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Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

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Original poster

A* or A in maths. Does it matter?

94 replies

1805 · 14/12/2016 19:58

If ds is eyeing up Oxbridge as possible uni's later on, is it essential he gets an A in maths? He is heading towards sciences as a future, but obviously is still early days. Maths is probably his weakest subject (bottom of top set) and his school put the top set in for maths gcse in jan - a few weeks away. I am wondering if I should ask for him to be put down a set and wait until July which would still be a year early. Or let him take it in Jan and hope he gets an A. Teacher says he "should" get A*.
Or would an A be ok anyway? Any Oxbridge people know?
Sorry, am rambling now….Thank you.

OP posts:

Needmoresleep · 15/12/2016 12:04

There is lots and lots of maths in chemistry and physics. Maths often seems to be a platform, so that comes first before you can do the subject stuff. DS is studying economics at University but the advice he received, which was to do as much maths as he could at school, because it made first year University easier, almost certainly holds true for other subjects.

I remember overhearing DS discuss A level results with an Asian boarder friend. Essentially some boys who had always been good at maths did not do as well as expected whilst others did far better. DS concluded that hard work and practice had made a lot of difference. His Asian friend was astounded that DS had not realised this.

He should do the work now, though that may be hard to explain to a 14 year old. Unless he is struggling with concepts, and A level maths will be a slog. In which case he should probably revise an ambition to study physics.

JustRichmal · 15/12/2016 12:57

Does your son want to put the work in over Christmas? Would you have the time, ability or inclination to help him? I would wait until you are sure he has a very good chance of getting A*. However, it can be hard to rock the boat and say no at the place where he will be at school for the next 4 years.
If you do decide he should do the exam, he needs to not only do exams as practice, but to go over the mark scheme to see where he is loosing marks and to learn the stock phrases which keep coming up. It will save time if he can reel these off in the exam.
I'm guessing, if it is an IGCSE, you have paid for him to go to a good school. However, I cannot see why wanting a good education for your child is a bad thing. Wanting them to be a doctor or a lawyer is being pushy. Wanting them to go to a good university and have a good career is being a mum.

Grescille · 15/12/2016 13:03

Wanting them to go to a good university and have a good career is being a mum.

And it's perfectly possible to do both things without an a star in maths, or going to oxbridge!

catslife · 15/12/2016 14:38

I think the Summer iGCSE exams are actually in May. Why rush and take this exam in January when he will probably obtain an A* in the Summer?
What are the school planning on taking in Y11 - if he is planning on A level Maths there will need to be some sort of Maths taken in Y11.
It may not be a problem if he stays at current school for A levels, but taking exams early could be a problem if he moves elsewhere.
For A level Maths the A or A won't make a difference, but if Further Maths is possible then sixth forms usually require As.

shareandtrade · 15/12/2016 16:57

Agree, why on earth would they enter students early for any exam, does not benefit anyone top or bottom students.

Original poster

1805 · 15/12/2016 19:27

Thanks everyone. So fingers crossed for January 9th then.

He has practise papers and marking schemes to study, and the school have been doing this for years, so I will have faith in both my ds and the school.

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CharleyDavidson · 16/12/2016 23:39

I'm amused by the quote upthread that 'only on mumsnet are kids totally and utterly self motivated, with no whip cracking from school or parents. It's like Billy Elliott on here, honestly.'

My DD is driven. Totally self motivated. I spend the school holidays actively encouraging her to see her friends and to take it easy. Which she doesn't do. But she has been predicted 6As and 6A*s and it will be the end of the world in her eyes if she doesn't achieve that. She has a whiteboard on her wall with a countdown to whatever the next set of GCSE exams it is.

She's always worked extremely hard, enjoys school work (and does find it easy) and is her own motivation. She finds the social side of school more difficult, doesn't suffer fools (those that mess around in lessons or not work hard) gladly and just wants to do the best she can.

I do think I'm extremely lucky that she doesn't need nagging to do her work or revise, but at the same time I often worry about her state of mind and stress levels.

We were initially told that due to the new exam structure in Wales, that they would not be entering anyone for their exams early. But come this year and that had changed. All levels of pupils did their papers in her school. I think it's to get a grade under their belt if they can do well. And to then target and retake it if they don't get a good grade or the grade they really wanted.

Original poster

1805 · 17/12/2016 19:39

CharleyD - yes, I have ds who is a dream academically, and has been left to his own devices regarding prep for a long time now, and then there's our dd!!! - who doesn't see the point of school at all, and isn't interested in learning at all. We are constantly nagging her to do homework and show some enthusiasm. We ended up taking her out of private school as I don't see any point in paying for a longer day, more homework, when we have a perfectly good secondary school nearby. She is happier there.

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goodbyestranger · 17/12/2016 22:53

OP my DS took maths a year early in middle set and has just got 100% in each of his AS units. Those sorts of marks go into the UCAS reference. Oxford medicine is a bit unique in the sense of needing a stack of A* but other sciences are able to look at the application more holistically. Potential isn't capped at GCSE, even in maths.

goodbyestranger · 17/12/2016 22:56

Agree with Richmal that it would be very difficult indeed to rock the boat and school and insist on withdrawing the DS from the exam.

Couchpotato3 · 17/12/2016 23:00

I think you have to trust his teachers at this stage, and let things take their course. He can always resit the Maths GCSE if he doesn't get the A*.

Is he really suited to Oxbridge sciences if Maths is his weakest subject?

Original poster

1805 · 19/12/2016 00:06

Couch - Is he suited to Oxbridge sciences?
I have no idea! School will guide him in a suitable direction when the time comes I am sure. I just don't want him to blow any future options due to not having the required gcse grades.
I think it's good to have high aspirations at 14. He is certainly a bright boy, so why not?
I had high (and unusual) career aspirations when I was young, and always remember my parents making me aim lower and 'more realistically'. I resented that and went on to prove them wrong of course!

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sendsummer · 19/12/2016 03:44

1805 I think you are misunderstanding what PPs are saying about the fact of his maths being relatively weak and future degree choices. It is not about lowering aspirations but understanding what degrees in subjects like physics, engineering or chemistry entail. The question which is worth considering even at this early stage is would he enjoy and be suited to maths heavy degrees.
However it sounds as through he has a very good chance of an A at GCSE maths if he is prepared to practise because the school is experienced in knowing the levels of its pupils. Even if he does n't achieve the A through taking it rather early (and perhaps being prone to careless errors for example), he may still really like maths and have the ability to tackle difficult topics at higher level with ease.
Don't necessarily assume though that even the best of schools are infallible in their guidance of A level subjects and degree choice.

GnomeDePlume · 19/12/2016 08:29

From what I am hearing from DB (physicist), DD1 (biochemist) and DD2 (A levels in maths and sciences) all the sciences are very maths heavy. To the point where at some levels I am seeing them as branches of one big subject.

The big question about early GCSE is what is done afterwards. DD1 did maths early then all the school offered after was statistics which she found neither use nor ornament as prep for going into maths A level. The school realised this had been a mistake so by the time DD2 did GCSEs she was able to do maths early then do GCSE further maths. This has been far better as a run up to maths and further maths A levels.

DataEducator · 21/12/2016 10:25

This child will be "competing" for an Oxbridge place against students who have grades 8 or 9 on the new harder GCSE maths specification.

For that reason, the A or A* - would to me, carry less weight regardless.

Perhaps they are going on to do the new specification next. In which case, don't worry.

Original poster

1805 · 02/03/2017 16:23

Update - He got an A. with 98% and 94% in the two papers (v v v proud mummy!!! ). The whole class got A's so everyone's happy.

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Allthebestnamesareused · 02/03/2017 16:41

1805 Congratulations to your DS!

I followed with interest. Our school decided not to enter the top 2 sets early this year (who traditionally take iGCSE Maths early in year 10). Their reasoning was they wanted to see where the grade boundaries will be set for the 9-1 markings.

Our school is very strong in Maths (last year A* - 157 pupils, A - 14 pupils, B- 3 pupils C-1 pupil (none lower than a C).

They wanted to ensure everyone had the best chance at getting a 9. So this year and next only year 11s are sitting Maths early. After that they feel they'll know where the levels are and it may go back to early entry Maths.

Whereas those that took Maths early then went on to Additional Maths in year 11 they will now do it as an extra iGCSE alongside there others.

Good luck to him in the rest of his exams and with his eventual Oxbridge application.

noblegiraffe · 02/03/2017 17:43

Wow, well done to your DS, those are amazing results!

It does make me wonder what they were making the fuss about back in December though!

Original poster

1805 · 02/03/2017 18:26

I know!

Maybe they said the same thing to everyone in Dec to make sure they worked hard??

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