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Original poster

GCSE grades

193 replies

UndertheCedartree · 18/01/2022 22:25

My DS is studying GCSE Maths and English at college. I'm just trying to figure out if he is doing ok as we haven't had much feedback. In the latest mock tests he got a level 4. He only started in September but will be taking the exams this Summer. What kind of grade could he be expected to get in his GCSE exams?

OP posts:
Original poster
UndertheCedartree · 19/01/2022 10:07

@BaconMassive

If he's Y10 and and he doesn't get the grade he wants/needs then he can always have another go in Y11.

Remember the grade boundaries this summer for exams are going to be more lenient then they are going to be in 2023 due to the pandemic, so every chance if he studies hard between now and then.

I didn't know that, thank you.
OP posts:
Comefromaway · 19/01/2022 10:08

Subjects like English you can make massive improvements in grades with time as some of it is maturity and exam technique.

Original poster
UndertheCedartree · 19/01/2022 10:08

@ChazsBrilliantAttitude

Realistically if he wants to do Maths at A level then he needs a minimum of a 6 but ideally higher otherwise the step up is huge. DS1 is dyslexic and got a 5 in English and that didn’t affect his application for a science based course at Uni (all Russell Group offers).
He doesn't want to do Maths.
OP posts:
LIZS · 19/01/2022 10:09

But the college's expectations may be fairly low, depending on their usual level of candidate. What results do they typically achieve? A pass at 4 if other gcses may be 7+ feels like a potential underachievement.

Original poster
UndertheCedartree · 19/01/2022 10:09

@LIZS

If he is thinking of uni eventually some look at gcse results taken in year 11. English and maths are so fundamental it is worth taking time to achieve the best grades possible.
Ok, thank you.
OP posts:
Original poster
UndertheCedartree · 19/01/2022 10:10

@Comefromaway

Subjects like English you can make massive improvements in grades with time as some of it is maturity and exam technique.
Yes, that makes sense.
OP posts:
irregularegular · 19/01/2022 10:12

I would honestly push to wait to take them until he can get the higher grades it sounds like he is capable of. It will give him a much more secure basis for A-level. Plus universities look at GCSE grades as well as A-level predictions. I know people are saying he can always retake, but it takes time and effort and stress to prepare for and take an exam. And Universities will be able to see the original grades even if he retakes them and does better. Much better to wait a year until he is really ready.

Comefromaway · 19/01/2022 10:13

@UndertheCedartree

The feedback from college is that he is doing really well. He has full attendance and completes all his homework and course work.

I was a bit confused at him taking the exams early as I wasn't sure if all content would be covered. But I have no idea how it is done in mainstream school. How many hours are generally taught for Maths/English per week?

He is due to take a couple of GCSEs this summer as he has been studying for them at home. He's aiming for a 7+ for those.

At ds's school he had approx 3.5 hours of maths lessons per week and 4 hours of English
BaconMassive · 19/01/2022 10:13

Universities won't care one iota about a previous grade in a GCSE especially if they have then gone on to achieve better. They can about A-levels/UCAS points and that's it.

BaconMassive · 19/01/2022 10:14

*care

Comefromaway · 19/01/2022 10:14

Dd went to a vocational school I think her timetabled hours were slightly less.

Comefromaway · 19/01/2022 10:16

@BaconMassive

Universities won't care one iota about a previous grade in a GCSE especially if they have then gone on to achieve better. They can about A-levels/UCAS points and that's it.
That massively depends on the university. The more academic ones want to see a certain number of GCSE's sat in the same sitting and at certain grades. They may look at GCSE grades to determine the likelihood of A level predicted grades being accurate.
Original poster
UndertheCedartree · 19/01/2022 10:18

@LIZS

But the college's expectations may be fairly low, depending on their usual level of candidate. What results do they typically achieve? A pass at 4 if other gcses may be 7+ feels like a potential underachievement.
They are more vocation focused than academic. His class is quite mixed. I think he would definitely be looking at higher than a 4 as this was what he got at the beginning - a baseline I guess but they call it a 'mock'. But yes, I think a 4 or even 5 would be an underachievement.
OP posts:
Original poster
UndertheCedartree · 19/01/2022 10:21

@Comefromaway - thank you - it sounds like a similar time spent on study. The do have smaller classes than mainstream, though.

I think the key is to find out the college's rationale for doing the exams this summer.

OP posts:
Original poster
UndertheCedartree · 19/01/2022 10:22

@BaconMassive

Universities won't care one iota about a previous grade in a GCSE especially if they have then gone on to achieve better. They can about A-levels/UCAS points and that's it.
That was certainly the case when I was young. I wasn't sure how much has changed.
OP posts:
Simonjt · 19/01/2022 10:27

I don’t know if its still the case, but when I was at school it was slightly easier to get a C/4 on the higher paper compared to the foundation paper.

Comefromaway · 19/01/2022 10:32

@Simonjt

I don’t know if its still the case, but when I was at school it was slightly easier to get a C/4 on the higher paper compared to the foundation paper.
I think it's the opposite now. Certainly in the first year of the new, reformed GCSE's several schools became unstuck when they entered borderline candidates for the Higher Paper and they failed completely. Schools were urged to enter borderline Grade 4 candidates for Foundation and only enter candidates for Higher who were a very secure Grade 5.
LucyOrli · 19/01/2022 10:38

Secondary school teacher here, teaching GCSE and A-level. If he wants to do English Literature A-level then a 4 or even a 5 won’t really cut it. Who is doing the teaching at home and what are their qualifications? Do they know the exam specifications? Which exam board is he doing? I think you need to get a lot more pushy with the college if you want him to make more progress. I would not be happy with no reply or vague “he’s fine”. Ask for a copy of his exam paper from his most recent assessment so you can see where he’s losing marks.

Regarding what unis think of GCSEs, the competitive ones do consider GCSE results and would expect 8s and 9s.

Christmastreejoy · 19/01/2022 11:01

I would say in track for a 5 but like others have said, check he is entered for the higher paper. We home Ed and are doing maths as an external candidate which might be an option for you if the college only offers foundation.

lanthanum · 19/01/2022 11:02

I think you should check with the college what happens next year. If the bulk of the group are heading for vocational courses, then they may just be teaching Foundation tier, and entering them in year 10 so that those who get 4+ can stop worrying about it. Presumably in year 11 they will still be trying to get the weaker ones up to at least a level 4, and what you need to check is whether they will then be teaching the Higher tier material to the stronger ones.

If they are being entered for Foundation tier this summer, he won't be able to get more than a 5. If he is entered for Higher tier, but hasn't been taught the higher material, he's still going to be limited by that.

Smileyaxolotl1 · 19/01/2022 11:07

Please be careful with people on this thread commenting on stuff they know nothing about.
Assuming you are in the UK for example there is no such thing as foundation and higher papers in English.
It is also true that decent universities look unfavourably on students who took exams at different times and that he would need a 6 to do English at a level.

Notdoingthis · 19/01/2022 11:21

Any grade 1-9 is a pass.
4 is a good pass
You'd want a 6 to continue on to A Level in that subject.
Most colleges will ask for 5 or 6 subjects at grade 4+ as a requirement to study there.
I teach GCSE and A Level.

Notdoingthis · 19/01/2022 11:23

Also, if he is getting 4 now, he might get 5, but would have to work hard to get more. In the mocks they usually include work that has been studied, so the grade is representative of what he would actually get at the end of the year.

Wejustdontknow · 19/01/2022 12:01

I’m surprised that the entry requirement for a levels is much lower than I have experienced with my ds. He is year 11 so has just picked and applied to the 6th forms/colleges he would like to go to. Entry requirements are 5 grade 5 or above GCSEs to include maths and English, with some subjects having additional requirements. He is planning on taking biology and needs at least a 7 to be accepted onto the a level course as students below this would struggle with the workload, same for most other sciences and maths subjects. He is also wanting to take history and criminology and these don’t have extra requirements above needing a grade 5 in 5 subjects

sparepantsandtoothbrush · 19/01/2022 12:51

@Notdoingthis

Any grade 1-9 is a pass. 4 is a good pass You'd want a 6 to continue on to A Level in that subject. Most colleges will ask for 5 or 6 subjects at grade 4+ as a requirement to study there. I teach GCSE and A Level.
4 is a standard pass not a "good pass" 5 is a strong pass.

Anything under a 4 is NOT a pass, as a teacher you should know that. If you get a 3 or below then you will resit if you want to stay in education

GCSE grades