan to do some targeted maths to support Biology A level. The other concern is looking ahead to university and all the subjects she might consider are asking for a 6 in maths GCSE. Should she resit GCSE maths to try to improve her grade? She was 10 marks off a 6 for those interested!

Coffeeismyfriend1 · 10/09/2025 18:31

She could always contact the universities to ask and see where she stands, given the she has the extenuating circumstances certificate. She can always sit the maths exams next summer, if she decides she needs to. That gives her longer to prepare and also find out if she needs to do it.

Original poster

MackenCheese · 10/09/2025 13:00

JillMW · 10/09/2025 12:53

Biology is quite maths based. 10 marks away is a lot. It is difficult to know if she is not as capable as she thinks. The risk you are taking by encouraging the maths re take now is that she cannot cope with Biol, can’t catch up with the other students on the Sports B tec, gets the same or lower in the maths and that the Universities will not accept the B Tecs. Can she not do three A levels in subjects she achieved the highest grades and then do maths retake in a gap year if still needed?

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Potentially. Her highest grades were actually in biology and both Englishes....

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JillMW · 10/09/2025 12:53

MackenCheese · 09/09/2025 18:16

We will keep looking, but her 2 top university choices both need AAB and maths GCSE at a 6

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Biology is quite maths based. 10 marks away is a lot. It is difficult to know if she is not as capable as she thinks. The risk you are taking by encouraging the maths re take now is that she cannot cope with Biol, can’t catch up with the other students on the Sports B tec, gets the same or lower in the maths and that the Universities will not accept the B Tecs. Can she not do three A levels in subjects she achieved the highest grades and then do maths retake in a gap year if still needed?

WorthyBlueHare · 10/09/2025 10:31

Most people who resit don’t get a better grade, but you say your daughter had extenuating circumstances. If your daughter is motivated to study for the higher grade alongside her A-level studies then it is worth the effort to try once more. Your role will be to provide high support and low pressure.

Kindnesscostsnothingtryit · 09/09/2025 22:12

My son got a 5 in maths (zero revision to blame) and couldn't apply for the degree apprenticeships he wanted as all needed a 6 ( he had 3 science A levels but not maths). He went in at the deep end and did maths A level in his spare time, hes on track to get an A next spring. For him it's held him back so I'd recommend resitting. I believe there's one in November so that would get it out of the way.

Original poster

MackenCheese · 09/09/2025 20:07

titchy · 09/09/2025 19:46

I’m not suggesting she works instead! Your question is predicted on her doing one of two, very different, degrees. Her current subject choices don’t suggest those are degree subjects she is actually interested in, so perhaps the lack of a 6 isn’t really that much of an issue. That’s all.

Fair point. She's just trying to keep options open, and as you say, university might not even happen.

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titchy · 09/09/2025 19:46

I’m not suggesting she works instead! Your question is predicted on her doing one of two, very different, degrees. Her current subject choices don’t suggest those are degree subjects she is actually interested in, so perhaps the lack of a 6 isn’t really that much of an issue. That’s all.

Original poster

MackenCheese · 09/09/2025 18:56

titchy · 09/09/2025 18:34

Those are A level grades. She’s doing at least one BTEC. Do they give the BTEC equivalent offer? I’m still not convinced by her chosen sixth form subjects though. Or Cog Sci as a degree choice as opposed to Psychology?

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I know its a mixed bag because she's not 100% sure what she wants to do, but doesn't quite feel ready for the workplace. Given how miserable she was in her old school, she's delighted to be moving forward with the subjects she enjoys.

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titchy · 09/09/2025 18:34

MackenCheese · 09/09/2025 18:16

We will keep looking, but her 2 top university choices both need AAB and maths GCSE at a 6

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Those are A level grades. She’s doing at least one BTEC. Do they give the BTEC equivalent offer? I’m still not convinced by her chosen sixth form subjects though. Or Cog Sci as a degree choice as opposed to Psychology?

Absentosaur · 09/09/2025 18:20

If she does resit and it sounds like she needs a higher grade, then can you afford a maths tutor for her? That might reduce the risk of a lower grade again.

There are students who tutor online for extra cash.

Soontobe60 · 09/09/2025 18:19

MackenCheese · 09/09/2025 17:38

I would say things went wrong in year 10, so there was a lot of content missed. She did all of her catching up without extra tuition, so she has showed great resilience. Maths requires x amount of repetition, so there just wasn't time. Having said that she was surprised by only a 5.

But having said that she was unimpressed by the prospect of sitting 3 maths papers this autumn, in addition to doing 6th form.

She is looking at cognitive science, environmental science at uni, but they all say maths 6. A rethink is needed....

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I would say that she needs to do what she thinks she can manage, with the proviso that it may limit her choices of Uni / degree courses if she doesn’t resit maths.
2 years is a long time for her to change her mind on these things! If the pressure on her to get into Uni is taken off her she may feel more positive - she doesn’t have to go at 18, it’s not the end of the world if she has a year out.

Original poster

MackenCheese · 09/09/2025 18:19

Absentosaur · 09/09/2025 18:09

Sorry if someone’s already asked this but did you try for a re-mark?

No we didn't. Her brother was 2 marks off the next grade in maths, so a remark seemed worthwhile. I was unsure about being 10 marks adrift!

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Dogosaurus · 09/09/2025 18:18

The other concern is looking ahead to university and all the subjects she might consider are asking for a 6 in maths GCSE.

If this is true, and she wants to go to uni, then she needs to resit.

noblegiraffe · 09/09/2025 18:17

Absentosaur · 09/09/2025 18:09

Sorry if someone’s already asked this but did you try for a re-mark?

10 marks off a 6 hasn't a hope of shifting in maths.

Original poster

MackenCheese · 09/09/2025 18:16

Talipesmum · 09/09/2025 18:06

For those saying no because she’s got what she needs - the point is she hasn’t got what she needs, the uni courses she’s interested in are asking for a 6 at GCSE and she has a 5.

I’d talk to the college and ask for advice. Important not to jeopardise her main sixth form studies but if they can work with her to improve maths before she’s applying to uni courses, it could well be worth it.

Good point

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Original poster

MackenCheese · 09/09/2025 18:16

titchy · 09/09/2025 17:59

It’s an odd combination of subjects for either of her potential degree choices (and the two are very different from one another). She needs to think a bit more carefully here I feel. Psychology or Geography A level or both would be much better subject fits. Cog Sci is relatively rare at UG - it tends to be a Masters specialism. Enviro degrees plentiful though and most won’t ask for a 6 at GCSE.

We will keep looking, but her 2 top university choices both need AAB and maths GCSE at a 6

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noblegiraffe · 09/09/2025 18:15

MackenCheese · 09/09/2025 18:15

I will check this. I thought you'd have to sit all 3 in a single sitting

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Yes you do.

Original poster

MackenCheese · 09/09/2025 18:15

W0tnow · 09/09/2025 17:54

Would she need to sit all 3?

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I will check this. I thought you'd have to sit all 3 in a single sitting

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Absentosaur · 09/09/2025 18:09

Sorry if someone’s already asked this but did you try for a re-mark?

Talipesmum · 09/09/2025 18:06

For those saying no because she’s got what she needs - the point is she hasn’t got what she needs, the uni courses she’s interested in are asking for a 6 at GCSE and she has a 5.

I’d talk to the college and ask for advice. Important not to jeopardise her main sixth form studies but if they can work with her to improve maths before she’s applying to uni courses, it could well be worth it.

noblegiraffe · 09/09/2025 18:03

MackenCheese · 09/09/2025 17:38

I would say things went wrong in year 10, so there was a lot of content missed. She did all of her catching up without extra tuition, so she has showed great resilience. Maths requires x amount of repetition, so there just wasn't time. Having said that she was surprised by only a 5.

But having said that she was unimpressed by the prospect of sitting 3 maths papers this autumn, in addition to doing 6th form.

She is looking at cognitive science, environmental science at uni, but they all say maths 6. A rethink is needed....

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If you know for a fact that she will need a 6 for the universities of her choice and if she is in a good place now and has capacity to do some maths work (she will have lost some of her knowledge over the summer and will need to cram) then I would consider putting her in for the November resit, thinking short term pain for long term gain.

However I would be cautious about the possibility she could go down a grade as she will have to declare all results.

Can you fire off an email to the admissions departments of the universities in question and ask whether they would take into account her disrupted Y10 when looking at her GCSE results rather than demanding a 6?

titchy · 09/09/2025 17:59

It’s an odd combination of subjects for either of her potential degree choices (and the two are very different from one another). She needs to think a bit more carefully here I feel. Psychology or Geography A level or both would be much better subject fits. Cog Sci is relatively rare at UG - it tends to be a Masters specialism. Enviro degrees plentiful though and most won’t ask for a 6 at GCSE.

W0tnow · 09/09/2025 17:54

MackenCheese · 09/09/2025 17:38

I would say things went wrong in year 10, so there was a lot of content missed. She did all of her catching up without extra tuition, so she has showed great resilience. Maths requires x amount of repetition, so there just wasn't time. Having said that she was surprised by only a 5.

But having said that she was unimpressed by the prospect of sitting 3 maths papers this autumn, in addition to doing 6th form.

She is looking at cognitive science, environmental science at uni, but they all say maths 6. A rethink is needed....

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Would she need to sit all 3?

Original poster

MackenCheese · 09/09/2025 17:42

Sirzy · 09/09/2025 16:47

I wouldn’t be doing anything that risks adding more pressures let her focus on what she is doing now.

I agree.

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Original poster

MackenCheese · 09/09/2025 17:38

TakeMeToAnIgloo · 09/09/2025 15:55

Why do you think she got a 5? Was it because of things that went wrong on the day, when otherwise she might have got those marks? Or was it because of things that went wrong in the whole year(s) leading up to the exams, where she hadn't really learned enough of the higher material to get the 6+?

If it was things that went wrong on the day/week, and she does actually know the material fairly well, enough that a resit wouldn't be an onerous burden to add to her workload between now and November, then maybe she should give it a try. A tutor to work through the topics that she missed or was close on could help, and the rest of it would be fairly fresh in her mind.

If there is a lot of extra work that needs to be covered, and it would be a whole year project to get her to the point of resitting, then she'd have to consider it more seriously. Is there any support offered at school for a resit? I expect not, if she wants to do higher.

It would be a shame if she missed out on a university course because of a decision now, which might not be that big of a deal, if she does remember a good chunk of the maths at the moment - it's easy to get out of practice and she might not if she waits a couple of years and then decides she does need it after all. Equally, you don't want her to get off to a rough start in sixth form with loads of extra work, if she's already a bit shaky. So i think while in an ideal world, it would be a good idea to get a 6 if she is capable and might need it in the future, there are a lot of other factors that need to be considered, and it might not be a priority.

I would say things went wrong in year 10, so there was a lot of content missed. She did all of her catching up without extra tuition, so she has showed great resilience. Maths requires x amount of repetition, so there just wasn't time. Having said that she was surprised by only a 5.

But having said that she was unimpressed by the prospect of sitting 3 maths papers this autumn, in addition to doing 6th form.

She is looking at cognitive science, environmental science at uni, but they all say maths 6. A rethink is needed....

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