Maths degree

[Blueandredandblue]

In order to take maths with physics, is a gcse English necessary at grade 6? Do got 9 in both physics and maths gcse ( as well as in biology, chemistry, geography and history) but a 5 for English language. I'm going to ask for a review of his paper in any case, but wondering if it would be worth doing a resit if this fails

That’s fair enough, Errol. It’s in the entry requirements but does say you can fulfill it while you’re there. I wonder if students would be put off? Languages can be mathematical if you like learning grammar- I do- but I can imagine some being put off with the speaking and listening elements.

Don’t know if it helps but looking at St Andrews maths requirements they say a 5 at GCSE English in. language or literature. It is a top ranked uni for maths.

My DS3 got a 5 for both English exams and want to do a maths degree. I’ve checked each uni he’s interested in and some say grade 4, some grade 5. We can’t afford London so haven’t looked at UCL but apart from that (and Oxbridge!) I don’t think it will be a problem. He’s predicted AAA for his A levels and that’s what counts.

It put off DS Daisypond
When there is so many unis out there which are as good or better, its a reason to strike it off your list.

Unfortunately I live in London. And he has autism/ adhd is under CAHMS for mental health issues, is highly anxious and doesn't want to go too far from home. He is willing to re sit the exam which will be in November so not too bad. It's an option if having it reviewed doesn't work out.

4 subjects is a lot of work at A level, but he'll probably drop,one at the end of year 12 or after the first term. I know he'd rather re take English, and if that means letting one subject slide until,he decides, he probably will, and it will most likely be chemistry.
I really don't understand the requisite for English Lang grade 6. Ds is very annoyed

I wonder if it's, ironically, because the top London unis (Imperial, UCL, LSE) are very much international? I don't know what English language qualifications they require of foreign students, but maybe it equates to level 6?

What about KCL or Queen Mary?

He's also interested in theoretical physics offered at UCL, which asks for a 5 in English Lang. He wants to do maths with physics, or physics with maths, theoretical physics.

He is one mark away from a grade 6, school have requested a review of his mark, apparently the English teacher spotted an error. It's all looking positive today.

Best wishes, it would be such a shame to be restricted in his choice of uni for the sake of one mark in English.

Good luck. FWIW I think Errol is right. Only 25% of students at the LSE are from the UK. They have noticeable groups of French, Spanish and Mandarin speakers. Imperial is likely to be similar.

I would not be surprised if they want the 6 rather than the 5, not because the 5 is insufficient for a student to follow the course, but because they want their students to be sufficiently comfortable to converse with other students in English. So not about you son.

If he does not get the grade on remark, and if you have the money, I would be phoning a tutorial college like MPW, DLD or Ashbourne and ask if they have scope to provide him with support prior to a resit. These colleges will have huge experience in getting overseas students through their English Language GCSE in parallel with taking A levels and may well be able to provide some sort of twilight or half term tuition. Failing that I would try someone like Justin Craig during the holidays. If he needs the grade, and it sounds like he does, I would, without making a fuss, throw a lot at it to help ensure that he does not miss a second time. And once done it can be forgotten.

I think Imperial is a good choice for a London based student who is on the spectrum. There is a huge diversity of students, and so they are likely to bond over their common interest.

I would not be surprised if they want the 6 rather than the 5.

I think it is more that they can be selective enough to enforce this, so they do.

Maths and science students having rather poor literacy skills is an issue even for high tariff courses. STEM students need to be able to extract information from books and reviews, write reports, give presentations, write coherently for dissertations and so on. I'm not sure that GCSE grades in English are entirely correlated with these skills - and would certainly accept strong grades in history or other such subjects as equivalent - but I probably would worry a bit about taking a student who had 4s and 5s across all humanities and English at GCSE.

OP, in case it helps we had a similar issue with dyslexic DD who wanted to study medicine. Her school were confident they could get her to a B(6), but she had more choice if should could get an A. We threw quite a lot of Justin Craig at her, to help ensure she got over the bar, and blow me, she wound up with an A*. My conclusion was that, unless she simply got someone else's mark, a good understanding of exam technique and a focus on how to gain every mark you are capable of, goes a long way.

Your DS can get that extra mark, and should not give up ideas of Imperial for the sake of a single mark.

I've sometimes thought that maybe there should be something like a 'technical English qualification which focussed on the type of skills uzfrdiop mentioned.