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Original poster

Yearly warning about taking A-level maths with a 6 at GCSE

259 replies

noblegiraffe · 20/08/2026 08:54

GCSE results day and therefore A-level sign-up day.

So with that in mind I just thought I'd post the table of conversions from GCSE to A-level results for maths to show that there is a strong correlation. This is because A-level Maths basically starts with a quick review of grade 8/9 GCSE algebra content and then gets more difficult. Students starting with a 7 will have to work very hard to keep up, students with a 6 often flounder.

There are sixth forms and colleges that will accept students with a 6 onto A-level maths, but from many years of experience, this is not a good experience for the student. Many will drop out and switch courses early on (and therefore not appear in the results table I've posted), but some will struggle on for 2 years and then come out with a grade that really doesn't help them with university applications.

If you take A-level maths with a 6, even if you manage to complete the course (and a lot won't), about three quarters will get a D or below, with E the most common grade.

If your child is considering maths with a grade 7 but will be applying for extremely competitive uni courses, consider whether they actually need it as A*s and As from a 7 are not likely. Obviously, anything is possible, check how far they were off an 8, ask their teacher for advice, but please don't assume that an (old) A at GCSE translates to an A at A-level.

This data is from 2019, there's more recent data but not in as clear a format, and the message is basically the same.

If your child is keen to do maths, but gets a 6, please consider Core Maths instead, which is designed to be taken alongside 3 A-levels and provides supportive maths content for A-level sciences and social sciences (e.g. psychology, geography).

If your child is going to do A-level maths (particularly if they are on a 7 but also 8/9), check that they have done summer bridging work so they hit the ground running in September.

If they haven't been set any bridging work - don't assume that's ok! There are some resources here to help https://alevelmathsrevision.com/bridging-the-gap/

Yearly warning about taking A-level maths with a 6 at GCSE
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ConBatulations · 08/09/2026 14:53

@SoftIce BTec or T level in electronics or engineering would include the relevant maths needed for that subject. Certainly possible to continue to degree level with good grades in those subjects or into employment or an apprenticeship. Employers often want people with practical skills as well.

Original poster
noblegiraffe · 08/09/2026 10:00

@SoftIce Is he just starting Y11 and predicted a 6? In which case, nothing to stop him working hard at his favourite subject and boosting that to a 7! This would be better than trying to patch things up in Y12. Could he get a tutor? Or there are loads of GCSE resources out there if he was motivated enough to engage with them.

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SoftIce · 08/09/2026 08:08

@noblegiraffe Thanks a lot. There is a workbook for the Level 3 on Amazon, so I wondered if that could be used, or maybe some colleges do offer it. It is a bit tricky since for this boy (not mine), maths is genuinely his favourite and best subject (predicted a 6, along with electronics I think) so it seems a shame if he couldn't take it further at all even if it may take him longer to get to A-level, e.g. do Level 3 Algebra in Year 12 alongside a BTEC, then AS-level maths in Year 13 and then, depending on how that goes, go on to a foundation year based on the AS. I don't think he would put in the work on his own though. He is not a self-teaching kind of boy. On the other hand, core maths doesn't seem that relevant to what he is interested in (engineering / computing). Then again, maybe a BTEC or T-level on its own would already be sufficient for what he wants to do.

Original poster
noblegiraffe · 07/09/2026 20:12

SoftIce · 01/09/2026 09:12

@noblegiraffe Would this be a good bridging course between GCSE and AS-level for someone with a Grade 6 who really wants to go on to A-level eventually? https://qualifications.pearson.com/en/qualifications/edexcel-awards-in-mathematics/algebra.html

I've never taught either of them. The level 2 award looks fairly basic and I would have thought someone with a grade 6 would already know most of it.
The level 3 award is much meatier and would be great preparation for A-level but it also contains some of the A-level spec (e.g. using the discriminant) so goes beyond GCSE and could be quite tricky! Would they be looking to teach themselves?

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Original poster
noblegiraffe · 07/09/2026 20:07

Stowickthevast · 07/09/2026 17:27

@noblegiraffe or other Maths teachers on here, can you advise when in Y12 the work starts getting difficult?

DD is taking 4 A levels including Maths with a view to dropping one by half team. She's only had a couple of Maths lessons so far which have been pretty easy basically going over Y11 work. I'm just wondering whether she'll realise the "jump" in difficulty by half term or whether that happens later in Y12.

She got a strong 8 so I think she can cope but did get 9s in the other 3 she's taking.

If she got a strong 8 and did the bridging work then the start of Y12 won't really be a jump because, as you say, it starts with Y11 work. For others who got a 7 and/or didn't do any work over the summer, they'd already be finding it tough.

She should be doing some new stuff soon, which will be a bit more challenging because it's new but also because it requires fluid application of things that were considered difficult at GCSE like completing the square or solving quadratic inequalities. It's not so much a jump as a smooth increase though and it sounds like she would be ok with it.

OP posts:
Stowickthevast · 07/09/2026 17:27

@noblegiraffe or other Maths teachers on here, can you advise when in Y12 the work starts getting difficult?

DD is taking 4 A levels including Maths with a view to dropping one by half team. She's only had a couple of Maths lessons so far which have been pretty easy basically going over Y11 work. I'm just wondering whether she'll realise the "jump" in difficulty by half term or whether that happens later in Y12.

She got a strong 8 so I think she can cope but did get 9s in the other 3 she's taking.

hothousingforsats · 05/09/2026 23:36

I agree with this. Neighbours daughter got 9 A stars (admittedly during Covid so they were teacher assessed from a private school) and had to work her socks off to get a B at A level. Nephew, a year later ,got a 7 (again from a high performing private school). Chose to move another school for better extra curricular but even a private school education plus a private tutor during the holidays couldn't save him. Totally out of his depth. Had to give it up at end of lower sixth.

MeetMeOnTheCorner · 31/08/2026 23:55

@AMatterOfInfiniteHope As she doesn’t need 4, the obvious one to go
is biology if she keeps the non stem ones ! Only keep biology if she needs it for a degree. Maths is good for stem and non stem degrees.

AMatterOfInfiniteHope · 31/08/2026 18:19

DrFaustina · 31/08/2026 10:20

Yep. We see it all the time. Get an 8 in English, 9 in history etc and 5s and 6s in stem. "What A levels are you taking?"
"Maths, physics and chemistry. My parents say there are more jobs in stem. " And then they bomb at A level and don't know where to go next.

This relentless drive to get kids to do stem is destroying my subject at A level. But enjoy your future ruled by robots and AI without empathy and creativity😆

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Agree so much with this!

DD taking English lit and philosophy. Plus two stem subjects: biology & maths (at the moment anyway!) Would love for her to take another humanities/essay based subject instead of the maths it would really play to her strengths.

She did do well in biology at GCSE so hopefully this will go ok. Fingers crossed.

MeetMeOnTheCorner · 31/08/2026 17:30

@DrFaustina Yes I agree and quite a few jobs in stem would greatly benefit from people with a different kind of brain and outlook being involved.

DrFaustina · 31/08/2026 10:20

MeetMeOnTheCorner · 31/08/2026 09:46

I think taking A levels with a 6, if taking the harder subjects is an issue for many dc. It would be for MFLs for example. Any subject where you build on previous learning. I suspect many of these dc would de-select themselves, but maths is different because of the rush to stem. Dc and parents see maths differently and schools want bums on seats so have differing policies on admission to A levels.

Yep. We see it all the time. Get an 8 in English, 9 in history etc and 5s and 6s in stem. "What A levels are you taking?"
"Maths, physics and chemistry. My parents say there are more jobs in stem. " And then they bomb at A level and don't know where to go next.

This relentless drive to get kids to do stem is destroying my subject at A level. But enjoy your future ruled by robots and AI without empathy and creativity😆

MeetMeOnTheCorner · 31/08/2026 09:46

I think taking A levels with a 6, if taking the harder subjects is an issue for many dc. It would be for MFLs for example. Any subject where you build on previous learning. I suspect many of these dc would de-select themselves, but maths is different because of the rush to stem. Dc and parents see maths differently and schools want bums on seats so have differing policies on admission to A levels.

Original poster
noblegiraffe · 31/08/2026 09:10

Boggyjo · 31/08/2026 08:17

No. Not 5s but I have, in the past had to battle regarding 6s. However, every year it is suggested med that we do take 6s….. because other subjects do.

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Solidarity.

Our entry requirement is a 6 and it's really not fair on those kids.

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Boggyjo · 31/08/2026 08:17

noblegiraffe · 30/08/2026 10:52

Your school allows students with a 5 to start A-level maths??? Shock

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No. Not 5s but I have, in the past had to battle regarding 6s. However, every year it is suggested med that we do take 6s….. because other subjects do.

Lampzade · 30/08/2026 12:29

Boggyjo · 30/08/2026 10:32

Yes. Fair enough.

But the stats for those who drop out are very relevant, especially the 5s and 6s.
My boss does not understand this and is constantly trying to insist that we allow these students to take A’ level maths. Madness in my opinion, except in very exceptional circumstances.

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Wow .
That is shocking

Original poster
noblegiraffe · 30/08/2026 10:52

Boggyjo · 30/08/2026 10:32

Yes. Fair enough.

But the stats for those who drop out are very relevant, especially the 5s and 6s.
My boss does not understand this and is constantly trying to insist that we allow these students to take A’ level maths. Madness in my opinion, except in very exceptional circumstances.

Show quote history

Your school allows students with a 5 to start A-level maths??? Shock

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Boggyjo · 30/08/2026 10:32

noblegiraffe · 30/08/2026 09:23

Yes, I did mention the drop-outs in my OP, although I wouldn't go scaring people talking about 'very large numbers' dropping out with a 7 as that's not my experience.

Schools tend to have a period of a few weeks at the start of sixth form where students can try out a course and then switch if they don't like it or if they struggle (or they may be advised that they are better suited to something else), so if anyone is a bit nervous about starting an A-level, then they should be aware that they aren't locked into that choice from the start.

Show quote history

Yes. Fair enough.

But the stats for those who drop out are very relevant, especially the 5s and 6s.
My boss does not understand this and is constantly trying to insist that we allow these students to take A’ level maths. Madness in my opinion, except in very exceptional circumstances.

Original poster
noblegiraffe · 30/08/2026 09:23

Boggyjo · 30/08/2026 08:08

Sorry if someone has already posted this, but the table is a little misleading. It does not include the very large number of students with 5,6 and 7 at GCSE who drop off the courses.
I expect the vast majority of those with a 5 who start the course do not finish it. Indeed probably drop out by October.

Yes, I did mention the drop-outs in my OP, although I wouldn't go scaring people talking about 'very large numbers' dropping out with a 7 as that's not my experience.

Schools tend to have a period of a few weeks at the start of sixth form where students can try out a course and then switch if they don't like it or if they struggle (or they may be advised that they are better suited to something else), so if anyone is a bit nervous about starting an A-level, then they should be aware that they aren't locked into that choice from the start.

OP posts:
Boggyjo · 30/08/2026 08:08

Sorry if someone has already posted this, but the table is a little misleading. It does not include the very large number of students with 5,6 and 7 at GCSE who drop off the courses.
I expect the vast majority of those with a 5 who start the course do not finish it. Indeed probably drop out by October.

Glittertwins · 27/08/2026 15:22

We got our Casio calculators through school as they got a huge discount

Original poster
noblegiraffe · 27/08/2026 10:19

Littleredhen39 · 25/08/2026 09:35

Sorry to jump on. My son got an 8 in maths and a 9 in further maths level 2 cert. He was 4 marks of a 9 so we are asking for his papers back to see if any obvious missed marks. As it stands his grammar school will not let him do further maths without a 9. He is gutted but not so gutted that he wants to change schools. He finds maths easy but tends to be quite careless. He would like to try to study further maths alone and maybe sit further maths AS in June 27. Is this a crazy idea? He is worried that he won’t be considered for some degree courses that expect you to do FM if your school offers it. I assume that school could put in the reference that he was not allied to sit it due to their policy but not sure if that would help.

He has got a 9. He got a 9 in FM. I would definitely point that out to the school because a 9 in FM is possibly an even better indicator of maths ability than a 9 in GCSE.

Them saying that someone who got a 9 in FM and was 4 marks off a 9 in GCSE is unsuited to FM A-level is absolutely batshit and needs challenging, especially if it will stop him from applying to university courses he wants to do.

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MadMAGA · 26/08/2026 22:18

Good tip, thanks!

ConBatulations · 26/08/2026 22:15

@MadMAGA If they do want a graphical one see if the school sells them.DC school sells the Casio one for about £88 so a substantial discount.

MadMAGA · 26/08/2026 22:13

Thanks! I didn't want to spend over £100 if not needed.