To have not known kids have to attain grade 4 in maths?

[Pepperpotladles]

I did not know this!
I have obviously been living under a rock.
So today someone told me that if kids get grades 1, 2 or 3 in their maths GCSE, it is compulsory that all these kids have to keep on studying GCSE maths until they achieve a grade 4 or above, and they have to keep trying to achieve this up until their 25th birthday.
Is this true?!?
I can't believe my ears.
What about kids who simply can't achieve grade 4 or above in maths, for any number of reasons?

LOL—your son is clearly very academically able. You, however, are seriously lacking in critical thinking skills and sound rather dim.

It would be interesting to see the percentage who got 4 or more when doing the Foundation paper first time compared to the percentage who got 4 or more when doing the Higher Paper.

You could put them into 2 groups

I think that's a question schools ask.

It's a shame there isn't an intermediate paper covering say Grades 3 to 7

Difficult circumstances happen too.

My son isn't high school age but has missed the majority of Year 3 and all of Year 4 minus these past few weeks thanks to almost losing his life to cancer.

He is now majorly behind academically but hopefully will be able to catch up by GCSE age. Unfortunately, cancer doesn't care about exams.

Because some people find maths difficult,
They find the wording difficult.
It's too abstract and not real enough.
Some people just don't get it.

Nail on the head. Grade 4 is pretty essential for normal "real life" numeracy as required for most adults to live a normal life. People who can't achieve it are likely to really struggle in adult life. So it's entirely right that youngsters are required/encouraged to keep studying Maths to gain that base line numeracy level.

It's not though is it basic numeracy is essential ,but there is far more than basic numeracy covered in GCSE maths which most people have no need for in every day life.

It’s lower if you sit the higher tier paper due to the difficulty (but if you fail to achieve a 4 on higher you get a U, not a 1/2/3).

Some papers here

https://www.aqa.org.uk/find-past-papers-and-mark-schemes?subject=Mathematics

If you look at the Foundation ones, you generally need 55% to 60% over 3 papers to get a 4. The total mark is 240 so I am sure people can work out 60% of 240 without a calculator.

f

Except the Pass Mark is around 55% for Grade 4 - which has been mentioned on this thread.

Several times

@cakeorwine but that’s the thing 60% of 240 isn’t a sum everyone can do in their head!

I recently sat a couple of GCSE foundation papers as my daughter is doing hers this week and she has dyscalculia and really struggles. There were no simultaneous equations on any of the papers. The foundation level (which allows you to get up to a grade 5) is much more basic maths, rather than problem solving, though still not particularly easy. This year they are allowed an equation sheet (hangover from lockdown) which helps massively. There are many reasons why maths is an essential skill in life. Reading timetables, follow recipes, budgeting, understanding discounts etc. all very useful stuff. My daughter is aiming for a 4 and has been scraping that. Most degree courses require at least grade 4 English and Maths.

Some of the comments on this thread are really short-sighted. The first maths exam is on Thursday and I already know my DD will fail. But she used the money from her Saturday job to self fund a nail course and then onto lashes. She set up her own business in January and is already thriving. As 99% of her trade is cash, she’s done all of her finances on a spreadsheet. Excel does most things for you these days. She will excel in life.

Failing maths doesn’t define you.

Good grief. If I believed everything I read on Mumsnet, I might as well have had myself put down by the vet long before I reached the grand old age of 50. Not only can I not drive, I haven't got an equivalent grade 4 in maths GCSE.

The way some of you talk, it's a minor miracle I can get out of bed in the morning.

@CharlieLarlie Simultaneous equations are on the spec for Foundation, but not everything is examined every year.

Yes, but that’s on a paper where top mark is grade 5.

My child is about to resit for the 3rd time..its utterly soul destroying. They can pass the mocks but something goes awry at the actual exam. Confidence declines each time.

Exactly.

Do you think most people should be able to work it out using paper - but with no calculator?

Yes. I know.

It’s not compulsory but any decent college will encourage it; and it’s very hard to get a job without Maths and English GCSE or functional skills.

Not true if they sit foundation level. The pass mark is more like 60%

Using maths in a real life context is so so useful.
Everyday maths, adding up, subtracting, percentages, ratios, division
And then understanding things like interest rates, debt, VAT, cashflow

And statistics. Data. Understanding what data is showing you - and being able to identify issues with it.

This is what maths should be for most people - and when people actually have to use maths in real life at work and at home, it makes much more sense for people. It makes it real

I knew dd would struggle so we got her a tutor for her gcse year.
As the tutor said, ‘dd just needs a pass, she’s never going to bother with maths in adult life.’

Using my maths and previous data, I suspect there is a high probability this will get mentioned again on this thread...

Knock knock: Open up! It's the police.
Pause
We're here for your 23-year-old son. Someone has reported that he doesn't have his Grade 4 in Maths.

Honestly 😂

Of course it's preferable for your child to get their Maths exam, but the world won't end if they don't. Just like many PP, I have two autistic DC, both requiring special school. Not a hope in hell of either attaining their Maths exam - and not because I don't value education. Qualifications are great, but they're out of reach for some children.

There are many reasons why a child might struggle. Those of you who claim that your child would "never" leave school without this, let's hope you're right. Because you might not be.