Year 13 son struggling with A level Maths

[alwayswantchocolate]

My son is just starting Year 13, he's doing three A levels in Geography, Economics and Maths. He's predicted an A for Geography and a B or possibly A for Economics. It's Maths that's the trouble.

He got a 7 (almost 8) at GCSE and felt confident that A level Maths would be ok. But it isn't. In April he failed a test and had to resit it. Then his mocks in July he got a D. He's just failed another 'start of year 13' test with less than 50% (I don't know what he got as he's not home yet but I've had an email from school telling me he has to resit it).

I'm despairing. We got him an online tutor for one hour a week to support him back in May but it hasn't helped. A 'D' would be a nightmare as he wants to do a degree in Economics and the courses he likes are BBC entry requirements.

I just don't know what to do next. I suppose I'm reaching out to see if anyone else has experienced this and it's turned itself around. Please no comments about only those with an 8 or 9 should do A level maths.

I haven't got the data but I sat in a presentation for work not long back, where a Head teacher said that the trajectory for someone with a 7 GCSE grade at Maths was a D at A-level. So whilst this may not be good news, your son is actually on track with what would be expected. Interestingly the trajectory for someone with a 7 at English was a B at A-level English. I think all you can do is try more or different tutoring - its a really tough subject.

OP has specifically said they don’t want the only do the A level with an 8 messages. Not helping.

Well obviously I thought it was helpful or I wouldn't have posted it. My point being that maybe she needs to stop panicking, accept that this is the normal trajectory and work with that to decide his next steps. Thanks for policing the thread.

DD got a 9 at GCSE Maths, but found the step up to A Level hard. She ended up with a B (predicted an A), and she worked her socks off - she worked so much harder on maths than her other subjects (which she got an A* and A in). Her teachers put on maths help sessions at lunchtimes and she went to all of them, plus did extra question practice at home and asked the teachers to mark them. He needs to do the leg work.

I did Economics at Warwick Uni (in the dark ages lol!) having not done Maths A Level, and I actually needed to tweak my degree as I couldn't cope with the maths (but with A Level under his belt, I think he'd be fine), I ended up with a degree in Econ and Econ History (BA). But worth looking at the different offerings as to which have more maths-y leanings and which don't. As a PP mentions, a BSc is going to have a lot more maths than a BA. A Bsc will have compulsory Econometrics modules for example, but a BA you'll be able to choose more essay-based topics.

Yes, definitely!

Sometimes I reflect on curve balls in my past and think, well, if that hadn't happened then that other great thing wouldn't have happened either.

Yes I did specifically say that. Thank you @Bufftailed .

And yes I have seen the stats and trajectories. Just over 25% of students getting a GCSE 7 will get a D and yes by a very narrow margin this is the most common grade.

But 25% get a C, 25% get B or above (so half get C or above), and sadly yes 20% get a U or E. Slightly rounded figures. But I am a bit frustrated by the '7 = D' narrative that seems to perpetuate some of these conversations. It should be a more balanced point. And I'm afraid it's not a helpful point to make to someone whose son is over half way through the course.

And past papers. As many as possible

Will his college allow him to attend Y12 classes alongside his Y13 classes, so that he is revising last year’s content? A friend was struggling with Maths A-level so she did this and it had a huge impact on her grades (D to B). Alternatively is there another Y13 class that he could attend so that he is covering the lesson twice in a week (ideally with a different teacher as he might click with another one more). It will probably mean another 4-5 hours in college each week, but if he’s not doing enough independent studying at least he’ll be covering the same material twice in a week!

I think an able student with an online tutor who made no difference - just had the wrong tutor IMHO.

My dd was struggling in top set maths for GCSE and we tried one session with an online tutor, dd liked her and then she saw her weekly for a few months. DD’s confidence grew and she did really well.

I would keep trying with finding a tutor he clicks with. It is worth every penny if he needs A level maths.

Thank you that’s a really good idea, I’ll ask!

My son got a 7 in GCSE and at end of year 12 he was getting D/E. He got an A in his actual A level so it is achievable but to be honest I think he wasn’t putting much work in year 12 and put the work in year 13 when it clicked.

@alwayswantchocolate- there is still time to turn it around by using the past papers etc. Mine managed from November- yours has got a few more weeks in hand but he does have to want to do it himself. Grab every free resource going and the tutoring where necessary- good luck.