GCSEs 2018 (2)

[Stickerrocks]

Pre-empting our 1000th post.

I think the idea behind it (my Dd's friends dad is the DHT) is that they would prefer bright students with such potential not to have a part time job and to just concentrate on their studies - so £4k would allow them to do this. Plus it obviously gets them better results - more students - more funding.

I think I've answered my own question. This is by Cambridge:
^"Arts and social sciences: If you’d like to study an arts or social sciences course at university but you’re not sure which one, then English Literature1, History, languages and Mathematics are good
‘keystone’ subjects: choosing one or more of these can provide a good foundation for your subject combination.
Other good choices to combine these subjects with include: an additional language, Ancient History, Classical Civilisation, Economics, Further Mathematics2, Geography, Philosophy, Religious Studies and sciences (Biology, Chemistry or Physics).
Other possible subject choices – such as Archaeology, English Language, Environmental Science, Government and Politics, History of Art, Law, Music, Psychology or Sociology – can be useful preparation for some of our arts and social sciences courses."^

So Phil is regarded higher than Gov & Pol...

2 bursaries offered to dgc one for £700 and other £500 but not from the 6th form she wants to go to ( they don't need to offer bursaries as they are always oversubscribed)

But obviously if you wanted to apply to Oxbridge to do Music or Art then the 3rd rank subjects in your list like Music History of Art and Art become more useful.
But to do Law or Pyschology at university you certainly do not need those subjects at A level, same is true of Politics or Business.
And a lot of unis do a double honours or minor subject so you still don't have to hedge your bets completely even at that stage.

I don't think any A level is "soft" nowadays if you want to get the top grades. They are all quite demanding. Possibly the MFL are the most difficult to get high grades in if you are not a native speaker.

if you google Facilitating Subjects in Higher Education Mumsnet and other bits of Msnet you get quite a lot of discussions, and info from lecturers.

It has actually made me think again about ds2's subjects. He wants to do Politics Classical Civilisation Business or Drama. Not one is a facilitating subject. What he needs in there is History. But I do not know how to convince of this. Maths is not his subject nor is English. And he doesn't do a MFL, so really that is his only possible "heavy duty" subject.

I've cancelled the interview, found out it clashes with an Arsenal match (long awaited) this evening, and I cannot get him there and back to meeting place without tears.

Sorry drummersmum forgot about MFL. Probably because DS1 is definitely not a linguist!

The Cambridge info (concept of keystone subjects) is useful I think even for other universities.

DS will be doing 4 facilitating subjects sciences plus maths, so he can keep his options open for as long as possible.

Now that's weird, I went to type a reply and got redirected to MN's netiquette page. Am I in trouble?!

What I was going to say was that the Cambridge website has a pdf about keystone subjects which states:

There are certain A Level subjects that are considered either essential or useful for a number of courses at Cambridge, therefore choosing one or more of these will help keep your higher education options open.
These subjects include: Chemistry, English Literature†, History, languages, Mathematics and Physics.
Other subjects that also facilitate course choice at Cambridge include Further Mathematics‡ and Biology.
www.kings.cam.ac.uk/files/undergraduate/subject-matters.pdf

Apart from Geography, isn't that the same list as the Russell Group list of facilitating subjects I posted earlier?

5 A levels? Wow, kudos to him! He must be a very hard worker and really clever.

mmzz not sure if that was directed at DS but he is most definitely not doing 5 but 4 to start and then probably drop to 3 once finally decides on route he wants to take.

sorry I misread - I read 4 sciences plus maths (I was thinking the 4th science was geography).
It is actually maths, physics, chem and biology isn't it?

Yes, you had me worried for a minute

Ds is still undecided. Its definitely going to be maths and further maths and then one or two of physics, chemistry, economics or History.

He thinks he wants to work in investment management, but tbh he really has no idea what jobs exist. He doesn't even know what an engineer is, although he apparently has the sort of skills that would recommend him for that.

This may be of interest. DS school have been asking the kids to rewrite some of the mocks mainly humanities. Based on the mark scheme and corrections, knowing what went wrong, they ask them to answer the paper again.

yes mmzz and sostenueto it is DD choice to go to any 6th form especially the SS one. I am dead against the SS because of distance and pressure as she is stressed with her GCSEs- she wants to do psychology, sociology and maths.

One day at the time....

Good idea!

Sorry oddsocks took post off as i read yours wrong

sostenueto Don’t worry about it, so easy to read things wrong

I teach at post grad level for professional exams.

Take maths, but don't waste time with accountancy A level if you fancy a career as an accountant. I probably wouldn't waste time on an accountancy degree either, as maths, politics, history, economics, physics etc will all get you a graduate training place with a good accountancy firm, as long as you have maths A level. The apprenticeship schemes are great and it's worth considering AAT level 2 as an enrichment activity if your college offers it.

Law A level is not required for a law degree. Yet again, no university would sneer at maths A level, but I would make sure you had a good range of analytical subjects such as history all at top grades.

Economics and/or maths are a better choice of A level for a business or management degree than business studies, especially if you are unclear if you may change you mind about a business degree course over the next couple of years.

Hope this helps.

Just browsing uni entrance requirements....for a Bsc in neuroscience at St Marys in London AAB for A levels one must be biology plus a second science AND at least 5 GCSES at level 5 PLUS an English language exam to pass. I knew they would consider GCSEs too!

That is meant to read Queen Marys and the second science can be maths and that is the entrance for any if their neuroscience courses! And that are only ranked 5th best for neuroscience!

Cambridge wants AAA only looks at GCSE results and the school where they were taken but not included in entrance requirements.

Odsocks - another complex DD here so you have my sympathies. It is hard knowing what to do for the best. My DD IS a completely different character to me, so I struggle to appreciate her issues. She is seeing her CBT counsellor in two weeks for a chat.

Parents evening tonight - all greatly positive comments, even physics, and french being her worst subject - the new teacher of 2 weeks has her work cut out. I did tell her how proud I was of all the comments.

Revision starts this weekend - timetable to be developed and Sunday is to plan out maths. All teachers said 'little and often' but even half a hour per subject per week will be 10 hours on top of a school day, hour revision sessions after school and a sat morning school session 😑

Have you all got official exam dates yet? We have some but not all yet.

I got the exam dates from the website for each exam board.

well ds2 is certainly not revising tonight, he is at an Arsenal Match with a friend and friend's Dad! the last thing I heard, they were in a very big McDonalds... He came back from school today, heard interview cancelled and said, "oh good I can revise my Poetry for tomorrow, was wondering when I would fit that in.." - no suggestion of abandoning the football match of course. I am waiting up for him..I've told him to rap extremely softly on the door as everyone else is now unusually fast asleep.