Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

So DS got an an A in Maths and Physics but a D in English - what to make of this?

36 replies

FidgetyFingers · 28/08/2018 19:42

His GCSEs.

Any thoughts?

OP posts:
Original poster
FidgetyFingers · 28/08/2018 19:44

Sorry not Physics. Combined Science so all three.

He is taking Maths and Physics A level.

Quite worried.

OP posts:
trilbydoll · 28/08/2018 19:46

He isn't one for writing?

They're very different subjects, it would be weirder if he had an A in Maths and a D in Science.

CraftyGin · 28/08/2018 19:46

No worries about his A-level options, but he will need to resit English.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

General education
MonumentVal · 28/08/2018 19:50

Is he dyslexic, have trouble understanding what English questions ask for, or just grumpily write "how should I know?" when faced with yet another question about what the author was feeling when they wrote blah?
For reference DH has similar results, managed fine with non-essay A-levels, eventually managed to write a PhD thesis - all three hypotheses applied to him.

bringbacksideburns · 28/08/2018 19:52

My son is the opposite. A stars in English/ History etc . D in Maths.
He's Halfway through A Levels and he just resat Maths - got a D again.

There are more resits available in November - other than that he will be doing it next Summer!

mildshock · 28/08/2018 19:56

They're very different subjects, it happens. Does he normally get better marks for his English coursework?

If he wants to go on to HE then he'll need to re-sit English, but it's not a huge problem.

PattiStanger · 28/08/2018 20:02

I'm not sure what you're asking about, it's not unusual to have a range of marks ime.

Having an aptitude for Maths doesn't mean you are good at English and give versa.

Do you think one of the marks might be wrong?

Ginorchoc · 28/08/2018 20:09

Bringbacksideburns has your son been tested for Dyscalculia he sounds like me.

Original poster
FidgetyFingers · 28/08/2018 20:13

No, worried about him embarking on much harder A Levels with that English grade. He put very little work in and I had constant calls from his teachers regarding late coursework etc. Very little revision.

He has very little motivation, leaves everything to the last minute so it's not up to scratch and is phone addicted. As in I threatened to throw it out of the car window during his GCSEs (he stayed out late night before an exam doing no revision and not replying to me asking what he was doing then texting me to come get him at almost midnight) and he was in tears begging me not to Hmm.

I have suggested he do a Diploma instead!

OP posts:
Original poster
FidgetyFingers · 28/08/2018 20:16

I don't want him to set himself up to fail and not get good enough a level results. I will need to be on his back all the bloody time! Can't bear the thought of it Wine

OP posts:
BarbaraofSevillle · 28/08/2018 20:22

No worries about his A-level options, but he will need to resit English

Will he though? His talents obviously lie in Maths/Science and he's clearly managed to do well enough in the written sections of these subjects (ie not formula/calculation based). It will be obvious to any Sixth Form or whatever they call themselves these days that he's capable of Alevels and probably a degree in these subjects too.

I got similar grades, As in Maths, Physics, Chemistry, but scraped Cs in English Language, Literature and History, but did well at science A levels and got a first in chemistry, despite hating essay questions and realising afterwards that I'd written my organic chemistry final paper in my own personal shorthand, which was a combination of the chemical formula and words Blush.

Sounds like effort, study technique and staying off his phone will be more beneficial than a better GCSE in English.

Original poster
FidgetyFingers · 28/08/2018 20:35

He should have done much better in English. He was in top set. No idea how he got an A in Maths. His teacher was beyond frustrated with him in her many communications with me.

He's opted for Maths, Physics and Chemistry A levels.

Better to do a lower level course and get good results than a higher level and get bad ones?

I know damn well he won't put the work in.

OP posts:
annandale · 28/08/2018 20:39

I think given that he has actually achieved top grades in maths and science, starting maths and science a levels seems perfectly reasonable.

Could you go and have a meeting between the head of english, you and him? Strategies/choices?

Holymolynowayimagreeingwiththa · 28/08/2018 20:43

Well done to him!

LadyLance · 28/08/2018 20:46

@barabaraofseville yes he will. If he got less than a 4, his sixth form funding will be dependent on him resitting.

He will probably also need a 4/5 in English for uni even if he wants to study a science subject.

bionicnemonic · 28/08/2018 20:58

My DS and I sat down to make an agreement today (hopefully it will stick!) We took it in turns to negotiate. We resolved that homework will be done on return home...music can be played...homework done downstairs, then phone time but starting to get ready for bed at 10 on school nights (this can take a very long time). I explained that I find it very stressful and that it’s a nicer time for both of us if we are not tired

Mummypower92 · 28/08/2018 21:12

Amazing results! People who are extremely clever at maths and science always suck at English! It's quite well known. He can resist his English exam - don't worry!

RandomMess · 28/08/2018 21:20

It may be the wake up call that he needs that he does have to put the work in? It's likely he can wing it in maths based subjects and very clearly not in English!

OutPinked · 28/08/2018 21:23

He’s good at maths and science but not so good at English? Confused I mean, what else are you wanting to make of it really??

I failed science completely and scraped a C with Maths but I had to take the lower paper and put a lot of work into getting that grade. English, however, I got an A*. Subsequently did my degree in English and got a first, I now teach it.

Everyone has their strengths.

JynxaSmoochum · 28/08/2018 21:36

DH has a PhD in a very technical subject related to sciences... he struggles to read a children's picture book aloud and write a sentence with correct SPAG. Proof reading is a wonderful thing in the real world. At work he can express his content sufficiently that a spell checker and proof reader brings it up to professional standard.

GCSEs/ A-Levels/ Higher education can see a huge change in attitude and work ethic in a couple of years. Dropping some compulsory subjects and focusing on those you have an interest and aptitude in can do wonders. Some people just mature in that time. Disappointing results can be a wake-up call. Some people finally hit the point where they can't cruise on talent and have to work harder.

EvilRingahBitch · 28/08/2018 21:36

By no means true that everyone who excels at maths and science sucks at English - plenty of people are really good at both.

However there are also a lot of talented, highly literate mathematicians who look at a question saying “How is Wordsworth portraying an effect of desolation in the early part of The Prelude?” and scream “Don’t ask me! I didn’t sodding write it! Get a sodding Ouija board and ask him!!”
(I share a house with three of them). For them the only answer is to memorise the answers in CGP and throw everything remotely relevant to the question at the exam paper in the desperate hope that there will be a C-s worth of points in there somewhere.

For what it’s worth I think it’s much too early to write off your son’s hope of an academic future. He can do a lot of growing up in the next two years.

CrazyCatMamma · 28/08/2018 21:39

Maybe he's just a bit shit at English. My dd is the opposite. A's for language based subjects, C for Maths (which she was pleasantly surprised at ). Not sure what else you'd want to make of it.

Kezzie200 · 28/08/2018 21:41

I got an O level grade A in English Language and U in English Lit.

Explain that! Its even more bizarre. These things happen. I clearly didnt get the questions!

He will now need to resit the English but he should be fine A level wise if hes going for the numbers.

AJPTaylor · 28/08/2018 22:00

Btec diplomas require constant effort and coursework throughout.

Kezzie200 · 28/08/2018 22:58

To do well in a Diploma you have to work hard from day one. Its deadline after deadline.