Not good Maths result!

[muddywindydales]

DS2 has just come in and told me his Higher GCSE Maths paper results weren't good!

He got an E - was predicted a C.

He has been told that he can do the Foundation paper instead.
(resit & move to the Foundation class for Maths)

I know it's DSs worst subject, always has been.

I'm now worried that he won't beable to take A'levels/6th Form as he won't have Maths at C or above.
(just to say, he doesn't know what he wants to do as a career/subjects for yr12/13).

All his other subjects are higher papers and he is doing well, other than French.

Will not having Maths at c or above limit his choices/career path.

Sorry for it being long, these are the questions he has asked, but with more inits,in it!

What results were they. Was it a mock or early entry GCSE from November or modules? The advice I give will differ for each one.
Yes, not having a C at GCSE will limit his choices and career path. He can still get a C on foundation though. He needs to seiously analyse how much effort he is putting in though.

I thought the only available grades on the higher tier were A*-D i.e. you couldn't get an E grade from a higher paper.

My daughter has just got a C from foundation paper sat in November.

She got an E in her mock in June 2011 and, over the summer holidays, we revisited the basics (with the help of the school). When she went back in September she did everything asked of her at school and - at home - we did past paper practice. At least one past paper a week (there are two in each sitting a calculator paper and a non calculator).

At foundation you need a much higher % - something like 70-75% but the questions are much easier - they start with questions like 'Write 20,310' in words, so you get to break into the exam itself a lot easier.

I would, certainly, make sure he practices a lot before sitting in the summer. Also find out if there are any changes in syllabus as you don;t want to source past papers which aren't geared towards the right work.

I wish him well!

You need to speak to head of 6th form that he has applied for. I asume he has?

He could resit the Higher in the first year of 6th form, as I understand, but that will of course mean he can only do Maths at AS, if he wants to leave in yr13. (We have lots of Yr14's at our school now!)

DD thinks she probably mucked up her Higher mock and she's never been that confident about Math anyway. Unless a miracle happens and she does get a C when results are known, she will probably slip back to foundation, where she's far happier and has constantly achieved C grades in classroom tests.

He needs to have a serious think about whether he wants to take Maths AS/A2.

I think you should book a retest and hire a tutor.

Thanks for replying.

DS2 thinks it's moduler.

He is going to resit, but at foundation stage. His Teacher said he would be better being at the top of the class rather than the bottom.
Also he would get a C.

He's in Y10, so he will be looking towards the end of the year for college/6th form for 2013 ( if he could make up his mind what he wants to do!)

I just worry that he needs c or above in Maths for 6th Form.
I expect he will be doing something with History/Geography/RE, they are his fav. subjects/interests.

Then I wouldn't let him stress anymore. It's still early in yr10 really and actually, even if he studies at foundation for the next 6 months, if his teachers think he's capable then, he can still have another go at higher.

I don't really understand the exam system these days. My son (Yr11) got results today for a Maths resit (previously got a C, but told one mark of a B) and this time he has a D. Also got the results for another paper that he sat in the autumn and got a U!!!

He is very upset as he thought the resit exam went well, better than the original, but obviously not.

But how can he have such a range of results? It was the same with Science (an A, a C and a G) and Statistics (a Distinction and a G). It makes no sense to me.

I would go down the tutor route tbh.

In KS3 in DS1's school, they are split into two halves depending on whether they are doing Spanish or French. DS1 was always in top set. Now in Yr10 thy have brought all the year together and have A*/A, top boys, top girls and so on. DS1 has gone down slightly although he is still doing higher papers. At his Parents Evening last month, his maths teacher gave me a list of exams and when they were to be sat.

Tonight DS1 started with a tutor - they are going to be working on numbers and algebra for his next exam.

He found out today he got a B for the exam in November. He needs to be raising his game (quite capable).

With some modular papers you are only allowed one resit.

muddy, he needs to knuckle down and get his grade C by whatever means possible. If he doesnt, this wont just hamper him at 6th form but at every stage in his life (sorry to be dramatic!).

Not having maths GCSE (ie lower than a C) will close huge numbers of doors.

I met with DSs maths teacher today - she explained how it works. He is doing the EDEXCEL higher GCSE maths paper and has a C in unit 1. He only got 44 points in Unit 2 so will be resitting in March. He then sits the final unit in June. He needs to get good marks in resit Unit 2 and in Unit 3 to be able to scrape a B, which he will need if he wants to do Maths or Engineering in sixth form. I've ordered the study guides from Amazon and will be looking for a tutor as well as working with him at home and sending him to after school maths sessions.