Talk to me about core maths please

[noitsnotteatimeyet]

Ds did appallingly in his maths AS and not much better in his other subjects (computing and psychology). This was much worse than his performance in the mocks and was a bit of a surprise. However, given his extremely fragile mental state it was a minor miracle he sat the exams at all...

Anyway, we're trying to work out what the best way forward is now. He doesn't want to repeat Y12 either at his current school or anywhere else and I don't think he'd be able to cope with too much change anyway. He wants to carry on with Y13 but maths is obviously a problem. He apparently did 'ok' in statistics but badly in the other papers.

He wants to do 'something with computers' - I don't think he's going to be able to cope with going to university even if he does manage to get good enough grades.

His school offers core maths to students who are taking science A-levels without maths A-level. Would it be worth asking if he can do this instead? Would it give him enough maths to be able to go to university at a later date if he's up to it?

I'm so sorry to hear that. It must be such a worry for you and him. Maybe a tutor would help, someone who can dedicate some time to him. There must be something online, some kind of course he could do in his own time that would build his confidence. If he wants to to work with computers, that seems a better option than a person. I'm looking for something similar for my boy. If I find anything that might help you I'll post.

If it helps, I have a cousin who has Aspergers and really couldn't cope at school but he is a whizz with computers and his knowledge secures him work without the need for a certificate. University isn't the only option.

Good luck!

Core Maths is usually a two year course, so would he be able to take it? It's a great qualification for students who aren't up to A-level but need some maths post-16, and students who crash out of A-level can do very well in it.

Whether it will be useful for university depends on what he would be looking to do. Any maths is usually better than no maths, but Core Maths has only been running for a couple of years so universities aren't reallly used to it yet. If he did well in stats, it would be more to his taste - lots of calculator work and problem-solving, very little in the way of algebra.

While you're there noble , my DS did miles better in GCSE Edexcel maths P1 (59%) than the other tow papers were he got mid to low 20s! What's the difference between them??

A selling point to me of his sixth form is that they offer Core Maths. he is taking it as a supplement to Economics. They require all economics , business and science students to take it of they aren't doing A Level maths. I think that's a great idea and he will do well.

I did think he was doing it in one year though...

Core Maths can be done in one year, but best done at a school with good experience of it.
It is the equivalent of an AS qualification.

piggy Paper 1 is non-calculator and the other two are calculator papers so the type of questions test different things but that is quite a bit difference in scores! Usually where there's a difference, students do worse on the non-calc because their numeracy isn't up to it, but give them a calculator and they're fine. As it's Edexcel and they have free access I'd ask his teacher to have a look over his papers and see if they can figure out what the problem is - core maths is heavily calculator-based so if there's an issue like he isn't using his calculator to do complex calculations and bodging the arithmetic (so frustrating when they do this!) then it would be worth knowing and correcting before he sits Core maths.

Hmmm... OK.

He has left his old school so not sure his (never very helpful) teacher will be all that much use. He is extremely good at mental arithmetic so what you said doesn't surprise me!

His old school should be able to email you a copy of the papers. Being good at mental arithmetic would explain why he did so well on the non-calc but it doesn't really explain why he did so much worse on the calc. I can take a look at them if you like.

That's a lovely offer, thanks _ DH is a maths teacher, though , so he could. Not sure I could stand the stress and DS doesn't want us to see his papers!

I was curious really : Ds has very interesting CATS scores with a very high quantitative score and a very low non verbal score, and this seems always to have held him back (not that any school or SENCO has been bothered! We are talking a Q score of 130something and a non verbal score of 80! With verbal at 108) The maths scores kind of conform some suspicions about him. I think you are right that his calculator use in itself could be a weakness.

He got a 6 overall though so we are reasonably relieved !