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Original poster

How to move from 2 to a 5 foundation maths GCSE?

113 replies

Thebestthingsinlife · 03/10/2026 21:17

Is this possible? Realistic? How much work daily will DC have to do from now until exam? How should he be revising daily? We are looking for a tutor but that is only one hour per week. Year 11. Other subjects are ok; maths the weakest one.

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Betterversionofme · 03/10/2026 21:57

A good teacher to cover very patiently basic maths concepts. Don't even try to cover all GCSE foundation maths. Just let teacher teach and you'll see how it goes. Try to find someone who can show your teenager, how much he knows and reduce panic if that is a problem.
How is school? The child in question would find regular maths lessons in school very boring, complete mystery and waste of time. Maybe even in 'lower' set if school provides that.

SnapAndTap · 03/10/2026 21:54

5 is a stretch on foundation.
Is there someone in the house that could mark a past paper - with a mark scheme in front of them?
Id get child to do a full set of papers, and get a parent or teacher to mark. Then work out what topics are causing issues. Find bbc bite-sized / oak academy / Corbett maths videos to talk through the topic, then try the questions again.

2-3 with a bit of work is totally realistic.
2-4 will need effort from DC.
2-5 will need a fundamental shift in attitude and work ethic.

Original poster
Thebestthingsinlife · 03/10/2026 21:52

His current teacher at school is not a good fit. He has one hour intervention per week with a good teacher. It sounds like this plus one hour per week tutoring isn’t going to be enough; even if he study on his own. His dibbling used to help him but has gone to university now.

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Original poster
Thebestthingsinlife · 03/10/2026 21:41

SaveMeFromMyBoobs · 03/10/2026 21:41

Lots of good online resources are out there. Have a look on YouTube, BBC website etc and see if those videos are any good for teaching some basics in absence of family support. May take some searching to find a resource that matches learning style.

Does your child learn best through listening/visual/repetition etc.

Visual, repetition

OP posts:
SaveMeFromMyBoobs · 03/10/2026 21:41

Lots of good online resources are out there. Have a look on YouTube, BBC website etc and see if those videos are any good for teaching some basics in absence of family support. May take some searching to find a resource that matches learning style.

Does your child learn best through listening/visual/repetition etc.

Original poster
Thebestthingsinlife · 03/10/2026 21:40

SaveMeFromMyBoobs · 03/10/2026 21:38

At Grade 2 they need actively teaching the basics/groundwork not revision. That's why I suggested family support may be helpful if available. And until they get that grounding they will be behind in the new stuff they're learning this year. More sooner is better to get that understanding up to where revision is helpful.

Show quote history

Sounds like one hour tutoring per week isn’t going to be enough

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SaveMeFromMyBoobs · 03/10/2026 21:38

Thebestthingsinlife · 03/10/2026 21:33

Thanks; there is noone in the family that can support apart from emotionally and practical support. We could invest in more than one hour per week for tutoring. He is doing 30min every day but not sure is enough; plus maybe 2 hours private tutoring per week.

At Grade 2 they need actively teaching the basics/groundwork not revision. That's why I suggested family support may be helpful if available. And until they get that grounding they will be behind in the new stuff they're learning this year. More sooner is better to get that understanding up to where revision is helpful.

Original poster
Thebestthingsinlife · 03/10/2026 21:35

KindlySurfiingPlatypus · 03/10/2026 21:32

If the child is genuinely working at a level to get grade 2 then they don't really understand the concept of number at all. "Revising" isn't the correct activity, they need to be actively taught as if for the first time. Is your tutor an experienced maths teacher or just someone who got an A at A-Level and is doing tutoring for extra funds?

Ok; seems like more tutoring per week is needed. He seems committed

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Original poster
Thebestthingsinlife · 03/10/2026 21:33

Thanks; there is noone in the family that can support apart from emotionally and practical support. We could invest in more than one hour per week for tutoring. He is doing 30min every day but not sure is enough; plus maybe 2 hours private tutoring per week.

OP posts:
KindlySurfiingPlatypus · 03/10/2026 21:32

If the child is genuinely working at a level to get grade 2 then they don't really understand the concept of number at all. "Revising" isn't the correct activity, they need to be actively taught as if for the first time. Is your tutor an experienced maths teacher or just someone who got an A at A-Level and is doing tutoring for extra funds?

BeautifulLittlePumpkin · 03/10/2026 21:25

I think 5 is a little ambitious tbh. Aim for the 4. Get a tutor asap.

SaveMeFromMyBoobs · 03/10/2026 21:24

Only realistic if the child commits to it. Really commits to it. More tutoring if at all possible. Work at it, ideally with support, daily. It's a fine line between doing what is needed and burning them out. Is there a family member they'd work well with? Sometimes a parent isnt the right fit but an aunt/uncle/sibling/cousin has less clashes.

If you can get them support to get their level up more intensely pre-christmas you can get them the grounding to hopefully be able to keep up with new material at the higher level without same level of intervention as you dont want it to impact other subjects.

But even daily tutoring wouldn't work if the child isn't fully committed.

Original poster
Thebestthingsinlife · 03/10/2026 21:19

Maybe at 4 is more realistic

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