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Higher education

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Original poster

Advice needed for disappointing GCSE results and further Maths A level

36 replies

rainbowinthesky · 27/08/2012 23:18

Hi ds was predicted throughout to get As and As at GCSE but through lack of effort for various modules ended up with 2As, 6Bs, 2Cs and a D. The D is French which he always struggled and one of the CSS is Art. As are in Maths and chemistry. He is gutted and it's been a wake up call. He really wants to do 3 sciences and further Maths and to prove he can do it. He has always been high achiever but lost his way. He got lots of As for modules and end of y10 averaged a s for all sciences. Where he didn't bother he to Es etc which brought As down. Really doesn't want to spend year retaking.

Is is worth him doing Further Maths or will his GCSE results bar him from any courses that would want further Maths? He doesn't know what he wants to do.

OP posts:
Original poster
rainbowinthesky · 27/08/2012 23:19

Sorry. I pad. He got Es for modules when he didn't other.

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Original poster
rainbowinthesky · 27/08/2012 23:19

Bother

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Musomathsci · 27/08/2012 23:28

I think it's not uncommon for bright kids to have a bit of a wake-up call at GCSE stage -too easy for them to coast along until that point.. If he subsequently gets his finger out and does well at AS and A2, he should be fine for uni applications. Admissions tutors are well aware that a lot can change in a year with teens. I would suggest that he puts the GCSEs behind him and doesn't do retakes. His time would be better spent getting stuck in to the AS courses and aiming for better grades at that level. Resitting modules alongside AS will put him on the back foot for AS and there is a real risk of not doing as well as he could at AS because of diluting the effort (seen this happen with some of DD's friends).

Musomathsci · 27/08/2012 23:29

And just to add, the grades he has may seem disappointing compared to his predictions, but they are actually a really respectable set of grades, so well done, actually!

Original poster
rainbowinthesky · 27/08/2012 23:37

Thanks. Yes, the grades are good but we are all disappointed still as know he could have done better. I agree it's best to look forward. He has sailed through school and always been in the top few of his year so although not a total shock still a wake up. For history 50% was A and the other E.

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Original poster
rainbowinthesky · 28/08/2012 10:43

Bump for morning

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creamteas · 28/08/2012 12:53

If he gets good results at A level, then his GCSEs won't matter much for most universities.

If he is worried about it, he could always mention in his UCAS application that what he learned from this experience is that he needed to work harder :)

noblegiraffe · 28/08/2012 12:57

Will sixth form let him do Further Maths without an A*?

With those grades he's probably not looking at Oxbridge. If he decides he wants to do maths at degree level, many Russell Group universities don't (currently) even require Further Maths so if he has it, then it will be a bonus.

MummyWeatherwax · 28/08/2012 13:04

You might want to double check about Further maths - one of my (Biology) pupils sat Further maths this year, without doing Core (both AS) and the exam board refused to certify him, which he only found out on results day. It was not good.

Maybe other exam boards are different, but I'd be triple checking before I was comfortable with my kids doing that combination...

noblegiraffe · 28/08/2012 13:07

Oh, blimey, I hadn't noticed in the OP that he wasn't planning on taking maths.

No, you can't take Further Maths if you're not taking Maths A-level. It builds on knowledge acquired in Maths A-level, it's not a separate qualification.

noblegiraffe · 28/08/2012 13:07

I mean, it is a separate qualification in that it's an A-level in its own right, but it can't be taken in isolation.

SirBoobAlot · 28/08/2012 13:11

You can't do Further Maths by itself, its a more intense form of Maths and has to be taken along side Maths.

And having seen girls who got A*s with ease at GCSE in tears working until midnight on Further Math problems, I'd say no regardless.

Original poster
rainbowinthesky · 28/08/2012 14:18

Hi. He wants to do 3 sciences, Maths and further Maths. My thinking now is 2 sciences, Maths and further Maths.

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Original poster
rainbowinthesky · 28/08/2012 14:21

Sorry. Retread my op and it didn't say Maths.

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glaurung · 28/08/2012 14:34

Some schools which timetable maths + further maths in one option slot call this choice further maths and I assume that's what is happening here.

I think although he may think he's going to turn himself around and work hard, it will be a tough thing to do for someone not used to a diligent work ethic to do. It will be very easy to slip back into his lazy habits and he may be better advised to just attempt 4 subjects (ie drop one of the sciences or just do single maths rather than maths + further).

Original poster
rainbowinthesky · 28/08/2012 14:38

Yes , I think he should drop a science too. Going to meet with school this week with ds.

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noblegiraffe · 28/08/2012 14:44

I would get him to speak to his GCSE maths teacher and ask if they think further maths would be suitable for him. With an A in maths he may find even the leap to A-level tough. 5 AS levels would be a lot to manage anyway, and he has picked some of the hardest subjects. His GCSE results don't suggest he would cope so he needs advice from teachers who know him.

Original poster
rainbowinthesky · 28/08/2012 14:47

He was 2 marks off A* if that makes a difference. I have no evidence other than his word he will work harder.

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Original poster
rainbowinthesky · 28/08/2012 14:51

Ignore my last post. Rechecked results and it just gives grade. Confusing that with chemistry.

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noblegiraffe · 28/08/2012 14:52

What does he want to do at uni?

Original poster
rainbowinthesky · 28/08/2012 14:54

That's the problem. He is not sure yet - either science or maths route so doesn't want to drop a science and wants the further maths to give him more options. I think if further maths is counted as an additional A level he is making a mistake doing the 5 rather than dropping a science or the further maths and I think he would rather drop a science than drop the further maths.
I expect the school won't let him do them all anyway as he has proved he is not consistent in his work ethic.

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glaurung · 28/08/2012 14:55

"I have no evidence other than his word he will work harder."

I don't doubt that he wants to work harder, but it's a much easier thing to want to work hard than to actually do it if you see what I mean and perhaps easier to stick to if the workload you set yourself isn't too insane.

Original poster
rainbowinthesky · 28/08/2012 14:57

Yes, garaung, you are right. He is trying to prove himself by achieving the very difficult so everyone will know he is really bright after all when actually he is setting himself up to fall.

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CMOTDibbler · 28/08/2012 14:59

I'd do all 3 science and Maths, dropping further maths. AFAIK, further maths is only required for maths, wheras dropping a science will cut him off from a wider range of things

JustGettingByMum · 28/08/2012 14:59

At DS school, further maths AS can only be taken as a fifth option. The reasoning being that if you struggle with maths at AS then dropping both maths and fm at the end of AS then you would only have 2 subjects to take forward to A2 if you only had 4 subjects at the start.