Uni without Maths GCSE grade C

11 replies

FozzieMK · 09/04/2019 11:41

My DD got ok A Levels CCC but has tried 5 times to better her grade D GCSE maths without success! This is having a bad effect on her applying to uni as they all want grade C or above. She is not a million marks away from a C each time and does not intend on taking a degree that uses maths. Apart from taking an access course, does anyone have any experience of getting into uni with a grade D in maths?

OP posts:

beansontoastz · 09/04/2019 11:49

@FozzieMK you can get in with a level 2 functional skills maths. You'd have to speak to the uni's she wants to be honest as some are more lenient than others.

Original poster

FozzieMK · 09/04/2019 12:05

Thank you. Sadly the one she got a conditional offer from (subject to retake mark), won't take functional skills. I guess she may have to take that as a backup and try elsewhere.

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beansontoastz · 09/04/2019 12:08

@FozzieMK What is she trying to do? C's in A Level aren't great (not awful though!) and it might be worth her doing a years access course alongside the level 2 maths to get a better grade more specific to the course she wants to do.

noblegiraffe · 09/04/2019 12:17

If she is not a million miles away from a C then it should be achievable with the right tuition. What has she been doing to work towards it? College resit courses have a notoriously low pass rate for various reasons.

Original poster

FozzieMK · 09/04/2019 14:26

beans She has 3 offers conditional on her getting a C in her gcse maths resit and has been working in her gap year to save for uni alongside the failed maths resit.

noble I have offered to help find a tutor, but she doesn't want to take another year off and I think she would have to resit in November again? It cost over £100 to resit privately last time, she feels that she has passed the point of no return after taking the exam 5 times. I guess there is nothing else to do.

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noblegiraffe · 09/04/2019 14:31

Isn’t she taking it this May? (Not too late to enter) If she was that close to the line, then an intensive month of work could swing it, especially if her mind were focused on her uni offers.

Piggywaspushed · 10/04/2019 18:07

OP, what is the degree,and the career plan after that? She does need to be realstic that there are also a lot of careers that ask for a C or better in maths and English GCSEs...

Pumpkintopf · 10/04/2019 21:13

Surely with some private tuition she could achieve the C if she's not far off each time?

mushroom3 · 11/04/2019 12:00

I would suggest to enter for summer, if she's that close, just luck could get her a pass. She should do as many timed papers as she can, as often questions are similar between papers. It may be worth looking at other boards and if content is the same she may find one board's style suits her better than the one she has been doing (worked with me when I resat Maths A level)

Original poster

FozzieMK · 11/04/2019 13:31

Thank you everyone. She is considering entering for the summer GCSE now, luckily we have a local school that takes private candidates that charges £100.

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PostNotInHaste · 11/04/2019 19:23

DD got onto a creative degree without it as she had a strong portfolio so they found a way round the maths. She went onto a Cert of Higher Education and then as long as passes that would be admitted onto 2nd and 3rd year and come out with degree. However she is now hopefully switching University to something different for second year.

She’s been for tests to assess her level for the degree and they are happy for her to go straight to second year. As different University has to submit UCAS and I am worried that the Maths will rear its head again. Good luck to your DD this summer.

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