To retake GCSE English and Maths?

[SlothHouse]

I'm looking at training courses and apprenticeships and a few good the ones that interest me are asking for at least grade B/6 in GCSE maths and english.

I got grade C in both subjects, so I think this may open a few doors for me career wise.

I would happily self study at home to improve my english and maths skills anyway as I'm a but rusty with both.

Would this be a waste of time and money or will it actually get me somewhere?

If you have grade c they are passes so you would have to pay for resits rather than be funded.

I would pay for them myself. Just wondering if it would be a waste of money if I retake for a higher grade when I can get where I want to with the C grades.

Don't they have an alternative route like a test?

How old are you? For anyone more than a few years out of school, exam results seem irrelevant as you could have gone either way in the intervening years.

You could have performed well in a technical or 'wordy' job and have significantly improved your writing skills and numeracy.

Or a person with those B grades could have done a basic routine job and watched reality TV for a few years and become quite rusty in the skills required to get those grades.

All the syllabuses and exams have changed! You'd have to start from scratch.

I'm 27 years old.

Some asks for literacy and numeracy tests as part of the assessment. Others just ask for grades B/6 and above. Some even want A*/A as a minimum for maths :/

All the syllabuses and exams have changed! You'd have to start from scratch

Ok, so if I did the exams then I would end up with new number grades?

"I'm looking at training courses and apprenticeships and a few good the ones that interest me are asking for at least grade B/6 in GCSE maths and english."

sounds like you've answered your own question - there'd be a real benefit. and it wouldn't be expensive.

Or if they want A/A* for maths, is it a very demanding scientific/technical course that is equivalent to a degree?

In that case, maybe you do need to do the exams, presumably after taking a course, which is going to take time?

Depending when you sat your exams, it wouldn't be a case of resitting, as your exams will no longer exist. You'd need to redo rather than resit, meaning a full year's study, which would not be funded as you already have a C. So you're looking at potentially a big commitment of time and money. But if you really want a better grade then go for it, better and recent English and maths quals can never hurt!

My advice, having a child who sat GCSEs last summer, is to look on YouTube of a walk through maths paper. If they are asking for a 6 then you would need to be looking at the higher paper as the foundation paper only goes to a 5.

A word of warning though, AQA higher maths paper has 50% of the questions aimed at determining the 7-9 grades (9 being the A** equivalent or approximately the top 3.5% of those taking it) so be prepared for it to be incredibly challenging.

I got a C in maths way back in the 90s. I can't even help Ds2 with maths from about year 8 onwards so when he was 12!

It is a lot of work. What apprenticeships are you applying for? Have you spoken to the recruiters to find out if your C from 11 years ago is okay before you put yourself through it?

YANBU but it might be tricky studying on your own. Personally I'd try to enroll in college so you have some structure to the earning. Also is it worth contacting the courses/apprenticeships and seeing if there is any flexibility?

It sounds like that it would be beneficial for you though the exams are now said to be harder than they were a few years back. Distance learning colleges offer a tutor as well as the course materials.

I’d be impressed by someone who worked and improved their grades - particularly in something as fundamental as maths or English.

Would they allow you to do functional skills?

Have you spoken to the recruiters to find out if your C from 11 years ago is okay before you put yourself through it?

I wouldn't have even thought about doing this. Are most employers not stringent about things like this.

They are accounting/ finance apprenticeships. A few are also data analysis/research

Would they allow you to do functional skills?

They're not of the same level as GCSEs though are they?

Level 2 FS would be equivalent to a gcse pass, but not all accept it instead and it would be no better than your C grades.

Did you laze around a bit at school or have rubbish teachers?
Or did you have ace teachers, and work really hard?
Did you take Higher Maths or Foundation Maths papers?

This might impact the likelihood of success in getting your C grades up to 6s.

Note also that English Language no longer has coursework/controlled assessments.

I was depressed at school. I did higher papers and would do well in 1 term, but not do work for the rest of the year so ended up with C grades. I loved both subjects when I was well enough, especially maths

I know I'm capable of a 6 or higher. I know what it takes to do well

Then go for it.

It's probably worth emailing the companies to ask about whether you would need to retake your GCSE Maths and English or whether they'd prefer you took a different course.

If you're going into Accountancy then GCSE Maths sounds sensible though.

I do think contacting the recruiters is a good idea though. You have nothing to lose. Better to find out now than improve your grades and finding out there was no need.

There is a huge difference between a 16 year old school leaver with a 6 in maths and a 27 year old who has no doubt held down a job and learned skills in that job.

I know that my friend's son was finishing his A levels, wanted to do an apprenticeship but was up against people with a 10 year employment history demonstrating responsibility, time keeping, problem solving, work ethic etc. He ended up working in a bar in a tourist destination abroad. Very happy but not doing an apprenticeship yet.

The 6 just demonstrates a level of maths competency. Contact them.