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Maths GCSE as an adult - anyone done it?

31 replies

squashyhat · 27/01/2021 10:20

I am 60 and don't have a maths qualification despite having a degree and a masters. I took O' level 3 times and gave up Sad I'm thinking of doing maths GCSE just to prove I can. I'm retired so have the time and am used to studying online, but it's not cheap. Have any 'maths blind' people done this successfully?

OP posts:
EcoCustard · 28/01/2021 06:22

@Elmo311 I rarely believe I can do anything too. However turns out I can, as can you. It took me 6 months of doing the ks3 books before I did the GCSE. I started at college one evening a week however my exam was last year and as I didn’t do mocks or much assessment I was given a d/5 grade last summer, as did most of the class. I was given the option to resit in November and only just found out I passed.

I have 4 kids under 6 so understand how long it can take. Hopefully will help my prospects, and as I am considering teaching I will need it. currently on a break from my OU degree and I have lost count of how many jobs requiring the GCSE that I didn’t possess that I couldn’t apply for or didn’t get. Go for it, it might take time but go for it.

Elmo311 · 28/01/2021 10:47

@RaelImperialAerosolKid I think I had a negative introduction to maths. My dad used to sit me down and get angry when I didn't understand, and not praise me much when I got something right. It was never good enough and he'd tell me things like "oh she doesn't want to learn" and then he just stopped helping me.

He made it worse because he taught me differently to the way school would teach me. And so I just stopped trying and I accepted that I was no good at maths, that I am stupid and will never be able to do it. All of that started at age 5.

Thank you for having confidence in me! My patents never did and neither did I!

With yours and @EcoCustard comments I feel more positive about attempting this again. I know it would change how I feel about myself entirely. It would change everything for me.

Ah. I'm actually crying right now :(

And OP, sorry for taking over some of your thread! Go for it x

RaelImperialAerosolKid · 28/01/2021 12:24

@Elmo311 - it makes me so sad that you had to go through this.
The key is to embrace the mistakes and errors you make and be able to explain why - not feeling like a failure and giving up - like most things it's a journey - and for you - passing a GCSE maths is the same as some people getting a pHD.

As a child I was never able to do multiplication tables - we had 3 minute tests at school and I hated them - but my DF made me see that there was lots more to maths than this and not to worry about it and concentrate on the things I could do - still can't do 7X8 - but you should see the algebra and calculus.

I really think that any adult can master enough maths to pass at GCSE level - you just need the time and energy. I had one student who passed in November and can now go to university to study Psychology- it truly is life changing.

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amusedbush · 28/01/2021 13:10

[quote Elmo311]@RaelImperialAerosolKid I think I had a negative introduction to maths. My dad used to sit me down and get angry when I didn't understand, and not praise me much when I got something right. It was never good enough and he'd tell me things like "oh she doesn't want to learn" and then he just stopped helping me.

He made it worse because he taught me differently to the way school would teach me. And so I just stopped trying and I accepted that I was no good at maths, that I am stupid and will never be able to do it. All of that started at age 5.

Thank you for having confidence in me! My patents never did and neither did I!

With yours and @EcoCustard comments I feel more positive about attempting this again. I know it would change how I feel about myself entirely. It would change everything for me.

Ah. I'm actually crying right now :(

And OP, sorry for taking over some of your thread! Go for it x
[/quote]
This makes so much sense to me. Looking back, my mum got very angry about my struggles with maths and I remember her making me stay in my room one afternoon writing out multiplication tables over and over because I didn’t immediately know the answer to one of the questions. I think I was about 7 or 8.

I also had a horrendous experience with maths at school. Our teacher went on mat leave three times in the four years I took the subject and we had a steady stream of supply teachers giving us a patchwork overview of the materials. Obviously I don’t blame the teacher, it was the school who should have provided adequate cover but it all added up to huge holes in my knowledge and understanding of the work.

blackheartsgirl · 29/01/2021 10:43

I had a vile primary school teacher who used to call me hopeless and not worth teaching because I just never understood it. She was also very shouty and put me off maths for life. Plus I just couldn't concentrate. Adhd brain for you

Justlovedogs · 29/01/2021 10:55

OP - Not quite the same thing or as mature as you, but I did my degree as an older student. Thoroughly enjoyed it and found it a lot easier than I would have straight from school. You'll probably be surprised what you do know when you start it and doing it because you want to rather than have to makes a big difference. Go for it and good luck Smile

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