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Higher education

Talk to other parents whose children are preparing for university on our Higher Education forum.

Y13 Maths A level Struggle

16 replies

DigitalNomad · 30/09/2025 20:03

Posting in Higher Ed as I need the advice of those who have gone before me

Y13 DS is struggling in maths A level (OCR A)
He got a hard earned 8 at GCSE which he crunched his way to & I was nervous about it as an A level but he needs it in order to study ComSci at Uni
He seems to be fine in class but cannot perform in exams. It takes him a long time to process what the question is asking, he struggles to identify what maths he needs. He sometimes get very bogged down in a question and has to miss out other questions losing him many marks. He's hovering between a C & D on past AS papers which is soul destroying given how many hours he puts in.

I don't have super high expectations - a B would be amazing but a C would suffice. However, he could very easily get a D or lower
Does anyone have any advice on how to improve on Y12 content whilst keeping up with new Y13 content. We are both feeling really low about it right now.

OP posts:
Octavia64 · 30/09/2025 20:06

Tutor.

once you know the content the same kinds of questions tend to come up.

make sure he is solid on the basics - differentiation, integration.
DrFrostmaths also good.

BigSkies2022 · 30/09/2025 21:17

Tutor. Exam practice. My son’s friend got an A* in GCSE maths and really struggled with the step up to A level until he got a tutor who was able to identify his weaknesses and help him improve. Good luck.

BigSkies2022 · 30/09/2025 21:28

Just to add - struggling friend ended up with a clutch of high grades and a 2:1 in economics and finance from Bristol. So the tutor really made a difference.

Ivesaidenough · 30/09/2025 22:13

This is a bit of a left field option but cheaper than tutors - Kumon? It gives you lots of repetitive practice which is invaluable, and helps with speed.

Partywithfive · 01/10/2025 10:37

Trying lots and lots of past papers (don’t bother timing them though but aiming to try problem solving). Also, getting the exam technique right would help - going for the easier questions first, getting easy marks and then trying the harder ones that might take all his time.

Most of all, it is worth speaking to his teacher / sending an email. They might have some good ideas and extension work to help him improve.

Good luck, OP.

TheRemedyQueen · 01/10/2025 12:04

I agree with @Partywithfive about practicing past papers but I also strongly advocate for a tutor.

My DD took Maths A level and she just scraped an A but only because she had a tutor every week helping revisit concepts that were being introduced in the classroom.

Treeleaf11 · 01/10/2025 12:08

You don't need A level maths for all CS degrees. Places like Reading for example don't require it but I suppose it's a bit late now. The degree courses that do require maths will have more maths in the modules and the ones that don't require it will have less.

poetryandwine · 01/10/2025 17:32

Hi, OP -

How frustrating. I agree this needs to be solved. If you can afford a tutor, a good one can offer insights that nothing can replace.

Even if DS never becomes the speediest of processors, when he has mastery, confidence and exam technique he will be fast enough.

Good options are the CS degrees that do not require Maths such as Reading, Newcastle and QMUL. These are all fine programmes. One of the latter gives unspecified extra consideration to applicants who are doing CS at A level (and the others want CS or Physics).

I think there are probably a few other strong general CS programmes not requiring Maths. Then there are the many, many applied CS type programmes at the post 1992 universities, most of which will not require Maths and many of which will lead to good paying jobs. These may also be less academically competitive.

If DS is focussed on a traditional CS programme, then even one that doesn’t have a Maths prerequisite needs a solution to the current problem. A certain amount of the curriculum is built from the Decision Maths modules he may know something of. If he doesn’t attain mastery and confidence now, it will be worse later.

Has DS considered CS with a Foundation Year? (If he is British funding should not be a problem) If his other A levels are strong he could come to Maths fresh; perhaps seeing it from a new perspective would be helpful. He could talk with some FY admissions tutors about this.

Finally, and I know from experience with our own undergraduates that this is not easy to hear, if nothing else works out it might be necessary to take a year to get the Maths right and resit (or adjust expectations) YP panic - I’ll be a year behind my friends! Yes, but likely only for a short while. Life will soon catch up with some of those friends and they will be interrupting studies, etc. Besides, taking a year now to get your life right is really nothing in terms of the big picture.

I am not saying it will come to this! The other options we’ve collectively suggested are good. But if a choice must be made, this isn’t one to be afraid of.

Best wishes to DS

MargaretThursday · 01/10/2025 19:38

Tutor who does exam practice.

Here are lots of exam papers:
Edexcel Maths A-level Papers - PMT

Both practice and real ones, and the mark schemes with them.

This time last year ds got an E in his (admittedly totally messed about by his maths teacher) mock paper.

He'd got a (not worked hard at all) 7 at GCSE.
When he got a D/E in his February Mock, dd1 started teaching him.

She'd see him once a week. Initially she went over the syllabus. Then by March he would do a paper a week, she'd mark it and give him corrections and some extra stuff to do according to a question he'd found hard.
He got about 20-30 in most papers. By just after Easter he was getting 30-40, and both were feeling disheartened that they'd done so much work, for so little improvement.
Then start of May he suddenly got 60. Dd actually asked me if he'd done it in his room and just googled the answers. he hadn't; he'd done it downstairs so I could see him.
He had another couple of weeks of hovering around 50, then suddenly he was getting 60-65 consistently.
In the real thing he got 80% on his best paper, an average over 70% across the papers and overall an A.

What changed?
There were a few things.
Firstly when he started doing the papers, he'd loose interest/concentration after 60 - 75 minutes. Just doing the papers helped build his concentration up. (he does have ADHD, and ASD) They had hour lessons at school, so the only time they did papers of more than an hour the the actual mocks.

Secondly getting him to see that just because he couldn't do part a, didn't mean he couldn't do part b, c and d. So he went to from taking one glance at a question and saying "I don't like surds" and not doing anything to thinking "well I'll do part b, and then he'd often find he could do part a after all.

And lastly, writing. You can pick up a few marks by writing a few sentences. If they ask why or how or conclude, often there will be a mark for simply writing at the end something like "answer is correct".
Ds thought this stupid, so wouldn't do it.

So dd worked on him looking at a question and seeing what he could do. Putting things down in words and seeing that gave him a couple extra marks.

So he went from looking and say doing:
Q1, 2, 3a, 6, 7a, 9a,b and 15.
To doing at least part of every question. So his potential score went up from say 40% to 95%.

A lot of what he learnt was exam technique. But also he then went into the exam with the confidence that he could do most of the questions so approached them in a "I can do this" rather than a "Can't do them."

For your ds, have you also asked for him to be assessed as slow processing, so he might get extra time in the exams. He will need to get on asap if he wants it for this summer though. Really push with the SEN department.

If you start now and he's prepared to work, it may make a big difference, especially if he's losing confidence.

Edexcel Maths A-level Papers - PMT

Past papers, mark schemes, model answers and video solutions for Edexcel Maths A-level

https://www.physicsandmathstutor.com/maths-revision/a-level-edexcel/papers/

TheRemedyQueen · 01/10/2025 20:20

MargaretThursday · 01/10/2025 19:38

Tutor who does exam practice.

Here are lots of exam papers:
Edexcel Maths A-level Papers - PMT

Both practice and real ones, and the mark schemes with them.

This time last year ds got an E in his (admittedly totally messed about by his maths teacher) mock paper.

He'd got a (not worked hard at all) 7 at GCSE.
When he got a D/E in his February Mock, dd1 started teaching him.

She'd see him once a week. Initially she went over the syllabus. Then by March he would do a paper a week, she'd mark it and give him corrections and some extra stuff to do according to a question he'd found hard.
He got about 20-30 in most papers. By just after Easter he was getting 30-40, and both were feeling disheartened that they'd done so much work, for so little improvement.
Then start of May he suddenly got 60. Dd actually asked me if he'd done it in his room and just googled the answers. he hadn't; he'd done it downstairs so I could see him.
He had another couple of weeks of hovering around 50, then suddenly he was getting 60-65 consistently.
In the real thing he got 80% on his best paper, an average over 70% across the papers and overall an A.

What changed?
There were a few things.
Firstly when he started doing the papers, he'd loose interest/concentration after 60 - 75 minutes. Just doing the papers helped build his concentration up. (he does have ADHD, and ASD) They had hour lessons at school, so the only time they did papers of more than an hour the the actual mocks.

Secondly getting him to see that just because he couldn't do part a, didn't mean he couldn't do part b, c and d. So he went to from taking one glance at a question and saying "I don't like surds" and not doing anything to thinking "well I'll do part b, and then he'd often find he could do part a after all.

And lastly, writing. You can pick up a few marks by writing a few sentences. If they ask why or how or conclude, often there will be a mark for simply writing at the end something like "answer is correct".
Ds thought this stupid, so wouldn't do it.

So dd worked on him looking at a question and seeing what he could do. Putting things down in words and seeing that gave him a couple extra marks.

So he went from looking and say doing:
Q1, 2, 3a, 6, 7a, 9a,b and 15.
To doing at least part of every question. So his potential score went up from say 40% to 95%.

A lot of what he learnt was exam technique. But also he then went into the exam with the confidence that he could do most of the questions so approached them in a "I can do this" rather than a "Can't do them."

For your ds, have you also asked for him to be assessed as slow processing, so he might get extra time in the exams. He will need to get on asap if he wants it for this summer though. Really push with the SEN department.

If you start now and he's prepared to work, it may make a big difference, especially if he's losing confidence.

Not only is this fantastic to read, but I also love your user name. Endeavour fans.

DigitalNomad · 01/10/2025 21:03

Thank you all so much for your advice. I wasn't sure if anyone would reply.

I'm embarrassed to admit that I posted in haste yesterday as a knee jerk reaction to DS coming home and sobbing about his D in a recent AS paper which will contribute to his predicted grade and omitted a few crucial details
He is neurodiverse, ASD with inattentive ADHD, and started on meds in April which has really helped his focus, but evidently not his results. He has all the accomodations in place after GCSEs threw up some weird results. I also got him a tutor in June. I'm not sure how robust he is as he's not a maths teacher per se but a full time tutor who covers maths & sciences however he's brilliant with ND kids & DS really likes him and feels he is learning from him. On top of that DS still does his 10 minutes of Kumon each day @Ivesaidenough, having started age 5 (as recommended by an EP to prepare him to enter Year 1 mainstream).
So having put these things in place, yesterday's D was devastating. He was distraught last night wailing 'what more can I do'.
Sorry not to have added all that crucial detail in my original post. Unsurprisingly many of you have picked up on the things I left out.

In light of all the above, reading your post @MargaretThursday has given me much hope. What an incredible turnaround - you must have breathed a massive sigh of relief on results day! Its the stuff my current dreams are made of.
I only wish Y11 DD could support DS. In a twist of supreme irony DD, also autistic, is a natural maths whizz & is currently on UKMT's Olympiad training pathway but she hasn't started A levels yet. It's almost as if her world of maths bears no resemblance to his. I don't even think of it as the same subject for both of them

Brilliant advice as ever @poetryandwine. I always take note of your posts as DD will be aiming high for a maths degree when her time comes.
DS wants to stay near home (London) on a campus which limits us somewhat but I'm keen on a Foundation year at Surrey or Sussex, or Royal Holloway (though the FY has physics in it and his A levels are Maths, ComSci & Philosophy) and also Reading who don't offer a FY because they don't require maths so that's actually not ideal. I'm really keen on the FY to ease him in to leaving home so he doesn't have to hit the ground running. He has food anaphylaxis to contend with too so a softer start will benefit. I need a fifth option so will be looking at some of your suggestions

Ugh I cannot bear it...maths has brought my family the most stress and the most pride in equal measure. 🙃

OP posts:
Treeleaf11 · 01/10/2025 21:27

DS is at Surrey studying CS. He is really happy with the course and the Uni. He has said some if the modules are quite mathsy. To me the town and the campus seems quite safe and welcoming. Very close to the train station for visits home. Halls accommodation is plentiful and cheaper than most.

Candlemascandy · 01/10/2025 21:40

Oh I could have written your post tonight. DS is doing maths a d further maths A level, also year 13. He had a check up test at school last week and his teacher had sent an email to us today saying he scored poorly and he’s struggling. I don’t know how to help him. I’m absolutely terrible at maths. Terrible. I can’t even do the basics so I can’t support him at all. My husband is very old school and just wants to lock him in his room so that he does hours and hours of study to catch up and is really cross with me for not thinking this is a great strategy.

poetryandwine · 02/10/2025 09:22

Thanks, OP. I agree @MargaretThursday ’s post is inspiring, and I love her username - I am another big Morse fan.

poetryandwine · 02/10/2025 10:50

PS I’ve anecdotally heard lots of good things about CS at Surrey, also

Nomoredamnmats · 02/10/2025 10:58

I’ve no DC at school, but just came on to say what a lovely supportive thread this is. Hope everything works out for your son, OP.

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