If your child got a B in GCSE maths...

[treasureisland]

...would you tell them that they are 'not very good at maths' ?

Lots of sixth forms do. As lots of others have said, huge jump to A level, much more than in other subjects with the exception of possibly chemistry.

A B grade is either a great grade or a bad grade depending on the individual student. Someone who has worked hard and met their target should be really thrilled but a lazy bones who should have got an A* but couldn't be bothered should be disappointed. Neither of those students are "bad at maths." Horrible thing to say to anyone.

Maths defiantly does come naturally to some people, like english comes naturally to others. I am a natural at maths, love working out problems and helping DD but I loathe english, hence why I am an accountant. I got something like 80% in maths and 60% in english. (schooling abroad)

Dd on the other hand, finds english a piece of cake but maths so hard, I will jump for joy if she gets an achieved in her internal assessment on trigonometry and Pythagorus (we're abroad - different system).

THanks all, so, genuine question - for those who think a B grade in Maths GCSE means someone is "really bad at maths".

What does a C, D, E grade make them at maths? C grade "appalling at maths" ? D grade "absolutely, devastatingly bad at maths". How does it go on.

Interesting that the thread has gone off on a tangent about A levels, but not sure why.

The question was "if your child got a B in GCSE in maths would you tell them that they are 'not very good at maths".

Not - do you need a B in maths to take A level maths, which seems to be largely what's being debated.

The maths Gcse is an odd exam according to my DD1. She did get an A in it but found the way the questions were worded difficult. She did have poor teaching at Gcse - supply teachers as her teacher was on long term sick. 3 of her good friends got the same. They have all done AS maths and got As - and DD got an extremely high UMS. But they all enjoyed algebra which seems to be the key thing for AS maths and they have all worked hard. She is now doing A2 and finding it harder. To go from Gcse to A level, you need to be good at algebra. I would not describe DD1 as a natural mathematician but she is on target for at least a B (& hopefully an A) at A2 level. Obviously as her mother, I would always say she is good at maths!
DD2 (year 12) is a natural mathematician and everything is a breeze so far - but even she might reach her 'plateau' before the end of A2 and start finding some concepts difficult.

Sorry x-post treasure but as I said above "obviously as her mother, I would always say she is good at maths!"

A little harsh op. Most posters have said whether they think it is ok to tell a child they are bad at maths as well as weighing in on whether a B is good enough for A level.

From reading the thread the general consensus is no, you don't say something like that to a person.

treasureisland I expect the A level comments were people predicting where the thread was leading! The 'bad at maths' comment is just horrid.

FWIW I have 2 friends who tutor maths and they say that most pupils who don't get an A* with find A level maths difficult. And that those with a B grade will really struggle. My son got grade A at GCSE but gave up the subject after Ds at AS level. He just didn't have a 'natural aptitude' for maths and didn't enjoy it.
I don't think lower grades mean that a pupil is bad at maths, just that they haven't been taught well. They need to learn to enjoy the problem-solving challenge, not put up a brick wall and refuse to try to find out how to climb it.
The 2 maths tutor friends have only had one pupil between them who's failed to gain a C grade GCSE over the past 20 years or so. Many of their pupils have been adults wanting to qualify as teachers so needing the dreaded C grade even though they failed as teenagers. It's all a question of wanting to learn and having the motivation to do so.
Most people can pass GCSE maths if their brains are focussed in the right direction

Umm, Did any poster actually say that a B grade means you are 'really bad at maths' ?

If they did then I missed it.

A 'B' grade is a 'B' grade - it's worse than an 'A' grade and better than a 'C' grade - that's about it really

OP you sound like you are really overthinking this

Bottom line though, why would somebody say this? What is the motivation?
Are they being genuinely matter-of-fact, expressing an opinion?

Or, as seems probable from the OP's reaction, are they being trying to have a dig ...? Is it a comment with a background of similar behaviours? In which case, it isn't about the factual basis of the merits of the grade here.

Yes snotty, a few people have said they would think it but wouldn't say it.

Purpledaisies, no, I disagree with you - I haven't been 'harsh'. Just musing the direction the thread has taken.

I thought it was fairly obvious that the question was about the kind of things you would and wouldn't say to a child. So I'm just saying, it's interesting that it's turned into a debate on A level maths.

Just to explain I wrote this thread in the car on my phone, put in AIBU as I couldn't find chat on my phone expecting it to set off the usual twatdar, but just to ignore the AIBUers who argue white is black just for the sake of it.

I'm actually really pleased it didn't descend into that.

Interesting conversations here and I appreciate all the replies. Lots of you have confirmed you wouldn't speak to their child in that way - that's what I was interested in.

Thanks for all the replies :)

It reads like you are annoyed the thread hasn't gone in the direction you wanted which is a bit unrealistic.

There is no debate about whether people think it is ok for someone to say they think a child is bad at maths because no one thinks it's ok. We are all agreed.

Policing peoples thoughts about a B grade is a different issue. I tutor maths and I don't think a B shows an exceptional natural aptitude for maths but you have to be pretty competent to get one.

merry there is now a new Core Maths qualification available from this September which will be taken over two years and is equivalent to an AS which will be suitable for students who get a C or B at GCSE.

"It reads like you are annoyed the thread hasn't gone in the direction you wanted which is a bit unrealistic."

I didn't want it to go any way

I have been on the receiving end of comments like that from my mother my entire life. As a result, I have no concept of whether that's considered 'normal' or not.

I haven't remotely 'policed people's thought about a B grade' not once. Please don't build straw man arguments, they aren't necessary.

Mmmm I don't think anyone should say that if you get a 'B' in Maths that you are bad at Maths. You have to take the higher tier at GCSE to obtain a 'B' grade. The lower tier is much more basic.
As most people haven't got Maths GCSE I think you are doing well to get a 'C' grade at the foundation level.
I love maths and would like to recommend khanacademy.com, which is an online Maths course sponsored by Bill Gates. It is suitable for all ages and is free. It has a scratch pad option and shows explanatory videos and then gives you problems to solve on line and sends progress reports. It is absolutely brilliant.

I got a B at GCSE and a B at A Level and I certainly wouldn't describe myself as being good at maths. I consider myself to be pretty average.

Maybe I was reading too much into your repeating the question in bold - that is what I'd do if I was annoyed the thread about being off topic.

Your response toSnottyCowbag pointing out that no-one had said they you tell someone they were bad at maths was "Yes snotty, a few people have said they would think it but wouldn't say it." which sounds like you think that isn't acceptable either. If that's not the case then I'm sorry for misunderstanding you.

If anyone has said to you that you are bad at maths when you have a B grade they are insensitive idiots.

No I would be delighted. They would be the first child in the family to be excellent at Maths.
I got a D. I never managed a C in all my time at school.

I would have been thrilled if my children got a 'B' . My Father was the sort who sneered at B grades. He couldn't manage an 'A' in Maths himself though.
In fact all my children got 'A' grade Maths GCSE and three did 'A' level. Their school required an 'A' grade to continue onto A level.
It sometimes depends on how hard the person is prepared to work. I know one of mine who was taking Maths, Physics and Biology 'A' levels discovered Girls, Socialising, drinking Etc at 17, and got sidetracked. His 'A' levels did not reflect his intellect. He went on eventually to become a Doctor and I saw how hard he could work when he was motivated.

He turned round much later and said to me ' why didn't you make me work? He hates writing down his 'A' level results when he has to, because he knows he didn't work hard enough. Not that he does that now much as he is a GP.

I provided the environment and support but I wasn't prepared to bully him.
Anyway he has done well and I am very proud of him.
If you get a 'B' in the higher Tier treasure I would be proud of you. Is that what you intend to do?
You can take GCSE Maths free at the moment if your Maths qualification is below a 'C' or haven't got Maths GCSE at all.

Hurry up and enrole as the Government may change their minds again next year and then it will cost £400/500

Sorry not read the full thread, just wanted to say I got a C at maths GCSE and a C at Maths A Level. I never even considered not taking maths A Level as I decided that I could do it so I did and coped easily-ish (and I only say ish as it was a C not a B or A) Perhaps I am crap at maths and should reconsider my accounting career.

Maybe times have changed in the last 20 years then?

DrHarleenFrancesQuinzel I think many would say that it's far easier to obtain a C grade now than 20 years ago

Actually I am now totally gutted that I am not good at Maths. I always thought I was as I have a C at A Level that I should have never taken as I could only get a C at GCSE.

Crossed posts there 53 Im reading the thread in a bit more detail now.

I think it's crossed wires then purple! a few people have definitely saud they'd think it but wouldn't say it, but I can't find their names as I'm on my phone.

Thanks for the good luck wishes to the person who just passed them on (again can't look - stupid phone! )

I've actually already got a B in maths from 21 years ago. This is why, according to my mother I'm 'not very good' at it. Mind you she's managed to label my perfectly able 6 yo as 'not very good at maths' on the basis that she was happy they didn't have to do a tineat table test because it was world book day!

Apologies I didn't make the thread clear from the start - started it hastily from the car pre school run and then was only able to dip in and out!
.I do really appreciate all responses