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Original poster

What maths course can I get onto when I'm REALLY bad at it?

151 replies

MathsStruggle · 21/07/2022 14:34

Hi all,

I should've done this years ago, but not having my maths GCSE is actually limiting me from starting a career I'd like to do.

I'm just wondering what course I could get onto which would be for beginners but where I could eventually go on to do my GCSE. There is no way I'd pass the maths test to get onto a GCSE course.

I've seen a 'Maths for Work and Study' course but I'm worried I'm just so bad that no course can help me :(

Any advice?

OP posts:
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6
MouseTheDog · 21/07/2022 14:39

Look for functional skills courses - the one you mentioned may be a functional skills qual with a different course name. Functional skills goes from entry level 1 which is basically what 5-7 year olds do, up to level 2 which is GCSE equivalent. If you happen to be in the West Miss pm me as I work in a College that offers these quals.

Blueskythinking123 · 21/07/2022 14:41

Have a look at your local colleges. Many offer functional skills courses for free if you don't have the qualification. A level 2 is equivalent to a gcse pass.

sorryiasked · 21/07/2022 14:45

I did a course at our local college which was designed to help parents understand how kids are taught in school. It was really useful and that might be an option for you?

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

General education
sorryiasked · 21/07/2022 14:45

I didn't word that very well, but it was how maths is taught, so we were given the lessons that the kids get.

QueenJulian · 21/07/2022 14:50

If you go to a local college that offers Functional Skills maths courses, they will assess what level you are working at now. Then you just work through the levels until you get to GCSE. I think some employers will accept a FS level 2 maths qualification in lieu of a GCSE.

MissyB1 · 21/07/2022 14:55

Definitely do functional skills. I did it aged 50! I needed it for a new career and had never passed Maths at school. I had to do level 2, but you could start with level 1 if you preferred.

MobLife · 21/07/2022 14:56

Functional Skills Level 2 (formally known as Key Skills Application of Number) will give you the equivalent of a GCSE grade C and is acceptable as a GCSE alternative. You might be able to get on to a course for free if you don't have that standard of education already

Forestdweller11 · 21/07/2022 15:04

Yup, functional skills is the course you are looking for.

Forestdweller11 · 21/07/2022 15:08

Meant to say I did level one, level 2 and then ultimately GCSE (can't remember what grade but it was a pass!) for the hell of it as the functional skills gives you the equivalent. This was after failing maths at O level 4 times and CSE twice ... Bit like pp I suddenly found I needed a maths GCSE quickly!

Original poster
MathsStruggle · 21/07/2022 16:20

Thanks everyone- I'd say I'm definitely at the level of a 5-7yr old!
My kids aren't at school yet. So I'd love to be able to help them with maths when the time comes.

I will contact my local college and see what they say.

For the course I mentioned they've said everyone would have to do a test beforehand ...I'm really bad at tests. What if I do even worse in it? Will they tell me there's no hope for me and I can't even do Functional Skills?!

Is there a course before Functional Skills? Haha

OP posts:
Original poster
MathsStruggle · 21/07/2022 16:21

Forestdweller11 · 21/07/2022 15:08

Meant to say I did level one, level 2 and then ultimately GCSE (can't remember what grade but it was a pass!) for the hell of it as the functional skills gives you the equivalent. This was after failing maths at O level 4 times and CSE twice ... Bit like pp I suddenly found I needed a maths GCSE quickly!

Well done! That's some determination right there! I want to be like you!

OP posts:
MouseTheDog · 21/07/2022 16:27

The test is purely to get you in the correct level. Honestly you are likely to be better than you think. Here’s an example entry level 1 paper passfunctionalskills.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Edexcel-FSM-EL1-Sample1-Sep-19.pdf see what you think!

Sopharaway · 21/07/2022 16:29

Yes - entry level functional skills is below functional skills. You may be better than you think, underneath all the stress and anxiety around doing maths. Your local college is definitely the place to ask.

Greenkitten · 21/07/2022 16:29

This link is a past paper for maths entry level 1.

qualifications.pearson.com/content/dam/pdf/Functional-skills/Mathematics/2019/specification-and-sample-assessments/FS-Maths-Entry-1-Sample-Assessment-Material-pre-pub.pdf

Tasks include recognising what is the lowest two digit number, telling the time, adding two single digit numbers and recognising a calculation.

Just to give you an idea of the starting point.

Original poster
MathsStruggle · 21/07/2022 16:44

MouseTheDog · 21/07/2022 16:27

The test is purely to get you in the correct level. Honestly you are likely to be better than you think. Here’s an example entry level 1 paper passfunctionalskills.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Edexcel-FSM-EL1-Sample1-Sep-19.pdf see what you think!

I'm just going though it now but I'm struggling to understand what they want me to do for this one?

What maths course can I get onto when I'm REALLY bad at it?
OP posts:
Discodreams · 21/07/2022 16:48

Check basically means how else can you work it would. So in that case you could also do 11+3=14, as well as 3+11=14. You can also do 14-11=3 or 14-3=11.

LadyMonicaBaddingham · 21/07/2022 16:50

14 - 3 = 11

Original poster
MathsStruggle · 21/07/2022 17:13

Discodreams · 21/07/2022 16:48

Check basically means how else can you work it would. So in that case you could also do 11+3=14, as well as 3+11=14. You can also do 14-11=3 or 14-3=11.

So the answer doesn't need to be 14?
See this is what I struggle with in maths! I'd just sit there forever staring at the question!

All the other questions I was fine with 😂

OP posts:
katmarie · 21/07/2022 18:40

Op the answer doesn't have to be 14. What the question is asking you to show is that you understand that 11 and 3 added together make 14, and to show how you can test that.

To check that this addition is correct, you would take the 14 in the answer, and subtract one of the other numbers in the sum from it. So you might subtract 3 , and if what is left is 11, your original addition is correct, because when you add that 3 back again, you are back to your answer of 14.

Or you might subtract 11, and if what is left is 3, your original sum is correct because if you add that 11 back in again you get your original answer of 14 again.

katmarie · 21/07/2022 18:47

Just to add, having done some quadratic equations and stuff, I can now see that this ability to test a sum, by swapping around the numbers and whether they are + or - is a building block for a lot of stuff that comes in later with algebra at gcse and beyond.

Original poster
MathsStruggle · 21/07/2022 18:53

katmarie · 21/07/2022 18:40

Op the answer doesn't have to be 14. What the question is asking you to show is that you understand that 11 and 3 added together make 14, and to show how you can test that.

To check that this addition is correct, you would take the 14 in the answer, and subtract one of the other numbers in the sum from it. So you might subtract 3 , and if what is left is 11, your original addition is correct, because when you add that 3 back again, you are back to your answer of 14.

Or you might subtract 11, and if what is left is 3, your original sum is correct because if you add that 11 back in again you get your original answer of 14 again.

Thank you! That makes sense

OP posts:
katmarie · 21/07/2022 19:18

Op you are welcome. Honestly, you probably aren't bad at maths, but sometimes questions need to be asked or explained in the right way. If you understood everything else in that exam, then I would search online to see if you can find an example of the next level exam paper and take a crack at it.

katmarie · 21/07/2022 19:25

In fact, here you go, the past papers for entry level 1, 2, and 3. You did 1 already :)

passfunctionalskills.co.uk/functional-skills-maths-entry-level-1-2-3/edexcel-functional-skills-maths-entry-level-1-2-3-past-papers/

After entry 1,2 and 3, the next step is level 1, and then the level 2 someone mentioned previously. That website has past papers for every level so you can test yourself to see what your current knowledge level is.

As an aside it also has English and ict so thats the rest of my evening gone! Hahaha

Original poster
MathsStruggle · 21/07/2022 20:36

katmarie · 21/07/2022 19:18

Op you are welcome. Honestly, you probably aren't bad at maths, but sometimes questions need to be asked or explained in the right way. If you understood everything else in that exam, then I would search online to see if you can find an example of the next level exam paper and take a crack at it.

Thanks again.
Yeah I got stuck on an entry level 2 question and I'm only the 2nd one in! I've definitely got a lot of work to do 😭

OP posts:
katmarie · 21/07/2022 21:05

That's ok, at least now you have a bench mark for what help you need to ask for. I think it's brilliant that you're trying to learn new stuff. Once you get into it you might even enjoy it!