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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:
DixieFlatline · 07/05/2017 18:44

On the topic of loving Maths, by the way - what a shame for someone who clearly seems interested in gaining the qualification to half-arse it to this degree. I felt bad that I didn't spend time on C4 as it was!

NorthumbrianGirl · 07/05/2017 18:54

I think you'll have to wait and see. I don't think it's totally infeasible depending on how adept he is.

This threat has taken me back to my own feckless a-level days when I self taught maths, further maths, physics and chemistry in 3 weeks and came out with ok grades. But I suppose I had been to able half the lessons (no homework or anything though). Ah, the foolish decisions of youth!

NorthumbrianGirl · 07/05/2017 18:54

Threat = thread obviously!

Mumoftwoyoungkids · 07/05/2017 20:07

Hmmm - I am not a maths genius but I am a bit freaky at it. Self taught A* GCSE in Yr 10, got 100% on the main maths paper for A level finishing after about 40 mins for a 3 hour exam (me and my then boyfriend raced!), A in F. maths A level, maths degree from Cambridge.

With a really good revision book, a full week, a lot of motivation and a bit of luck with the questions I reckon I could probably have got about 40% - 50%. What is that? A D or E grade? Not something worth getting excited about anyway.

Nacknick · 07/05/2017 20:34

Let us know how he gets on

TeenAndTween · 07/05/2017 20:36

Thing is Mum the OPs son only got a B for GCSE maths. A particularly able mathematician should have been able to get at least an A and really an A* at GCSE without breaking into a sweat. OPs son couldn't do that.
I would love to see an update to this thread during the exams and then on results day.

LottieDoubtie · 07/05/2017 21:37

I agree with the majority- let's hope he learns his lesson here OP, the taste of humble pie is good for the soul Wink

Mumoftwoyoungkids · 07/05/2017 22:34

Teen I know! Like I say - I am basically a freak. And I still don't think I'd be able to get a C doing this. Op's ds sounds fairly able but not freaky.

JAS90 · 09/05/2017 21:53

Does studying start tomorrow? Grin

noblegiraffe · 09/05/2017 21:57

Ooh, I hope so! And stops tomorrow too! Grin

klondikecookie · 09/05/2017 22:09

I was like your DS. Always did very little work for exams (or, if I did work, it was intensive and last minute) and did quite well, even at degree level.

The caveat is that it pretty much ruined my work ethic and going into employment was a real shock to the system. It can be done, but I don't think it does you much good.

BoyFromTheBigBadCity · 10/05/2017 00:34

Oh I hope he chooses Decision maths for his applied module...

I agree with PP - you can't learn maths this way. It requires a different kind of knowledge.

Postagestamppat · 10/05/2017 00:48

With a different subject he may have been able to manage it (geography?). But maths is like a language where you need time and practise to embed the content. Would love to hear how he does.

SparklyUnicornPoo · 10/05/2017 01:10

oooh, he's not seen the difference between GCSE and AS maths has he? It is a massive jump.

anothermalteserplease · 10/05/2017 03:31

Good luck to him. You never know, he might just do it.

Fruitcorner123 · 10/05/2017 06:13

Maths teacher here - sorry to say that a B at GCSE and 2 years intensive study is not always enough for some students. ( Although from what you've said in his case he may have got a higher GCSE grade with more effort so the ability may be
there). It's a difficult course with an awful lot of content. Sad that's he spent that money and not at least home studied a bit but maybe this will teach him a lesson about studying which will be good for him in the long run. I'm afraid it is arrogant of him. What's particularly surprising is that he thinks its just memorising but he has chosen Maths. In Maths there is very little memorising and lots and lots of testing of application and understanding.

Fruitcorner123 · 10/05/2017 06:16

He could probably wing it with most subjects

No he couldn't - how offensive to people who studied/are studying any other subjects - and complete nonsense.

Ladyvird135 · 10/05/2017 06:20

Blatent placemarking!

CeeCeeEnnEss · 10/05/2017 06:31

A PP mentioned that academic understanding stops at some point for most people, and that the later it is the harder it is. Totally true for me in A level physics - I went from whizzing through everything with top marks to suddenly wondering if it was a foreign language. Hard to accept with the arrogance of youth!

WinnerWinnerChickenDinner0 · 10/05/2017 06:48

Place marking to be honest

But surely there were easier subjects he could have picked. Past papers and a good memory will get you a long way in some subjects, but maths! I'm not convinced

Limitedsimba123 · 10/05/2017 07:02

I did this with my Law degree and I had a similar attitude to GCSE and A Levels. I got straight A's at GCSE and AAB at A Level. I had been attending the classes though but I didn't revise. I didn't attend uni at all in my second and third years except to sit exams. I chose modules that were assessed just by exams (instead of exams and coursework). In third year, I only gave myself 4 weeks to learn all the modules prior to my final exams. It is risky though. There was an unusual/unexpected question on the Trusts paper and I only just scraped a pass by getting 40%. It brought my overall score down to 69% so I just missed out on a First. I didn't really deserve to pass at all tbh, but I knew my heart wasn't in it after first year and I was working almost full time instead of attending uni.

SoulAccount · 10/05/2017 07:44

"but can't wait to be like WTF when he doesn't pass..."

So you would prefer to be right than him not pass?

Are you saying this to him?

If he has lessons to learn from this, let him learn them himself. It is about him learning from his experiences, not whether his Mum is proved right or wrong. Step right out of that dynamic. Any study he does do will have intrinsic benefits anyway.

Garlicansapphire · 10/05/2017 07:57

I'm dying to know how his week is going... Any status reports?

Trills · 10/05/2017 08:13

It's pretty bloody insulting to maths teachers everywhere to assume that an amateur without even a textbook could get themselves to pass maths A-level in a week.

I agree.

rightwhine · 10/05/2017 08:19

I got top grades for my a levels many moons ago by revising them all in a week. But they were wordy ones. I think he's in for a shock having to get his head round maths concepts on his own.