How hard are A levels compared to GCSES??

[storminateacup74]

How hard are A levels compared to GCSES?? My DD is a very hard work and in years 7-9 was in the middle set she always worked well and got high marks except for maths which has always been her weakest subject. Fast forward to Year 10 and she is now in second from bottom set, because she struggles in maths it means she has to be in the same low set for all her subjects. The classes are disruptive and she has lost all enthusiasm for achieving as no one wants to bother. At parents evening they predicted 8's for drama and english 7 for french and 6 for maths. The teachers say she is perfectly capable to do A levels and she needs to have far more faith in her ability. She has absolutely no idea what she wants to do long term. I think because of this A levels are probably the best option because hopefully by 18 she will have more of an idea. The teachers say she will thrive in an A level class because they all want to learn and her work ethos will come back.

Hopefully a teacher will be along in a minute however in the meantime my experience with DD. They are waaaaay harder and maths, on another level. My DD got an 8 at GCSE and has found it really hard. It's a big step up, I would recommend some extra work in the summer holidays especially given the time they've had over the past year or so.

Anyone with a 7 in English should cope with any essay-based subject, because it’s not just about the writing but the understanding/thinking, and 7+ shows a good grasp of that sort of thing. They are a big step up but we do ease students into it gradually - the biggest difference is being expected to take an interest and read around the subject off your own back and also do more intense homework (so writing essays at home etc). But again this isn’t all dumped on students in the first week - we realise it’s all skills that need to be learned and everyone is in the same boat.

It’s poor to me that she’s in low sets for everything off the back of a low Maths grade. Very bad practice on the part of the school, as is apparently just accepting disruptive behaviour in low sets.

Firstly.... arrange a meeting with the school. It is not acceptable for her to have to wait until year 12 to be in a class where there will not be disruptive students! They need to sort the disruptive students or change her class. Secondly yes she will be fine at a-level. My daughter got between 4s and 8s and is loving her alevels. Just encourage her and she will do well!

Is there any potential for movement in sets. I would try to either get a tutor or try to support her yourself I'm maths to edge up a set or two.

She shouldn't be in low sets in all subjects because she struggles with maths!
It is a big jump from GCSEs to A Levels. My mum taught languages at A Level and said if you didn't have at least a B then you had no chance of getting a pass at A Level.

They are harder but much more interesting. For example, in biology (at least when I took it) at GSCE you learnt the 6CO2 + 6H2O + sunlight = C6H12O6 + 6O2 photosynthesis equation, at A-level you found out exactly why you need all those chemicals and all the mini-cycles happening inside the plant that produce the glucose. It was really interesting and quickly turned photosynthesis from being one of the duller parts of biology (that equation had been trotted out since Y7/8 I think), to being one of the best.

Whatever she picks though, should ideally be subjects she enjoys.

I'm annoyed on behalf of your daughter that this one subject she struggles with has seen her lumped in everywhere with more disruptive children with a poor work ethic. That said, the grades she's been predicted seem very good to me.

she is now in second from bottom set, because she struggles in maths it means she has to be in the same low set for all her subjects

Wtf?!

That's both ridiculous and appalling! How do they justify and get away with this? The school sounds woefully inadequate, is it possible to move her if kicking up a fuss about this doesn't work?

I'd say second to bottom set and predicted a 6 is pretty impressive.

But, that wasnt your question. For me, A'levels were much easier than GCSE's, as I'm very strong in maths/science, but really struggle with spelling, and essay subjects. So for me, ditching all the essay subjects that were HARD for me, made the overall workload much easier. You daughter may well find focusing on Alevels she is interested in, and shows aptitude for, whilst getting rid of mathematical subjects makes things easier overall.

DS is in Year 12 and finds it easier as he is studying less subjects and ones that he loves. Whilst the topics are harder he has more time to concentrate. He's pretty good at self study

DS Y12 has found it really difficult, partly because the content is hard and he wasn't used to that, but also because they need to be more self motivated. He went from 9s / 8s / 7s at GCSE to a report of C / C / U in January. Hopefully pulling it back now, but some DC do find that there's a huge step up.

Big step up and a different league to GCSEs both my daughters started doing 4 but quickly dropped one due to work load

One 4 8 4 7 and two 6s at GCSE = 2B 1C at a level

One two As 6 Bs and a C. - ABC at a level.

Really hard work.

“It’s poor to me that she’s in low sets for everything off the back of a low Maths grade. Very bad practice on the part of the school, as is apparently just accepting disruptive behaviour in low sets.“

Agree with this. Why have the school done this? Is there any flexibility?

My dd had a similar situation being far better at English / essay subjects than Science/Maths and found A levels fine OP.
Her school had a different policy for teaching in Y10 and 11 though, where being in a low set for Maths didn't affect the sets for other subjects.

Hi thanks for all your help. I have been speaking to her teachers today about the sets and they have assured me that next year she will be able to move up to set 2 for english and drama and that she has been given a space in an extra tuition group for maths and they sort of admitted that perhaps the reason her maths has got worse is because of the poor work ethos of the other students. Being in the low sets has definitely dented her confidence although the school say it usually works the other way being in a lower set means you don't struggle and therefore you get better results. Basically she is capable of more than she thinks so I just need to gee her up. Her school doesn't have a sixth form but the sister school about 4 miles away does. So quite a few students go on to the FE college. So my next question is what is the difference between a school sixth form , an FE college and a sixth form college (another option as there is one in the neighbouring town. Thanks
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School sixth form- obviously attached to a school. Likely to be same teachers. Might have to wear a uniform.
Sixth form college- only 16-18 year olds. Uniform? Students expected to stay on site 9-3 (that’s what they do here). Might need higher grades at GCSE to study there.

FE college- wide range of students 16- adults. Lots of courses and quals. Attend only when timetabled. Probably a better bridge to maturing before going to uni or work. Mixed ability.

Apply for everything. Go visit. Which environment does she prefer.

Good news about better setting next year.

School sixth form: smaller, more structured, narrower range of choices but stricter and more like school - in my experience, this means sixth formers have dress codes, planners, detentions, assemblies etc. Suits students who like the school life or need a short rein.

Sixth form college - halfway between school and university. Much more casual - first names for staff, no uniform or dress code, students are free to come and go as they please during the day. Still attention paid to attendance and pastoral care but in a different way to school. Less structure and hierarchy. Wider range of courses and more likely to be able to mix A levels and BTECs. Bigger classes. More students. Suits all sorts of students really but less mature ones may struggle to adapt to college.

FE college - like sixth form but will also have a broad range of vocational courses and may even do university level courses. Much bigger colleges and a wider mix of people - may be adult learners there too. Casual but possibly easy to get “lost” for some students - but liberating for others.

As a veteran of school and sixth form college teaching, the college would be my pick for my own children. I think the ethos and atmosphere is perfect for that age group, it’s big enough to have a variety of students but small enough that we really do know our students well. And as it’s a great place to teach we have a stable staff structure and good teachers.

@Pieceofpurplesky

DS is in Year 12 and finds it easier as he is studying less subjects and ones that he loves. Whilst the topics are harder he has more time to concentrate. He's pretty good at self study

I agree with this.

Harder and easier.

There is a big jump in the work. But you are only doing the subjects that you always found easiest. Which makes things much easier.

I would say if you are a “good all rounder” then you will find A levels harder than GCSE. If you are a “great at X but rubbish at Y” then you will find A levels easier.

They are tough (my username is a clue )!!

DS is doing well in 2 subjects, but Maths is another level and he was in the top set of a very Maths clever year group - apparently the second set was more in line with where a top set would normally be, so everyone got either an 8 or a 9 in GCSE's. He's found the jump huge.

I didn't read the whole thread, so unsure if your DC is starting this year, so the only advice I would have, is to keep studying a little bit over the summer, just to keep your brain in that mentality IYSWIM. DS did his GCSE's last year, so obviously was finished in school in March, he found starting college really tough and wishes he'd spent a bit of the summer doing a few practice papers etc to keep his brain fresh.. instead he spent it in bed

DS goes to a sixth form college and he only has to attend when he has lessons. He likes that, but part of me questions whether he would be better suited to a sixth form in a school where he has to stay on site and study

DD was in a similar situation OP and is doing well at A level. Being able to concentrate on subjects that you enjoy and are good at makes a big difference. It has also been good for her self esteem as the constant focus on being 'rubbish at maths' (her words) made her believe that she was not clever enough to succeed.

Putting aside my rage at her 'sets' being all the same, regardless of her ability.

I agree with others that say "it depends" re the A-levels.
One young person I know well absolutely blossomed during 6th form, as she was able to focus on subjects she loved and was good at, and get rid of others that she had found more challenging.
Another had cruised through school doing pretty well without really ever being stretched, and they really crashed out in 6th form as the jump in work was HUGE (unfortunately chose maths which is renowned to be a completely different subject at A-level), and they just didn't know how to ask for help, nor how to apply themselves and work through problems.

GCSE to A-level, is often quoted as being the biggest jump and hardest challenge but a lot of youngsters blossom as they can lose the subjects they don't do well in / like.

The students I know that struggled most are those who chose subjects based on what their parents pushed for or what the thought they should study rather than what they actually wanted to enjoyed.

Ds struggled a lot in one of his subjects (eng lit) but was fine in the other 2. He got an 8 at gcse (9s in other 2 subjects) and found it a big step up. I think it was maybe going from being at the “top” of a lower set in school to being surrounded by very clever people for whom it was their best subject. I would say the last couple of months it’s clicked a bit more and he just got an A in his mock but he has made a huge effort. Traditionally maths is a massive jump. I started maths AS and dropped it after a few weeks, not because I found it a bit of a challenge, but because I didn’t understand it at all on any level.

My dd's 6th form is in her school but they are trying to make it more like a college with separate areas for 6th formers, they wear own clothes, can bring in mobile phones and laptops, teachers treat them more like adults, they can go off-site for free periods but it is still more structured than a real college and they have to do a certain amount of study periods onsite, the classes are also quite small only 5 in one of them. I think it is quite good and dd has enjoyed having some teachers she liked from GCSE and knowing more of the other students - but this could be a disadvantage if you don't like your GCSE teachers of course.