Do you have a Year 11 doing GCSE this summer?

[BertrandRussell]

There have been lots of threads, some quite heated, about the new grading. I thought it might be interesting for those of us with current year 11s to say what their predictions for English and maths, what they need and what sort of school they are at.

My ds is at a secondary modern. He is predicted 8 for English and 7 for maths. He needs a 7 for English and a 4 for maths.

It's better in that kids who get a grade 4 this year who wouldn't have to resit won't be competing in future years against kids who got a grade 4, did have to resit and subsequently got a grade 5. It also gives the grade 4 more value as it now shouldn't be considered 'not good enough' to progress to the next level of study.

My DS at a comprehensive, a "good" one, which generally gets GCSE results in the top quartile.

Predicted 9 for Maths, got about 98% in Mocks, teachers are hoping for 100% in the real thing. He is easily the best in his year, but several others are also scoring in the 90% range. However, even in the top set, a lot of them found the mocks extremely hard, and are scoring under 50%

In English he got 4s in the Mocks, and is now getting 5s and 6s in some tests. They didn't give us official predictions, but expect them all to improve by at least one grade. He reckons he sits in the top half of top set, which is a bit worrying...either he is flattering himself, or the overall English results are not looking good.

Missed out what he needs for 6th form (different school, current school only goes to GCSEs)

They want 7 in Maths to do Further Maths, (6 for just single maths)

DD at secondary

Predicted 7 in maths, English Lit and Eng Lang
Not taking any of these at A level, so just needs a 4/5 to avoid having to retake one
Done two lots of mocks, got 7s for maths, 8s for English lit and an 8 and 7 for Eng lang. Her English teacher is one of the ones whose had training on how the board will be marking them, so this will be interesting to see if her class have more accurate predictions that other classes.

I'm surprised at so many high predictions. Obviously it is possible to score 100% in Maths, but in English? The reasons for a 9 being the highest grade is so they can introduce a 10 if needs be, or an 11, or a 53...

What will the Oxbridge situation be? With a new grading system and no ASs, I suppose more emphasis will be given to entrance exam.

My school is officially asking for a 6 for maths but what will actually happen is that we will throw some hard algebra at them in the first couple of weeks, give them a test and if they can't cope, encourage them in a different direction (including Core Maths).

Dd's 6th form is saying a B or level 6 in order to do the subject at A level (for sciences also a 6 in maths and for humanities a 6 in English).

They are loosely suggesting 8 = A*, 7 = A, 6 = B, 5 = C. They need a 5 in maths & English if they want to do 1 or 2 A levels + a BTEC and 6s if they want to do 3 or 4 A levels.

Not sure whether ds's school are asking for particular grades for specific subjects, but they're a pre-selected/self-selecting group I guess. They have to get good marks in Additional Maths to do further.

I just looked at the sixth form college that he might go to - they say 8 for FM, preferably 7 for maths, but if you get a 6 you can do a week intensive algebra course before term starts.

What's interesting about requiring an 8 for Further Maths is that this is actually a slightly lower entry requirement than requiring an A as an 8 covers the top end of the A grade as well as the lower/middle end of the A. I wonder if that will have any effect.

8 for further maths here to.

The 6 for maths is on the basis of passing a test of level 7 standard algebra one month into the course. They must also have been in the top set so coveredvthe 7/8 material at GCSE.

*too

DS Comp.

Predicted 7 for both Maths and English

Maths Mock he got a 4, English he got a 6.

He needs a 6 in English for his A-levels. I am so confused by the whole thing and just don't understand it. Luckily his history teacher is the tutor for 2 of the A-levels DS wants to do, and has said that DS should get an A in history, and if he does he can do those two A-levels without worrying about English.

Never heard of doing a history A level without a really good English grade. Come to that doing any A level without it, lot of essay writing in them.

The teacher was just saying that if DS misses what was a B and gets a C, as long as he gets an A in History he will be fine.

DS has some mild SN which means he finds English Lit harder.

The exams are really hard now gandolfbold and even my gdd is struggling with lit. I'm sure your D's will do well. History does involve loads of essays but if it is a subject liked by your child then they will achieve high grades.

Dd was delighted to get 8s for English Lit and Language in the mocks and is hoping for 9s but nobody really knows for sure how achievable that is.

Maths is iGCSE at her school so still a letter grade, she got a B in the mock, I think she is capable of an A but she'll be happy with a B.

I am working with a neighbour's son. Slow progress, but getting him to understand command words from the specs. Think he was unfamiliar with this.

Also, getting him to focus on poor areas in a subject. He scans the board website for a paper, looks at question he is not strong. Encourage him to read up on that topic for 20 mins. He then attempts the 4, 6 and 8 marks questions, we then check against the mark scheme. Slowly, but surely it is working. Trying to point out to him that reading is insufficient if not complemented with attempting questions, reviewing against marks homes and trying to learn from mistakes.

It has built singidficant confidence in him.

Schemes, not homes...sorry

I think DS is targeted/predicted 6's for English and Maths. We would be delighted with these, and are hoping they are achieveable as he has been seriously ill for a lot of the year.

Good tips Portico!

It seems very very close! Feeling guilty now that I have arranged a. It's break for this weekend. I'm sure DS will enjoy it but three days away from the books ....

Weekend not its!