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

[PSLK]

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?

Regarding getting hold of scripts for remarks, I emailed the exams officer on Friday and again yesterday but heard nothing. I've tried ringing the school but obviously not surprised there's been no answer.

I'm quite annoyed as they specifically sent an email on Thursday saying to email them with any queries. And I've read on here that many other people have been able to get hold of scripts and teachers have been checking them.

Would say btec or t levels - my son had similar, bright but Really hard to motivate- think college environment was better for him. He’s off to uni in a couple weeks with the btec results.

He did consider T Levels but they're a bit of an unknown and the one he was semi interested only started last year.

In the real world students haven’t been doing German vocab over the break, but a-levels whip by and to get B’s/C’s then I reckon the key thing is to start strong and build revision notes as he goes, linked back to the exam mark-scheme, and generally get himself into really good habits from the get go. Practise papers, or at least individual practise qu’s from the topics he’s done so far will help to keep his learning aligned to the end goal of the exams. I also agree with a pp that it’d be good to talk about what happens after a- levels and he can gradually work out potential next steps- that’ll focus his mind. My dd needed an A in a-level bio, from a 7 at gcse, and when she realised that she really redoubled her efforts and thankfully she got her results a few weeks ago and it worked.

Firstly stop saying he was 1 mark off this or that, he got what he got.

Secondly, the college usually have entrance requirements as to the grades you need in a particular subject to study it with them. If he meets those, and he knows that it will require more intense study than GCSEs, there's no reason he shouldn't be able to give it a good go.

I'd like to add my voice to those saying that these are good grades (at least outside of MN, where anything below all 9s is disparaged by some).

I didn't mean by my comments about preferring a 7 for A level MFL to suggest that his grades were not good. He might find the learning curve steep but if he is motivated to work hard he will do well.

YY A levels are not only about all As. And he might not fancy uni now, but he may change his mind; grades of (say) BCC/CCD will certainly open up courses at many unis. I'm not especially a fan of the wonderful RG anyway (my DC both at non-RG).

Btw @PSLK there is no rule of thumb wrt GCSE grades leading to specific A levels. The wonderful Noblegiraffe has a chart for maths A level specifically ut that's a bit of a different issue.

Other subjects perhaps vary a bit more - or a child may not have been inspired by the GCSE history topics but loves the A level ones for example.

Get him to do as much work as possible on his German in the next week. My DD switched to French from soemthing else about a week into year 12 and having (obvs) done no French since about mid-May, recalls it was tough. So even a few days of refresh will help.

That’s absolutely not true. If he sent it back for remarking, he would likely get pushed up a grade.

I'm quite annoyed as they specifically sent an email on Thursday saying to email them with any queries. And I've read on here that many other people have been able to get hold of scripts and teachers have been checking them
Teachers on standard terms and conditions are not contracted to work in the summer holidays, let alone be remarking scripts for free. Some will, or there will be a HoD on the leadership scale who will have a look, but teachers are currently on holiday.

Honestly being 1 mark above/below a grade boundary isn't going to make much difference to his capability and aptitude for the subjects so a review of marking shouldn't be a factor in his post-16 choices. If you want to request a marking review then do as a separate thing.

He would not “likely” get it lifted

why? Because then everyone would apply for a remark if 1 mark off because it meant squat all because if you request a remark it* *will almost certainly be lifted.

OP, your DS will mee the criteria to start A Levels in most subjects. Most colleges have a general requirement and Theon ones related to specific subjects. The 6’s might not meet all entry requirements in those individual subjects, but he will get into most courses.

Of course, those who start with higher GCSE grades tend to do better. Those who scrape the course requirements tend to do worse. This won’t apply in all cases, but it’s nit surprising that someone with a 9 atGCSE usually outperforms someone with a 6.

Uni can be a possibility for all. Given OP said she doesn’t know much about uni, it’s worth knowing that students starting A Levels with 6’s can certainly get to Uni. They might not get the predicted grades (issued at end if yr12 and used an part of uni application process) to get offers from the popular and more academically selective Russell Group unis, but he would certainly get offers.

What is going to be key is starting well and understanding A Levels are hard work and how to study. So, making a plan of where in the week to be fitting the 5-6 hrs per subject study per week is needed. It’s too easy for feee periods to slip away and mornings to be spent lying in bed. Part of 6th Form is motivating oneself to get up and to work when lessons aren’t happening. For me, it sounds like the Q is more one of whether he can adamant to sixth form study, rather than can he manage the courses. Lots drop out each year or do t progress to yr13 because they simply don’t work…attendance is poor and leads to them being removed from their courses, or they don’t meet deadlines.

New sixth formers need to be really clear how their attendance is being tracked and also how deadlines for work will be tracked and the consequences of filing on theses things….especially if this is a student who might be a bit immature in his study habits.

OP, do t take the view that he’s at 6th form now and it’s all up to him. Help him plan his week once his timetable appears and think about how he’s go8 g to do that 5-6 hours study per stubject….library? Ask him to show you the assessments due that term and deadlines. Keep an eye out for managing with those things…for lots, BTECs are better with continuous assessment instead of terminal exams. It might be that your DS managed the A Level academic approach well, or you might decide he’s not coping. What’s best is to spot it sooner and not wait for 2 years to pass and nothing to have been gained…that really is a colossal waster of time and some students benefit from shifting g away from A Levels quickly, when it’s clear it’s not suitable. But not all students are mature eanough to actually look at the issues and see what suits them or to decide to work hard. You will know your DS and what he’s like.

Your son's results are mixed but he has solid Bs in the 2 subjects he wants to continue, and in his writing subjects, apart from English language. If he works in those subjects and has support on improving essay writing and exam techniques, I don't see why he shouldn't do well. I'm not a teacher but several teachers on this thread have said those are ok entry grades. I spent a lot of time comparing the 5 places my DS1 had applied to and got conditional offers in the week before results - his subject specific offers were very similar but there were significant differences, and the places with the highest outcomes aren't necessarily those with the lowest advertised requirements.

I think a lot of us on these threads are inclined to look for evidence to support our own decisions on and hopes for our kids' education. So my son has done very well at an underrated 11-16 comprehensive and before that a primary which many parents in our area won't even consider, both very local to us, others appeal to send their kids to schools further away and in other boroughs. I tried to shut down conversations in primary school about applying to selective grammars because I just didn't want to get into an argument (esp in front of my kids and others) about beliefs on selective education. Other posters will have chosen private schools, selective schools, schools with more middle class or less deprived intakes than their local one. We all want to defend/justify a wide range of decisions and I think there's a lot of that in this thread.

I think your son should give it a go and good luck to him.

Thank you @WombatChocolate and @elkiedee for your considered and thoughtful replies.

I'm grateful to everyone who has given insightful and helpful advice, whether it's difficult to hear or not.

I'm a single parent and he's my only child, I just want the best for him.

@PSLK I think the bigger issue he has is wanting to work for money. Yes - some DC do this and get high grades. How many hours is he working? Can this be sustained? He might need to work harder at his A levels than some others. So be realistic about the requirements of A levels regarding effort snd time.

The ones he has chosen are not job specific and I suspect, therefore, a degree might not be either. So I would look at what apprenticeships there are allied to his work if uni doesn’t appeal in the end. Keep all doors open because some uni courses do not lead to much. So look at apprenticeships as well.

“The ones he has chosen are not job specific”

They’d be a good set of A levels for Law and related subjects. Quite a few firms are taking school leavers again - either as solicitor apprentices or paralegal apprentices.

Well yes but many solicitor contracts are hugely competitive. Nowhere near enough jobs to go round. Can’t quite see it with these results to be honest. Plus after graduation, law jobs are open to any grad which makes the competition worse. However he can always try!

Any teacher, with a student who is one mark off the higher grade boundary, will recommend it being remarked for the very reason that it is likely to be pushed up.
Are you or have you ever been a teacher?

Why are your replies on this so aggressive and angry?

You have a really unusual spite towards OP in particular.

Further to this, approximately 30% of remarks will result in a grade change. Limit that statistic to papers that were only one mark away and I’m guessing that percentage will be much higher.

One of my DC had very similar GCSE grades, including 3 at 6/7 grade boundary too! They ended up with ABB at A level, almost AAB! They matured and had a better work ethic at A level and are doing well at a RG university now.

I don't know if you are still reading this OP but if DS does go to university even if is a bottom one and he does a year in industry (if his degree type allows it) I can't stress enough how helpful it is in finding a job after graduation! Somehow it is not mentioned a lot by sixth forms.

@cchocorabbit and @mmushroom3
Thank you!
Glimmer of hope in your posts for posters like me!

I'd let him try woth those grades and a good sith form . DS had a slightly lower profile with 4's in English and maths but a 6 & 7 in geography. He did history, geography and business and got 3 Bs at uni. Now on track for a 2.1 at uni. He worked hard and constantly through his a levels but chose subjects he loved which helped

sorry but I am guessing you are not familiar with gcse marking as it’s very unlikely he had the exact same mark in all of these! One mark off does not correlate to the same thing in different subjects