gsce triple science

34 replies

ameliah123 · 05/09/2015 07:46

my daughter took triple science and got a c ,the school will only take b for a level but if she had taken double science she would have got BB which would have allowed her to do this subject the other pupils are taking it with BB double science would she be able to ask the exam board to let her have double science grades so she can do a level chemistry her teacher said she has the ability to do do a level but the sixth form head says b is the grade she needed and wont budge is it worth appealing as come monday she will be at home with no school to go to the council wont help as she is now 16 can anyone help me with what we can do please

OP posts:

hellsbells99 · 05/09/2015 09:26

Some universities do a foundation year for medicine (think Manchester is one). This course is aimed at Students who did not do A level chemistry.

TeenAndTween · 05/09/2015 12:59

The only hope I can see for your DD is if you look at the individual papers (should be on her results sheets) and add up the UMS as if she had done core, additional and further rather than phys, chem , biology.

If by slicing the other way she would have got BB for core & additional, she might be able to argue that she has shown herself to be good enough.

However, if for example every Chemistry paper was a C I could see why the head of 6th form might not be willing.

Lonecatwithkitten · 05/09/2015 13:12

I am going to go against the grain it is possible to go from a c at GCSE in chemistry to an A at A level -I did. However, it is really, really hard she almost certainly missing certain underlying principles and will need to correct this before pursuing the ALevel. I would say I put in around 4 times the work on chemistry that I did not Maths and biology. I got to vet school, but only after getting my ALevel grades so a year later that I would have done otherwise.
I did find the biochemistry element of the vet course tough as I would say my A was probably a shaky one. Pharmacology was then tricky as the biochemistry was not strong.

The long and short is it is possible, but she needs to be prepared to have to put in extra work every single step of the way.

Original poster

ameliah123 · 05/09/2015 17:02

Thanks for all the post she has been accepted now to do a level chemistry ,after her mock exam gave her an a * and she has been given a chance .

OP posts:

WitchOfAlba · 05/09/2015 17:34

Glad to hear that she has been given a chance OP :)

Bunbaker · 05/09/2015 19:40

That's great news. Thanks for the update. I hope she does well.

TheSecondOfHerName · 05/09/2015 20:27

I'm glad to hear they have been flexible and seen her potential.

lawlawlaw · 05/09/2015 21:44

That's wonderful news! Well done to your daughter:-) I hope she does well!
DD considered going down the medicine/chemistry route but decided not to as acording to her school she ideally wouldve needed an A* in Biology GCSE where as she only got an A and she didnt want to resit a paper, ridiculous isn't it?
Good luck, I know its a very very stressful and hard process

Annaliesey · 10/09/2015 12:59

ameliah123 I hope you got this sorted.

I just want to reassure you that schools CAN and DO exercise discretion. My DS was desperate to do A level physics but only got a C in core and additional science! We thought it would be a flat no on application but after looking at his individual unit modules they have allowed him onto the course. He is under the microscope though and if it doesn't work out he will move to either applied science or take up access course or do a completely different A level instead. (We are still working on our plan B)

It might be that you could ask the school if she could trial the A level chemistry and if it doesn't work out then do A level applied science? If you explain what degree course she wants to do then the school can see why it's important and possibly help with suggestions?

There are science access courses about which I think are 12 months. But, when we were looking at these we've had it explained to us that they are really mostly suitable for D and below level students and if someone got a C/B then they are more likely to take a step back with this.

I didn't even know about these but my DS was prepared to do a science access course and then to science A levels at 6th form next year. It means delaying by a year but he was happy to do this rather than completely changing his career goals.

I've also been told by a private science tutor today that he does not recommend re-sitting GCSE's or doing Access courses unless you really have to as the A level is so different in sciences.

Hope this helps but I'm scrabbling about myself at the moment trying to understand the science syllabus, degree entry level requirements, alternative routes etc and just simply sharing out experiences to see if there is anything you can use. Have you spoken with the school yourself rather than via your DD? (I had to go in myself to have a proper conversation :( )

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