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Mature study and retraining

Talk to other Mumsnetters who are considering a career change or are mature students.

Original poster

GCSE Foundation Maths

14 replies

Newgolddream70 · 29/04/2023 16:11

I did my O levels and GCSEs back in 1986. I did maths at CSE level and got a grade 2, which wouldn't have been an O level pass.

It's never held me back but I want to study and sit GCSE maths in the Autumn. Has anyone else around my age group done this? Was it as difficult as my 16 year old self remembers?!

I had no confidence with maths at school yet I work with figures, percentages and stats every day at work.

I would love to be able to say I have a GCSE pass.

OP posts:
NowThatsWhatICall22 · 29/04/2023 19:38

Newgolddream70 · 29/04/2023 16:11

I did my O levels and GCSEs back in 1986. I did maths at CSE level and got a grade 2, which wouldn't have been an O level pass.

It's never held me back but I want to study and sit GCSE maths in the Autumn. Has anyone else around my age group done this? Was it as difficult as my 16 year old self remembers?!

I had no confidence with maths at school yet I work with figures, percentages and stats every day at work.

I would love to be able to say I have a GCSE pass.

Oh, I totally get this. I was a few years on from you (91) but my maths mark stopped me from having my top choices for post 16 study.

Why are you retaking it? To prove to yourself, or for an access course?

WheelsUp · 29/04/2023 19:39

Past papers and marking schemes can be found on exam board websites if you'd like to have a go.

Lemondrizzlerain · 29/04/2023 19:44

I redid my GCSE later on (while doing my degree actually)

It was to prove to myself I could do it. As my maths teacher stuck me in a low maths group (the lowest!) and the my best score I could achieve was a D. This was the 90s when parents didn't care much and you daren't question the teachers ability.

Anyway, from D to B. It did wonders for my self esteem. Go for it!!

StainlessSteelCat · 29/04/2023 19:49

There are free courses available if you haven't got the equivalent of a grade 4 at GCSE in maths and English - try your local FE college. Lots of adults do this for a range of reasons, and pass.

Going back to study can be scary, but also really rewarding and confidence boosting.

NowThatsWhatICall22 · 29/04/2023 21:10

OP, I’ll join you if you’re looking for others retaking maths. I’ve often talked about proving to my younger self I was capable of a better result.

NowThatsWhatICall22 · 29/04/2023 21:11

Lemondrizzlerain · 29/04/2023 19:44

I redid my GCSE later on (while doing my degree actually)

It was to prove to myself I could do it. As my maths teacher stuck me in a low maths group (the lowest!) and the my best score I could achieve was a D. This was the 90s when parents didn't care much and you daren't question the teachers ability.

Anyway, from D to B. It did wonders for my self esteem. Go for it!!

This is great @Lemondrizzlerain

LikeEmeraldeyes · 29/04/2023 21:19

I'm a maths tutor so obviously my views are skewed. But the lower paper is largely common sense once you know a few rules

PaltnSepper · 29/04/2023 21:31

If you work with percentages and stats already every day and understand what they mean practically, you will be way ahead of many people taking the exam!! A large chunk of it is things like fractions, decimals, and percents, and doing practical problems around those things. Then there are some on graphs and statistics that you'll be fine on too. And basic arithmetic.

If you haven't done any algebra for a while, or some of the geometry stuff, plotting lines, co-ordinates, shapes, there will be some topics to get up to speed on, but it sounds like you will be fine. You don't have to get all of it right even to get a 5. There are lots of online resources to look at that give you the spec in detail of what you have to know, and practice papers as well as tutorial videos.

Maybe try a practice paper to start with to see how you do and where the gaps are, and you might be pleasantly surprised! It will help you find the right course or online resources, anyway, once you know what level you are at. If it seems too daunting, you could look at functional skills, which are courses that cover some of the basics and lead up to being able to do the GCSE course, but if you work with figure and percentages and so on all the time now, I think it's unlikely that you would need those. good luck!

Original poster
Newgolddream70 · 30/04/2023 09:46

Thanks for all the replies and advice! For those who have asked, I want to do it to prove to myself I can. I just couldn't grasp it when I was younger and was far too shy back then to ask questions in front of people. I kept a low profile in the classroom and tried to make myself invisible. Revision was pointless because I just didn't know what I was supposed to be doing.

I am determined to have a go. I think I will take a look at some of the past papers as some of you have suggested.

OP posts:
Original poster
Newgolddream70 · 30/04/2023 09:47

And no, haven't done algebra or geometry since 1986!

OP posts:
camelCase · 01/05/2023 10:37

I re-took my GCSE maths last year, I struggled with maths at school (mostly because I skipped going a lot because of bullying and undiagnosed ND) and I was worried I wouldn't really get it but as PP said it's largely common sense. The hardest thing for me was remembering all of the formulas for working stuff out. I originally got an E in maths, I got a 5 last summer (foundation paper) but my tutor wanted me to do the higher paper as she felt I could easily get a 7 maybe 8 but I didn't need that result, I just needed a pass so decided not to pursue the higher paper.

Here's an exam paper resource I used to get an idea of where I was at before/during my course;

https://www.onmaths.com/

Good luck, I'm sure you'll do great!

onmaths Maths GCSE Revision Resources

All the help you need to revise maths and make sure you are as prepared as you can be.

https://www.onmaths.com

Original poster
Newgolddream70 · 01/05/2023 21:05

@camelCase thank you very much for that, I shall take a look tomorrow. Well done on passing with a 5, that's a great achievement!

OP posts:
WheelsUp · 01/05/2023 22:55

Good luck OP and well done to those of you who improved their grade 👏

Runaround50 · 19/05/2023 20:34

I'm also looking to re take my maths GCSE. I was terrible at school, coupled with very poor teaching.

Somehow, having reached the age of 52, I've got away with no maths GCSE.

Now it's time to face the demon.
I'm starting at the very beginning and working my way up.

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