Core maths with only grade 6

[makemineadecaf]

I’m hoping @noblegiraffeor anyone else in the know can help here. Dd is doing all essay based alevels (gcse 8s/9s) but at her school sixth form they also do epq or core maths.

Essays are her strength so epq seems obvious but I’m worried about burn out. The work load and content of core maths seems less intense but with only a 6 I’m worried she’ll be on the back foot.

Edited to add that I think core maths is worth less ucas points than epq?

Is it a one year AS level for core maths?
If so, she’ll be fine with a 6. It’s great if you’re doing subjects which have some statistics in them but not taking maths A-level.

She sounds a perfect candidate for core maths.

Yes, the EPQ gets a few more points - I think an A in core maths is the sane as a B in EPQ.

But it shows diversity.

Yes she’s doing psychology and sociology which makes me think it’s be useful

If she is doing psychology and sociology she should have been advised to take core maths anyway, those are the courses that core maths has been designed to support!

It may also help with uni, social sciences were complaining that students couldn’t cope with the maths content of their degrees because they hadn’t done any maths since GCSE.

It’s for pupils who got a 4+ at GCSE so she’ll probably find it quite easy with a 6.

DD got a 6 in maths and an A in Core Maths. She really enjoyed the real maths involved - helped with Geography and Environmental Science A levels. She also got a one grade lower offer at two RG unis as long as she got an A/B.

Thank you. I think Dd will take a lot of convincing because she feels elated to not do stem again but I do think this would be good for her.

EPQ is half A level points so max 28 for A⭐. Core maths is AS scale so max 20 for A.

Points are meaningless for most higher tariff universities. They want grades in specified subjects.

Both EPQ and Core maths can give reduced offers at some universities.

Core maths is aimed at GCSE grade 4-6 students who need maths to support their A level or degree subjects but may struggle with A or AS level maths where grade 7+ is recommended. @noblegiraffe has done her annual warning about studying A level maths without a grade 7+. I don't know if there is a similar chart showing grade progression for Core maths?

This would be really interesting. I’ve asked ChatGPT but she wasn’t too helpful this time!

Is it “better” than a gcse to have core maths?

Lol. Has she not realised Psychology is a science then?

Well yes - it’s a level 3 qualification, GCSE is only level 2

Well yes but not explicitly like the others. She’s starting with four but not sure which she’ll drop yet but either that or sociology will stay in.

DS got a 5 in maths gcse, and ended up with an A in core maths. He loved it - and it snagged him a place at Leeds to do economics and geography (which generally requires a 7 in gcse maths). Def worth doing, would be his view.

This is for BSc Psychology at Sheffield.
"The A Level entry requirements for this course are:
AAB
including a science subject

A Levels + a fourth Level 3 qualification ABB, including a science subject + B in a Psychology or Biology based EPQ; ABB, including a science subject + A in Core Maths"

Psychology and Geography are counted as science subjects for this and at lots of Universities for some courses.

Bath is another University that uses alternative offers for extras like core maths or EPQ. Neither will be a requirement as not all sixth forms offer them. There will be others as well.

This thread may be of interest.https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/higher_education/5569316-epq-vs-core-maths

Thank you yes the only difference I can see is that EPQ goes to Astar and therefore potential for more ucas points

UCAS points don't generally apply to higher tariff universities anyway.