Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To lie about GCSE grade to get on to course?

129 replies

hellohh · 01/02/2020 08:37

I have GCSE maths at grade C and want to re-do maths to get on to a grad scheme. I can't afford to pay for a course at the moment.

I know you can get funding if you don't have a maths GCSE at grade C. So I was wondering if colleges check if you've already done GCSE and what grade you got.

Btw, my maths is rusty so I would love do to it again.

OP posts:
bugbhaer · 01/02/2020 09:34

Is there a way to do GCSE maths on the cheap?

Yes, and apparently you got a C.

cuckooken · 01/02/2020 09:35

The title of this thread is “To lie about GCSE grade to get on to course?”.

Confused

Did you just read the title and not bother with the actual OP?

Yes OP would be lying, she would be lying to the college to take maths again which would then get her into the course. It's really not difficult to understand that the lie is indirectly linked to the course if you read the OP

TheMotherofAllDilemmas · 01/02/2020 09:36

Most universities, colleges and businesses have a blanket C in maths or English GCSE requirement.

The fact that they are asking for a B+ in maths makes me think they KNOW you are not going to survive the course if your maths ability is not above average.

Having said that, if you have acquired more relevant maths skills through working in something similar for a few years, I would be tempted to try it. But again, it can come back to bite you when you are looking for a job afterwards.

iem0128 · 01/02/2020 09:37

Once you start lying, there will be no end to it. You could follow videos on youtube. Some people are very nice and like to share.

cuckooken · 01/02/2020 09:37

Don't lie. I am on a course (Apprenticeship through work) - they wanted proof of all previous qualifications and grades.

OP is suggestion she lies to get the proof. Not that she lies about having the grade.

TheMotherofAllDilemmas · 01/02/2020 09:39

You can study maths on your own and there are plenty of study aids online particularly in the BBC website. It requires a lot of determination but you can do it, just make sure you check when are the tests (and to save to pay them) so you are in time.

Iamthewombat · 01/02/2020 09:40

www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/18181941.peter-knight-sentenced-lying-get-oxford-hospital-trust-job/

This is what can happen if you fib about your qualifications to get a job, or a place on a course.

(I thought that it was quite hard on Peter Knight, the man sentenced for pretending that he had completed his degree, but FYI).

LolaSmiles · 01/02/2020 09:44

The other thing to consider is that even if the OP does lie about not having a C at GCSE, there's no guarantee that the resit course will be taught to get a high B.

Resist courses are for people who didn't get a C on the old specification and people who didn't get a 4 on the new one. I would guess resit courses would be entering candidates for foundation tier, which only goes up to a 5 (a strong pass in the new system). Really a 6 is a better comparison to a secure old B. They may not enter for higher tier as the focus is getting a basic maths grade and therefore won't be teaching the higher tier content.

TheMotherofAllDilemmas · 01/02/2020 09:44

Ps. For those suggesting an Access to Higher Education course... please don’t waste any money on that unless you have checked the course content meets the minimum requirements asked by the university course you want to join.

Bluewater1 · 01/02/2020 09:45

Don't lie. they will likely check.

OlaEliza · 01/02/2020 09:45

Your C from back then is probably equivalent to today's A or B.

LolaSmiles · 01/02/2020 09:46

Your C from back then is probably equivalent to today's A or B.
Not at all.

lovelyupnorth · 01/02/2020 09:47

Started a degree last year as a mature student and yes they check our grades and one without proof or too low had to do a functional skills course.

2catsblack · 01/02/2020 09:48

Some grad schemes will only consider the first take grades for A levels. That might apply to GCSE too. It would be worth checking.

Worriedmum54321 · 01/02/2020 09:48

Can't believe how many people have misread the op! She is not lying to get onto the grad course, she already has a c and is considering lying to get onto a gcse retake course to improve the grade!
Op the retake course is probably aimed at helping people achieve a c so it might be difficult to get higher. Why not get some study guides, do as much as you can yourself, and get a private tutor to help ensure you are at the right level?

Myimaginarycathasfleas · 01/02/2020 09:49

You might get on the course with your existing grade, it's worth asking. Better than lying, for your own peace of mind.

MrMeSeeks · 01/02/2020 09:51

You can’t lie. They ask for proof

damnthatanxiety · 01/02/2020 09:51

This is so ridiculous. You want to get on a gad scheme. SO presumably you have a degree. SO who the fuck cares what you got at GSCE???? You obviously have enough skills to get a degree.

GaaaaarlicBread · 01/02/2020 09:52

My friend did this and she got fined more than it would have cost to just pay for another course to get the grade she wanted for a course like you. You’re not entitled to it so why do you think you should be ?

VisionQuest · 01/02/2020 09:54

Yes they will definitely check your GCSE results to determine whether you are eligible for funding.

Myimaginarycathasfleas · 01/02/2020 09:56

Can't believe how many people have misread the op! She is not lying to get onto the grad course, she already has a c and is considering lying to get onto a gcse retake course to improve the grade!

The OP could contact the grad course director and ask if they would accept her without improving her grade, explaining her willingness to do it but her financial difficulty in paying to do the retake.

Depending on how popular the course is they might be prepared to take her anyway, if they are satisfied she could cope with the maths element. She could offer to do a test of her aptitude.

amusedbush · 01/02/2020 09:57

I can’t speak for grad schemes but I work in university admissions and even if you have AAA* at A Level, if you don’t have B at GCSE maths and English you won’t get an offer. Places are limited and people can’t just blag their way in or give sob stories about missing the grade. For every person who applies short of the entry requirements, there are ten people who meet them.

Don’t lie. They WILL ask for certificates. Just resit the exam.

amusedbush · 01/02/2020 09:58

Ffs, that was A A A* Hmm

nixkix · 01/02/2020 10:00

If you do this then you are depriving somebody who is entitled to the place to it. If it's a PGCE then you will need proof of it with your certificate but either way I hope that they ask for it as you shouldn't do this.

There are Open University courses which are the equivalent to a Maths GCSE, why don't you look at doing one of those instead?

cuckooken · 01/02/2020 10:01

@amusedbush

OP wasn't going to lie to get on the course. She was going to lie to take GCSE maths fro free when she already has it at a C grade, which does not qualify her to take it for free.