What's 'higher maths' GCSE?

[LittenTree]

I am confused.

What are the various maths GCSEs a DC can take and how do they 'rank'?

I maybe erroneously thought a clever DC took 'maths', then 'higher maths' and got 2 GCSEs. IS this the case? Or does a more bright DC just get entered for 'higher maths' as opposed to say, 'foundation maths' (IS that a GCSE??)?

TIA

There are 3 maths papers actually! Foundation, Higher and Statistics. Foundation the highest grade you can get is a C, Higher obviously goes to A, but is harder than Foundation. Statistics is for Higher students, that are expected to get probably an A - B grade.

The first couple of pages in the Higher paper is Foundation paper level question, then it gets harder, but you only need to get about 25-35 marks to get a C grade.

Simple as that really!

Most GCSE (not just Maths) have two variations - higher and foundation. The pupil is entered for one or the other, based on their teacher's assessment of their ability. The higher paper is only marked on grades A*-D, and the foundation on C-G. So if a higher pupil had a really bad day and scored an E grade then they would say that it fell outside the parameters and not give an E but call it a U. Similiarly, a foundation student could have a barn-stormer but they would never get more than a C.

However, there are more Maths exams that they can do, for example Statistics or the Free Standing Maths Qualification.

Foundation and higher are.'equivalent' papers. One for low ability students (where top grade is a C) and the other is for high ability students. Either paper will give a single GCSE.

Satistics is a second GCSE, and completely seperate for grades, and would be in addition to (usually) higher tier maths.

Only being able to be entered for one or the other is my bone of contension at the moment.

DD is doing Higher in everything expect Maths. She appears to have a melt down, when faced with a Higher maths paper. Got an E in her mock. However, every single Foundation paper she has attemped this year, she has got at least 90%! Can't help thinking if they'd have put her in early entry Foundation, so she got her C, she might have been able to relax and achieved in the Higher!

Hey ho!

For this of us old enough to remember, it's essentially the same divide as between the O level and CSE.

There is an additional maths paper too - but I think that may be IGSCE only (or I might be imagining it).

Maureen, foundation is significantly easier though - could be that is your dd's maths limit - apparently we all have one, just depends where!

The problem is that the Higher paper covers many, many more topics than the Foundation paper, and at a higher level. A middling candidate can feel he/she is overwhelmed by the amount to read, mark, learn and inwardly digest for the Higher paper. This can lead to panic and disappointing performance in the exam.

So, as far as the school is concerned, it could be a better bet to put such a candidate in for Foundation Maths paper, where likely to be assured of a C grade.

OP - have you actually looked at text book for the Higher level?