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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To want to quit my social work course rather than have to deal with getting a level 2 in mathematics?

72 replies

filee777 · 18/07/2013 20:16

I went in today to do my diagnostic at TABS and it was horrendous, I didn't know anything and got a really poor score.

More than that, it made me anxious and nervous and like I was a big steaming pile of shit with no hope in hell of ever achieving anything.

I don't want to go back for the week course, can I buy level 2 certificates online or something?

feeling crap

OP posts:
Justforlaughs · 18/07/2013 20:19

You need a good tutor, don't give up! You can do it, I promise.

throckenholt · 18/07/2013 20:21

It sounds like you really need a one to one course to overcome your fear of maths. I honestly most people who can't "do" maths are just so scared of it they can't think straight. You need someone to demystify it for you and show you the most of it is actually quite simple and very methodical.

Don't give up on what you want - just find a way to get over your maths block - you will wonderful once you get through that Grin

WeGotTheKrunk · 18/07/2013 20:24

YABU. Don't give up over this. It's a hurdle you can overcome with persistence and courage. Just think how much better your life will be once you've got your degree, and you'll feel so proud of yourself for having faced up to one of your fears - and beaten it! Don't give up!!! Good luck x

thispunderfullife · 18/07/2013 20:25

Don't give up!! If you can do a social work course you can do the maths with tutoring and practice. You'll be so proud of yourself when you do it. Good luck!!

Gorja · 18/07/2013 20:30

Don't give up, I have tutored many a nursing student through their maths tests, some of whom had failed numerous times and had all but given up.

Once you know the techniques it becomes so much easier.

Find somebody to tutor you through it.

Original poster
filee777 · 18/07/2013 20:34

I haven't started the social work course yet, I applied end of June, got a phone call a week ago last friday Friday and did a 1000 word essay under exam conditions on the Monday, which they were impressed with, went to a gruelling panel interview on the Thursday and then got my official acceptance this Monday... Provided I pass a crb check and a level 2 in maths...

And I don't know if I can do it. The working around the kids and working part time I am fine with, I can't wait to get stuck in its just this maths requirement. Scares the shit out of me.

I went in with the best intentions too, be methodical and get through it and I left literally shaking with fear and despondence.

OP posts:
pointythings · 18/07/2013 21:34

I've just looked up the requirement - it'a basically GCSE maths at A* to C so quite a big ask if you're maths phobic. You are allowed to be daunted, but on the other hand this is pretty basic stuff - I'd look into finding an experienced GCSE maths tutor, letting them assess you and then doing some serious work. The right person will not only be able to demystify maths for you but will also be able to point you in the direction of online resources you can us for practice so you can work around your family commitments. Please don't give up, having decent maths won't just help you on your course but will also be really useful in your wider life.

kim147 · 18/07/2013 21:38

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
filee777 · 18/07/2013 21:39

I can do it with a level 2 in maths... Which is easier to get hold of than a gcse at short notice!

It's a week long course and I just hope I can do it.

OP posts:
pointythings · 18/07/2013 21:42

IN that case I'd just do the course but speak to the teacher on day 1 to ask for pointers on leaning materials and so on. It really is straightforward stuff - you learn the rules, you apply them. You can manage two children and a part time job so clearly you are organised (even though you might think you're not). What you need is confidence - believe in yourself.

Original poster
filee777 · 18/07/2013 21:43

I've got 4 weeks so am going to try and study in between

OP posts:
megsmouse · 18/07/2013 21:46

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
filee777 · 18/07/2013 21:50

I can do an equivalent, so I can just do the key stage 2 which is what the course in August is for.

I didn't think I would be able to do it but I can in a relatively short period of time.

Which I was surprised about.

OP posts:
aldiwhore · 18/07/2013 21:51

You can do it. You can you can you can.

Right, practically, when's your deadline?

A week's course. Here's the thing with week courses... they teach you how to gain the qualification, how to pass, and you will. Intensive courses (rightly or wrongly) are geared to getting you to fulfil the criteria to pass. I did my ECDL (for an admin post) in one week. The full course takes months, I knew in my own way how to tackle 'the pc' but simply didn't have the qualification. The intensive course was fabulous because they taught you the answers to the questions, and a week later you answered the questions.

I really think that if you have the nouse to be considering social work, and they feel you would be a good candidate, then so long as you can pass the quick course and meet the minimum requirements in maths the it's worth swallowing the fear and trying to tick this box.

You may not come out of the week's course feeling confident, but you will come out with the minimum requirement.

Do it. And good luck with it. I understand with these minimum requirements are in place, but I also believe that they are a minor obstacle. No one is expecting that you become a Mathematician overnight. Maths is a serious weak point with me, but GCSE level was a minimum requirement, and I attained the minimum!

Original poster
filee777 · 18/07/2013 22:01

I am kicking myself that I didn't not strive to get just a C in maths, I was never shown how important it is.

I showed my DH the working out I did and he was amazed I managed to work out 15 times £1.05 but that just seems like common sense to me.

We are going to do a few maths testers before I do this course to try and get it down a bit.

Still so stressed just by the thought of doing maths though.

Am doing an nvq in care too, but that doesn't bother me, it's just numbers... I can't get my head around them!

OP posts:
kim147 · 18/07/2013 22:14

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Moodymoth · 18/07/2013 22:24

ive just enrolled in maths gcse so i can apply for s.w. whats this short course?

Original poster
filee777 · 18/07/2013 22:24

No I did 1 15's and 5 15's and put them together :)

Crap at times tables, crap at division

OP posts:
Original poster
filee777 · 18/07/2013 22:25

Go to TABS and you can do a week long course to get your level 2. It's government funded too so completely free

OP posts:
Moodymoth · 18/07/2013 22:36

ooh thank you. i will look at TABS. Dont give up, you can do it

hairtwiddler · 18/07/2013 22:41

Have you looked at udacity.com? They do some great free online courses and I think so basic maths. I'm teaching myself statistics on there just now.

PomBearWithAnOFRS · 18/07/2013 23:02

Look at all the revision aides for the GCSE pupils too - things like BBC Bitesize, and all the books you can buy - the Pound Shop (of all places!) often have work books for maths, and try not to think of it as MATHS but just stuff you do every day.
You use maths all the time - shopping, playing games of cards, buying petrol, sizing clothes, even when someone asks you how old the DCs are - just about everything has numbers in there somewhere - think of them as little tiny, everyday numbers rather than some big breathing maths monster "out to get you" if you can. Concentrate on what you can do, rather than worrying about what you can't do, and keep saying - all you need is to be able to do it all ONCE, during the test, then you can shout Bollocks to it all Grin (and the stuff you do regularly at work/on your course will be easy-peasy just because you do it regularly, honestly. Like the staff in the bookies can calculate all the weird odds and bets in their heads, or the bloke who keeps the score at the snooker or darts can just do all the maths it needs in a split second. You can do what you need, when you need it. I know this and have faith Wink is Mystic PomBear who Sees All

Original poster
filee777 · 18/07/2013 23:04

Thanks hairt I will look that up tomorrow.

OP posts:
springtide · 18/07/2013 23:29

It's good that you can do the Level 2 equivalent rather than the GCSE. As a teacher of adult numeracy in an FE college I often teach people who plan to do teaching, nursing etc. You will be able to do it! You may well have found maths difficult in the past but maybe in the past you didn't haVe such a motivation to achieve. As a starter you could look at the BBC skillswise maths site - plenty of games, explanation sheets and worksheets (with aNswers). You can choose what level - would sugest starting with Level 1 whilst you build your confidence up particularly with the 4 rules. Good luck!

onlyfortonight · 18/07/2013 23:38

As a mature student you will amaze yourself with your ability to absorb, understand and then put into practice what you have learnt. It is completely different from school - so put any past bad experiences connect to maths in school to one side.

In addition (get it?Grin) much of what is covered at level 2 will be everyday stuff that you will be used to using already - after all, you were able to work out a fairly complex multiplication with little difficulty. We all use maths everyday - we just don't realise that because it isn't labelled "maths".

Come on, you can do this...Smile

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