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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

AIBU to think Bs at GCSE are ok?

808 replies

catwalker · 28/08/2011 21:31

Some issues with DS and GCSEs/6th form. He didn't get the grades he was predicted (As and As) but then I didn't expect him to as he doesn't put much effort into anything apart from his x box. He got mainly Bs, a couple of As, a couple of Cs and a couple of Ds. I was quite happy until I started reading the secondary education forum where people are tearing their hair out because their dc's didn't get straight As and may have blown their oxbridge chances. I get the impression that anything less than an A just isn't worth the paper it's written on. He could have done loads better but Bs are OK aren't they?

OP posts:

Tchootnika · 28/08/2011 21:33

Depends what he wants to do next and later on, catwalker

FabbyChic · 28/08/2011 21:34

B's are okay, to be fair it is sometimes down to the schooling not just the pupil. A Level results are more important than GCSE's.

bubblesincoffee · 28/08/2011 21:34

Yes, they are ok. But it depends what he wants to do. As long as he can still do whatever he wants to do next year, then there is no problem.

ilovesooty · 28/08/2011 21:34

Is he likely to put more effort into A levels?

Talker2010 · 28/08/2011 21:35

Depends what the long term plans are

Oxbridge look for 7+ A or A* grades for many courses

Medicine courses in many places ditto

For most courses at most universities GCSE grades are irrelevant (assuming 5+ C+ in En and Ma) so Bs are great ... not in all cases tho

BikeRunSki · 28/08/2011 21:36

Does he want to go to Oxbridge? If not, then no prob.

I got Bs and Cs in my O levels (I was the last year before GCSEs), then A levels, BSc, MSc and PhD. Decent jobs. No one has ever asked me about my O level results I don't think.

I might be wrong, since it is a long time since I left school and DS is onlyt 3, but surely, if he wants to go on to A levels or other post 16 education, then not many people (apart from Oxbridge) will care about his GCSE results.

lesstalkmoreaction · 28/08/2011 21:36

I hope so as my dd got 2 a's and the rest b's and she worked very hard but is not a natural in the exams, thankfully she got mostly a's and a*'s on her coursework but then got c's on the exams.
She is staying on to do A levels and I must admit i've been slightly concerned by what i've been reading, that if you don't get a's then apparently you'll be lucky to get a c or d at a level. I hope thats not true.

Hulababy · 28/08/2011 21:36

A grade B is a good grade. Don't let MN threads take that away from your son. MN often presents a very different portrayal of real life than what is really happening out in real life, along with the media on results day.

In real life a grade B is a decent grade.

Obviously if your Ds was predicted higher and didn't get it he may feel disappointed. But that is totally different to the fact that a grade is a good GCSE grade.

FabbyChic · 28/08/2011 21:38

OMG Oxbridge is not a good university not as good as Warwick.

My ex boss daughter went there and had B's and C's in A Levels and got a piss poor degree.

Mumwithadragontattoo · 28/08/2011 21:38

Does he have As in the subjects he wants to study for A level / uni? If so Bs are fine in subjects that are being dropped so long he has Cs in Eng and Maths.

jumpyjan · 28/08/2011 21:38

I think as long as he got the grades he needed to do what he planned to do at college/6th form then thats the most important thing. No one really cares about your GCSE results in later life do they?

Tchootnika · 28/08/2011 21:39

Oxbridge is not a university, Fabbychic

Marshy · 28/08/2011 21:40

Depends what you are aiming for I guess. My DD got As and Bs. She probably could have done a bit better, but worked consistently, not obsessively, didn't stress unduly and had a social life.

She has done more than enough to get into 6th form to study the A levels she wants to do. She won't be going to Oxbridge, but she and we are happy with her results. She's at Reading festival atm enjoying some well-deserved down time. I think she's great (but I am a bit biased!)

Hulababy · 28/08/2011 21:42

Fabbychic - Oxbridge is Oxford and Cambridge Universities

Happymm · 28/08/2011 21:43

It's not just Oxbridge entrants it's important for. For medicine, they look at your GCSE results-if you didn't get A's then they won't offer you a place to try to get your A levels for!

Lizzylou · 28/08/2011 21:43

Warwick Uni better than Oxbridge? Really? Have you ever been there Fabby?
It's some newbuild in Coventry, it was on the up massively during the Labour years in the main. It's not great at all, far better places.

These days, who knows Op? It is a different world, I expect he will need to work his socks off and get all A's/predicted and actual at A-Level, if that is what he really wants.

Tchootnika · 28/08/2011 21:47

Does he actually want or need to go to university anyway? It doesn't suit everyone, nor is there any reason why it should - and the idea that it is desirable or useful for 50% of young people to go to university is utter bollocks.
So DS's Bs may or may not be a problem. All depends.

Marshy · 28/08/2011 21:49

So is the view that Bs at GCSE mean you've blown getting into uni?

ImperialBlether · 28/08/2011 21:49

GCSEs are important when you apply to university as it's the main indicator of how you'll perform at A level. The universities will look at them and then look at the AS grades before giving an offer/not giving an offer.

I'm amazed he was predicted A* grades and got some Cs and Ds. There's a hell of a gap between those grades.

ImperialBlether · 28/08/2011 21:50

No, Marshy, you haven't blown getting into uni, but you may have blown the chance of getting into some universities.

onebigchocolatemess · 28/08/2011 21:50

I got B's and C's in my GCSEs and went on to get B's and C's at A level

So many things can effect how he does in the next 2 years, don't stress the chat rooms.

Be so very very proud of your boy

ImperialBlether · 28/08/2011 21:51

Fabby, are you thinking of Oxford Brookes?

mountaingirl · 28/08/2011 21:53

God I hope so because ds got 7 of them! He also got 3A*s and 1c.

I'd be fascinated to know if the majority of the children getting straight A*/As are privately/public school educated. Ds joined the Uk system in yr10 having being educated exclusively in the French system until then. So I think he did pretty well especially as the school put him in the B set (and a boy who couldn't speak English in the A set!)

I couldn't imagine ds being Oxbridge material unless they wanted an ice hockey/rugby playing young man to boost their sporting results. My dcousin was rejected by Oxford when he tried to study medicine there 30 odd years ago and he is super bright.

I think what our dc need to concentrate on now are their As levels and prove themselves capable of getting good results. Ds refuses to even pick up a book as he is still on his 'holidays'. I so wish I had a studious son......

Mumwithadragontattoo · 28/08/2011 21:55

Bs are good results but I think most unis would look for an A at GCSE in the subject to be studied, Bs in other subjects would be fine. The good news is that once you have your A levels then the relevance of GCSEs is v limited so if he works hard at sixth form it won't matter that GCSEs are a mixed bag.

Mumwithadragontattoo · 28/08/2011 21:57

Oh and I think Fabby is taking the piss of someone she knows.

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