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Further education

You'll find discussions about A Levels and universities on our Further Education forum.

Original poster

Will DS be capable of doing A Levels with these GCSE results?

123 replies

PSLK · 29/08/2023 10:41

My DS achieved the following GCSE results:

Maths 6 (one mark off a 7)
German 6 (one mark off a 7)
History 6 (three marks off a 7)
English Lit 6
English Lang 5 (one mark off a 6)
Combined Science 5/5
Food Prep 5
Statistics 4

He has been very unsure about what to do at college but feels like maybe he could give A Levels a go as his results are better than we expected, specifically in English and Maths. He was predicted 7s for German and History and isn't far off those grades. We are getting the scripts for the subjects he was one mark off in.

He's looking at German, Modern History and Law as his choices, although not set in stone.

I'm concerned that although his results are good he will struggle with the step up to A Levels.

Does anyone have any experience with their children or themselves doing A Levels with these kind of GCSE results?

OP posts:
clary · 29/08/2023 20:48

MFL is my subject and I always would prefer to see a grade 7, just bc the necessary mastery of verbs and vocab that is so vital for A level would usually see a candidate getting 7+.

That said, there can always be glitches; was he expected to do better? Has he been set bridging work in German over the summer? If not, has he been practising vocab and verbs, watching German films, doing Duolingo? That will have helped, in fact I would say it was essential.

ViburnumFarreri · 29/08/2023 20:55

My DD’s GCSE results we 6, 6, 6, 4, 3, 3, 1, 1.

She then did two further GCSEs at college, and got 7, 7.

Her A-level results were A*, A, B and she’s going to a very good uni next month. I don’t think you can infer from his results that he’s not capable of A-levels.

Original poster
PSLK · 29/08/2023 21:03

@clary

He's only just decided he'd like to do A Levels so hasn't completed any bridging work. We've had a look at it this evening and there's a lot to do before he starts.

He was predicted a 6 and achieved a high 6, nearly a 7. He did very little revision for German.

OP posts:
Original poster
PSLK · 29/08/2023 21:05

@clary can you recommend any resources to help him?

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clary · 29/08/2023 22:25

PSLK · 29/08/2023 21:05

@clary can you recommend any resources to help him?

What resources did he have for GCSE? Anything from that would be a good start - I would be expecting an A-level student to know their regular and irregular verbs, for example. So he could start by revising those - present, perfect, imperfect and future. Does he have class notes on that? if not, there are lots of online resources. I think BBC Bitesize is good for these basic elements. There are revision sections and quizzes.

Similarly, how is he on vocab? Again, while the A-level topics are very different from GCSE (think the fall of the Berlin wall and German art and architecture rather than my hobbies and what I learn at school), general vocab such as opinions and reasons, adjectives and adverbs and things like abstract nouns will all be useful. GCSE notes may help, or Memrise is a very good vocab site - it's free to sign up.

LadyHester · 29/08/2023 22:33

Boys can be slower to mature and to develop a strong sense of the connection between action and outcome, which doesn’t help them to acquire a good work ethic at GCSE level. I have often seen them really take off in the sixth form thanks to a combination of that extra maturity and studying subjects they have actively chosen. As previous posters have said, it would be really helpful for him to do some consolidation work where appropriate to ensure that he has the best possible command of GCSE skills as a foundation for A level.

Nowanextraone · 30/08/2023 07:16

Of course he will! In 'old money', a 6 us a grade B which is a good GCSE grade!

Original poster
PSLK · 30/08/2023 09:35

Thank you @clary

I'm not sure he's strong on anything to be honest! As I say, he did little revision.

He has a GCSE workbook and revision guide. They used Quizlet a lot. And they had knowledge builders but they were online so doubt if he can access them anymore.

Despite me telling him it's a big step up, I don't think he really has any idea how big. It's going to be a steep learning curve for him, but it's his decision and I'll support him as much as I can.

OP posts:
Original poster
PSLK · 30/08/2023 09:39

They are good grades and I'm chuffed for him that overall he got better grades than predicted.

I didn't go to college or university so it's completely new to me and I don't really have anyone to discuss it with irl.

I'm going to encourage him to continue looking at apprenticeships but I don't want him to not work hard at the A Levels because he 'might' get an apprenticeship.

If he drops out or switches courses, then so be it, as long as he's gives it a proper go.

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gogomoto · 30/08/2023 10:34

I'll be honest, I wouldn't choose German unless you are able to fund a tutor/summer school because it's a huge step up - my dd got a d at a level despite an a* at gcse and working hard (and she got better than many in her class, the ones who did well either had tutors or were bilingual to start with due to German heritage.

What about a btec (assume they still exist) where work is constant rather than big exams?

Anactor · 30/08/2023 17:13

Yes, he could do A levels with those grades. The main difference is that a fairly bright boy (which your DC clearly is) will no longer be able to coast through without working/revising.

Apprenticeships - there are post A level apprenticeships as well, so rather than encouraging him to look at apprenticeships instead of A levels, maybe encourage him to now start looking at the sort of post A level apprenticeships he might do.

You need to start making ‘post A level’ real for both of you, so you know what all the hard work might lead to.

WombatChocolate · 31/08/2023 08:31

Statistically, he won’t be looking at high A Level results from that starting point. Of course, a few go onto get higher grades but most won’t. You have to be realistic and consider what he wants those grades for. It’s unlikely to be RG uni, but he could o onto a degree elsherhwre .

Work ethic is vital. Lots of boys especially are immature and haven’t got a strong sense of what working hard looks like and struggle with motivation and coping with free periods. Schools and colleges tell them that Yr12 determines their predicted grades and that the first assessments will be in the first term, but some still do little work, and others have said, become obsessed with costa, playing pool and loitering with friends. You need to be honest about what your Ds will be like. Some schools put more structure into the day regarding free periods, but colleges usually let them come in when they have lessons. Will he stay in bed until 11 if he has no lessons, or be up working?

It”s a hard one. Lots of schools will require minimum 7 to do lots of subjects at A a level. They know their outcomes are not good with less. But those with 5s and 6s need to do something.

YukoandHiro · 31/08/2023 08:34

History is an incredibly hard A Level. I was a straight A student throughout school (when it was A rather than 9) and only scraped B in history a level despite working incredibly hard and never having a problem with focus/revision (got As in all the others)

I would reconsider that choice tbh. It's such a massive step up.

Original poster
PSLK · 31/08/2023 08:50

@WombatChocolate what A Level result would he be looking at? I don't understand how it works. Is there a chart that shows what A Level result can be expected from the GCSE grade?

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Lagershandy · 31/08/2023 08:52

There was a news item about how energy companies are needing people to train as heat pump engineers,I think they said it's a four year apprenticeship.

Piggywaspushed · 31/08/2023 09:10

PSLK · 31/08/2023 08:50

@WombatChocolate what A Level result would he be looking at? I don't understand how it works. Is there a chart that shows what A Level result can be expected from the GCSE grade?

It varies from subject to subject so is quite complex. Quality of teaching, and hard work play their part, of course.

Original poster
PSLK · 31/08/2023 09:19

@Piggywaspushed but is there even a general if you got 9 at GCSE you'll more than likely get an A star and work down from there? So he (basically) got a 7 so could be looking at a B? Or do they tend to drop down a grade so a C?

For wombat to say that he's not looking at a high grade must come from somewhere.

And what is considered a low grade?

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GrinAndVomit · 31/08/2023 09:22

What’s the worst that can happen? He fails so tries something else next year?
It’s all part of his growth and development, surely.

LolaSmiles · 31/08/2023 09:24

Those grades would be the middle of my cohorts so it isn't a deal-breaker.

If he knuckles down, gets a positive attitude to studying and accepts he has to revise the material, including parts he doesn't like, then he's likely to do well at A Level.

If he's likely to view his free periods as time to go to town, the pub, Costa, and chill, and is unlikely to do much outside of classes then he's likely to find A Levels a struggle.

Layinwait · 31/08/2023 09:29

GrinAndVomit · 31/08/2023 09:22

What’s the worst that can happen? He fails so tries something else next year?
It’s all part of his growth and development, surely.

Do you have children? Teenagers?

Original poster
PSLK · 31/08/2023 09:30

@GrinAndVomit I agree. He was unsure what to do up until he got his GCSE results, so it's not liking he's pinning everything on these subjects.

@LolaSmiles work ethic will be the make or break. He's determined to use the study periods to study, but will that actually happen if his friends are off to Five Guys?

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Layinwait · 31/08/2023 09:31

I studied a level and degree level history

it is a fascinating and wonderful subject and it is also very rigorous and challenging and requires a heck of a lot of work and focus

Layinwait · 31/08/2023 09:32

Surely only a couple of days until he’s due back at school?

Original poster
PSLK · 31/08/2023 09:36

He has freshers' days next Thursday and Friday and starts college properly on Monday 11th.

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Original poster
PSLK · 31/08/2023 09:39

The thing is, there's nothing else he wants to do. None of the BTEC options interest him. At least he's picked subjects that he has some ability and interest in.

He's also not (currently) interested in going to university. Unlike some people, it's not the be all and end all for him. He literally is an average kid who has to do something.

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