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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:
Layinwait · 31/08/2023 10:18

The gov will pay 95% of cost of training

Original poster
PSLK · 31/08/2023 10:18

I am prickly as I feel like you're now badgering me and not contributing anything helpful to the thread.

His decision has been made. I will support him.

Helpful suggestions are welcome like how to study. You've not offered anything useful,

OP posts:
Layinwait · 31/08/2023 10:20

I didn’t realise he’d made his course selection and all done and dusted.

your op didn’t indicate that

anyway all the best

Original poster
PSLK · 31/08/2023 10:21

Because when I started the thread he hadn't made a final decision. Now he has, which I've said subsequently.

OP posts:
Layinwait · 31/08/2023 10:21

PSLK · 31/08/2023 10:18

I am prickly as I feel like you're now badgering me and not contributing anything helpful to the thread.

His decision has been made. I will support him.

Helpful suggestions are welcome like how to study. You've not offered anything useful,

I was answering your op and follow up posts about his “poor attitude” and not particularly strong at anything and didn’t have any idea what he’d like to do but aside from not go to university.

I didn’t realise it was study help you wanted

Original poster
PSLK · 31/08/2023 10:22

Let's just leave it now.

OP posts:
Layinwait · 31/08/2023 10:22

All the best

enchantedsquirrelwood · 31/08/2023 10:28

There's a viewpoint on MN that if you didn't get good GCSE results (which these are) you can't do A levels. This misses several points including maturity and the fact that you've got rid of the subjects you don't like.

Of course he can do A levels.

I would go for a remark on the English lang.

And get him to do a language course in Germany between Y12 and 13 if you can afford it - it will make all the difference to his language skills.

Justgonefishing · 31/08/2023 10:46

im a bit flabbergasted about people thinking someone with those gcse results wouldn't go on to A levels....i think he's done really well!! (particularly as they are harsher marking this year)so he's pretty much got an A in 3 subjects!! we are looking at 6th forms at the moment and you can get in to do A levels with 5's or 6's or even 4's for some, depending on the subject. Remember focussing on 3 subjects that you like rather than 8 or 9 that you dislike can be a big motivator.

ActDottie · 31/08/2023 10:48

I wouldn’t do maths a level with those results despite others suggesting it.

I got three A*s in maths at GCSE and found the step up to a level maths really difficult. I went on to do it at uni but that first term of A levels was really difficult for me.

Luckypoppy · 31/08/2023 10:50

PSLK · 31/08/2023 10:05

@Luckypoppy thank you. Are C/D grades considered bad? Even if you don't want to go to Uni?

Nope. Not at all.

Luckypoppy · 31/08/2023 10:51

PSLK · 31/08/2023 10:03

Gah! He's doing German, history and law.

Great choices.

Still push for those remarks.

IdisagreeMrHochhauser · 31/08/2023 11:14

I'm a little confused too. Basically these are Bs and Cs in old money. I don't know why he wouldn't go on to sixth form.

GrinAndVomit · 31/08/2023 11:15

Luckypoppy · 31/08/2023 10:51

Great choices.

Still push for those remarks.

Show quote history

Agreed

Bramshott · 31/08/2023 11:19

Threads like this make me cross (not you OP!).

Yes not all kids are academic, and yes apprenticeships are great (though no, there are not enough of them), particularly as an alternative to uni. But studying A levels at sixth form is not some kind of elitist thing which should only be preserved for the most academic! A levels keep future options open much more than other types of qualifications, and who knows how kids will change and mature between 16 and 18, particularly when given the chance to focus on just 3 subjects they've chosen themselves rather than a huge range of subjects many of which are compulsory.

In short OP, yes of course your DS should start his A level courses in his chosen subjects, based on having achieved a pretty good set of GCSEs. You can deal with any problems further down the line if they arise...

BanditsOnTheHorizon · 31/08/2023 11:34

Some children don't do well in school , but very well in college as the approach to learning is very different.

Qilin · 31/08/2023 11:47

BiggerBoat1 · 29/08/2023 11:29

It is a huge jump from GCSE to A Level. His results are bad, but he may struggle with A Levels.

His results are most definitely NOT bad.
Maybe in MN land, but not in real life.

Go and look at most average state sixth forms and colleges and see what grades the pupils have.

Children go on to do A levels with these grades all the time, right across the country and achieve A levels. You don't just do A levels if you're destined to get a grade A in them!

Not everyone is straight As.
Amazingly even they one with more average GCSEs can achieve an A level and go on to university.

There is proof of this every single year.

MN is very different to real life ime.

Qilin · 31/08/2023 11:50

Good heavens. Surely there was a deadline for course choices?

At many sixth form schools and colleges the deadline for final choices is enrolment, which often happens on the first two days of school - so next week for many.

Qilin · 31/08/2023 11:55

Luckypoppy thank you. Are C/D grades considered bad? Even if you don't want to go to Uni?

Only on certain area on MN tbh.
Not in real life.

Some MNetters struggle to see any merit in anything that isn't straight As and RG (self selecting group of universities)

The reality is that many thousands of young people achieve those grades every single year. Many go in to university with them and achieve good degrees and go on to have good occupations afterwards.

BiggerBoat1 · 31/08/2023 12:27

Qilin · 31/08/2023 11:47

His results are most definitely NOT bad.
Maybe in MN land, but not in real life.

Go and look at most average state sixth forms and colleges and see what grades the pupils have.

Children go on to do A levels with these grades all the time, right across the country and achieve A levels. You don't just do A levels if you're destined to get a grade A in them!

Not everyone is straight As.
Amazingly even they one with more average GCSEs can achieve an A level and go on to university.

There is proof of this every single year.

MN is very different to real life ime.

Show quote history

Oh no!! I meant to put his results are not bad - missed out the word not which made it look really mean. Apologies.
must learn to read before posting!

HauntedPencil · 31/08/2023 12:56

The comments on here are wild?!

I had broadly sinilar results and went on to do a levels and a degree - plenty of friends with lower did likewise and degrees with great jobs.

I was wondering what on earth had changed but it seems just the audience.

Good luck to your son, no reason why he won't do very well.

LolaSmiles · 31/08/2023 13:07

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?
Work ethic is often the make or break with mid-attaining students.

Those that accept they coasted at GCSE, didn't put the work in but want to do well can, and do, turn it around at A Level.

The middle students who don't do as well tend to prioritise Five Guys and socialising, and/or decide they'd rather lower their goals regarding university so they choose somewhere they will get into with lower grades to reduce the amount of work they have to do.

Original poster
PSLK · 31/08/2023 13:20

Thank you all. I should've known I'd get some batshit comments 🙄

I need to put to one side what others think and focus on what is right for my child. And if A Levels turn out to not be right for him then we can think again. They get 3 years of funded education, so he could start again in a year. Or hopefully get an apprenticeship. There are always options.

@BiggerBoat1 No worries! I understood what you meantSmile

OP posts:
Busornobus67 · 31/08/2023 13:27

I did gcse spanish as evening class around 2008 and got a*
But for alevel only an A so dropped a grade. Though only 3hr a week. Whilst working FT
Alevels at the time i did bio chem maths which i got gcse B. Turned to alevels of C (maths) DD
My dsis did hist/fr/latin which she had got the top an A in at gcse turned to abc at alevel.

Layinwait · 31/08/2023 13:27

That’s what it has come to “batshit comments” ie no abuse, no name-calling, just a different perspective and questions 🤷‍♀️