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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

DS thinks he can teach himself to pass an exam in a week. AIBU to think he is wrong?

755 replies

user1494154933 · 07/05/2017 13:45

This is going to sound ridiculous and I wasn't going to post, as you'll probably call me stupid Blush or irresponsible, etc.

My son is now 18. He isn't a 'genius' or anything like that. He did ok at GCSEs but didn't try hard at all. I used to try my best to get him to revise for him exams, he refused to and said it was pointless and exams don't help etc. which is ridiculous because as much as I do agree it's about memory, you clearly do need to know, anyway, he did ok and got accepted into sixth form, he decided not to go and got a part time job but did a part time photography course in the evening (he is still doing that).

I don't really know how it came about but I think I brought it up about how his exams were important and does he agree now he has matured and he was saying how he doesn't agree because exams aren't showing how intelligent you are, etc. and anyone can do them if they learn the exam technique. Last year (around december) he was telling me how he was going to prove it, he booked himself into the Maths AS exams for this summer (last year you can do these ones I believe). He hasn't learnt anything yet Hmm and I keep bringing it up (he spent £150 odd pounds for the exams (private candidate) and will sit them at his college he goes to part time) and he is telling me 'to wait and see'. He says when he has a week until the exam he will start learning the technique of it? I could slightly understand if a different subject, but he seems to think for Maths it works the best. I really don't understand his whole thinking behind this, but can't wait to be like WTF when he doesn't pass...

AIBU to think this is just stupid and not possible?

OP posts:
Danglingmod · 13/05/2017 21:23

Especially after (I believe?) two years of not doing any maths, not one!

Original poster
user1494154933 · 13/05/2017 21:48

noble he says thank you for believing in him. I didn't have the heart to say you don't! That's kind of you thanks, he will do that. I'll message you on Tuesday.

I don't want him to fail! I just don't think he will do it.

No, he was never in lessons. He was naughty at school!

OP posts:
noblegiraffe · 13/05/2017 22:40

Aw now I feel bad for being negative when he sounds like a nice polite young man. Although 'naughty at school' suggests he wasn't always!

Tell him to make sure there's a paper he hasn't looked at to use for his mock.

MsJolly · 13/05/2017 23:06

Good luck to him

LittlePeonie · 13/05/2017 23:12

One week's study to pass "A" level maths!

Am speechless in a whole new way that I've never quite experienced ...

therootoftheroot · 14/05/2017 09:50

My son got a good A at gcse
He got a u in the January mock for a/s

If he comes out if these exams next week with a b or a c I will be delighted
He has been attending all classes, going to revision sessions and doing last papers. It's really hard.

He's also doing exams for three other subjects too which makes a difference. You can't solidly revise for just one.

OhYouBadBadKitten · 14/05/2017 09:56

Thinking about it, it's not quite one week to pass as maths. It's one week to pass c1, so a third of the exam. C2 is quite a step up though. I'm still curious as to which applied module he is doing.

Sofabitch · 14/05/2017 09:58

I hope its true ! I have a week to revise my final year degree exams... I missed loads this year as my daughter has been in hospital so my plan is to learn the whole sylabus in the next week and hope for the best. I'll let you know how it works;-) i suspect not that great... i really should get off mums net. But feeling overwhelmed with the task ahead of me is very demotivating

thisagain · 14/05/2017 10:40

I'm very interested in this! DD1 got A* GCSE maths a year early and took the AS at the end of year 11 and did not struggle with it at all - getting an A.

DD2 is currently year 10 and although also is top of the top set and therefore being predicted an 8/9 but I think she might notice the jump up more. I think the difference between the DD1/2 is DD1 also understood the link between all the concept and sometimes find the answer in a different way to which she was taught because she had a higher understanding. DD2 can repeat everything she is taught but no more and I think she might struggle with the jump to AS and she is unlikely to take this subject further than GCSE. DD1 also excelled in Maths Challenges and represented the school. Therefore, I think that even getting a top grade in GCSE Maths won't guarantee them not struggling at AS. Although this is all supposition on my part.

I however, did teach myself in about a week, an A level in Law about 20+ years ago after being supposed to attend an evening class but rarely turning up. I got a B, so I know in subjects it can be done!

Witchend · 14/05/2017 10:53

Totally agree with Noble.

For someone who is good at maths they might well.be able to do it.
But someone who is that good at maths would have got at least anA at GCSE work or not.
I did no work outside lessons, and didn't even work hard in for maths GCSE and took it a year early and would have expected to get 100% or pretty much there is both papers. I then took Additional maths, having taught myself at home with a few past papers and also got an A (no A* back then) I probably did less than a day's work on it.

ZilphasHatpin · 14/05/2017 11:14

Good luck sofabitch! Really hope you can do it!

eatingtomuch · 14/05/2017 12:25

I agree with thisagain some young people have a natural aptitude for maths can apply concepts to questions they have not been taught in class. My DS struggles when he faces questions he has not been taught. He is currently sitting a last paper and I'm hearing lots of sighing. Not a good sign.

noblegiraffe · 14/05/2017 12:37

Good luck sofa, it sounds like you deserve some after a difficult year.

To those people who are saying that they hope the OP's DS passes - why?? Is it some sort of plucky underdog against the education establishment thing?

eatingtomuch · 14/05/2017 13:41

I would be very envious if he passed but that's because of all the work I have seen my DS do and I'm not confident he will pass.
I guess people are saying they hope he passes Noble because he is a child and surely we all want them to succeed.

ZilphasHatpin · 14/05/2017 13:44

To those people who are saying that they hope the OP's DS passes - why??

Because passing is the desired outcome. Obviously. Are you saying you hope he fails? Confused that's an odd stance to take, just because someone has chosen to do something in a way you don't approve of.

We all know one size doesn't fit all when it comes to education. If he can pass this way then why is that not something to celebrate?

noblegiraffe · 14/05/2017 13:59

Of course I'm hoping he fails Confused

I'm a maths teacher. If AS maths can be passed by an amateur in a week with some past papers, then what exactly am I doing with my life? Grin

Also, it wouldn't send a great message out to all those students who struggle with AS maths, work hard and go on to fail it (13.5% remember). How dispiriting it would be to them to be told 'Well, B-grade Brian did it in a week, how come you couldn't manage it in a year?'.

OhYouBadBadKitten · 14/05/2017 14:06

If it actually mattered to him, he would have surely put in sustained effort over a more sensible time frame rather than playing a game with it.

eatingtomuch · 14/05/2017 14:10

Noble I believe my DS will unfortunately be in that 13.5%. I'm trying to stay positive

noblegiraffe · 14/05/2017 14:10

Yes, there's nothing riding on this, no UCAS application or job. He just wants to prove a point. And I don't want his point to be proved!

leavethelighton · 14/05/2017 14:11

I easily got As in both AS and A2 level maths without any revision a couple of years ago, but I had a really good understanding of all the concepts behind anything I'd been taught. I certainly think it's possible he can pass in a week's revision provided that he has the basic ideas behind each topic very well down. Probably depends to some degree on which modules he's sitting. However, maths is something that's quite easy to fall out of practise with - I would definitely struggle to remember a lot of my A-Level work now, simply because I haven't done any problems for two years.

robinia · 14/05/2017 14:16

B grade Brian may have a natural flair for maths. 99% of students will need a decent teacher. 1% can do it on their own.
*unverified figures!

noblegiraffe · 14/05/2017 14:25

He's not doing a week's revision, he hasn't been taught any of the stuff on the exam! It's first time learning.

And if he could do maths on his own, why is he B-grade Brian and not A-grade Alan?

annandale · 14/05/2017 14:34

I would never say never about anything in life, anything at all - hopping up Mount Everest, rising from the dead, bringing up octuplets, anything can happen.

I think it's quite likely that he will enjoy the challenge and it may lead him on to other things in life. A-levels are a big step up from GCSE but they are also a lot more interesting.

I don't think he will pass but I can't help smiling at his sheer nerve. Chutzpah is a massively underrated quality. Good on him.

ZilphasHatpin · 14/05/2017 14:36

then what exactly am I doing with my life? grin

Teaching those that can't learn that way.

ZilphasHatpin · 14/05/2017 14:37

How dispiriting it would be to them to be told 'Well, B-grade Brian did it in a week, how come you couldn't manage it in a year

What kind of piece of shit would say that to anyone?

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