How to resit GCSE maths to get a better pass

[SheilaShortbread]

DD did her GCSE's last summer, had a bad time and came out with a 4 in maths. She was just one mark off a 5, we had the paper remarked but it was still a 4. She managed to still get on the college course she wanted so we didn't worry.

However, now we're looking at Uni courses, a lot of them want a 5.

The problem is that the resit courses only seem to be for students that got less than a 4, not those that want to try to find one extra mark get a higher pass.

Anyone any idea how we do this?

Thanks

use the revision books, what parts didn't she get?

I'm not sure, I think she'd need to do a couple of past papers to gauge it. Do you know anything about the practicalities of it, how would she resit if she can't get on a college course?

Very few places will offer a course to students when they already have a pass at GCSE. She could enter as an external candidate somewhere, but would need to self study or use a tutor. Did she sit foundation or higher before, and what was she predicted to get?

She was originally predicted a 6, but she was ill for several months last year and school decided to enter in for the foundation to make sure she passed. Oh if only she'd got 1 mark more!

Email the Head of Maths. Explain the situation. Be willing to pay to enter as an external candidate if necessary.

Also be aware that she needs to be working hard on this now - her maths has in all liklihood gone backwards after 9 months of not doing any - there is a high possibility of not improving, and only very high work will really boost her chances. What about getting a tutor for a few weeks? Yes - all of this will cost, but it may well be worth it, and also if a 5 becomes the only acceptable level in future.

Also bear in mind that you have to put all results on the UCAS form. You can't put all her GCSEs other than Maths on for the year she took them, and then put Maths on for two years later. You'd have to put both.

And actually, assuming she was resitting Maths in the same academic year as the one she was applying to university, it would go on the the UCAS form as "pending" which may not do her any favours anyway as she still wouldn't have the 5 when she applied. UCAS forms go in by mid January in Year 13 and if she's not entered to resit Maths this summer, she wouldn't be able to do it until Christmas of Year 13 at the very earliest.