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Secondary education

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Original poster

Maths grade 2 needs to get to a 6/7 grade over the 2 years of GCSE

62 replies

SoTiredNeedHoliday · 29/05/2019 09:48

Hi,
I need to help my DS to improve his maths out of sight. Has anyone had their child successfully move from a 2 to a 6/7 in maths through the GCSE course. How did you do it? What help can I put in place?
thx

OP posts:
EducatingArti · 29/05/2019 15:46

It will take more than a bit of practice over the 6 week holiday ( although every little helps). I think he will need regular structured practice and also learning of new material.

Michaelahpurple · 29/05/2019 16:43

Sorry to bring a general question in , but what does it mean to be on a grade 2 in year 2? Is it that his general standard for a year 9 child suggests a progression to grade 2 ie he is pretty dreadful at maths, or that if he sat the gcse today r would get a 2? The latter surely is meaningless as he hasn't been taught loads of it.

This concept comes up fairly often on MN and I have always wondered. Do schools give these predictions/comments?

Clutterbugsmum · 29/05/2019 17:00

Michaelahpurple

It's the 'new' grades for GCSE's.

So Grade 4/5 is and old level C so a 6/7 is B/A pass mark and a 2 would be a E or D grade.

You need to get 4 or above to 'pass' the exam.

noblegiraffe · 29/05/2019 17:17

The latter surely is meaningless as he hasn't been taught loads of it.

This doesn’t apply in maths. In English lit you could say ‘of course he would only get a 2, he hasn’t memorised the poems or read most of the books so he can’t answer the questions’ or in history he hasn’t studied the right periods.

In maths, the GCSE syllabus isn’t separate to what is taught in previous years.
Basically the maths curriculum is a long spiral of progressively more difficult maths. Some students will get to the end of it by Y11, most won’t. A student who is genuinely grade 2 in Y9 is right near the beginning of the spiral in terms of maths covered and mastered, and has got about 5 year’s worth of work to get under their belt to be grade 6/7, and only 2 years to do it in.

Figure8 · 29/05/2019 17:20

Why does he need a 6 or 7? Is he aiming for medicine? Or Oxford/ Cambridge?

TapasForTwo · 29/05/2019 17:28

DD always took a while to get the concept of various maths topics. When she was in year 11 the teacher went too fast for her so she started falling behind. I knew she was capable of doing well as long as she learned at her own pace, so I sent her to a tutor. Her marks started going up from mid 50% to 70 and 80%. At the maths mock just before Christmas she managed to get a high enough grade to be put in early for maths iGCSE in the January (in 2016 iGCSE maths was considered more rigorous than the old style GCSE).

She did loads of practice papers over the Christmas holidays and ended up with a well earned A*. It was the tutoring that made all the difference.

Lovemusic33 · 29/05/2019 17:29

I think it’s possible but depending on the child, some people just don’t have the logic for maths and if he’s not that interested it will be harder for him to learn. Is he planning on A levels and a good uni? Dd is in year 10 and needs to get a good grade to do A level maths as she wants to do computing at UNI, she’s currently working at a level 7 maths and a 9 in computing. She doesn’t really enjoy maths and the level 7 is her lowest grade prediction out of all the subjects she’s taking.

See how he gets on with a tutor. I was told I would not pass maths, I worked hard in year 10 and 11 and scraped a C.

TheFirstOHN · 29/05/2019 18:10

Why does he need a 6 or 7?
Maybe for entry requirements for a particular sixth form or certain A-level subjects (e.g. Sciences).

NicoAndTheNiners · 29/05/2019 18:38

Do sixth forms really ask for a 6 or 7 for entry? Or even to do science?

Dd goes to one of the top comprehensive schools in the country, she moved to it for sixth form. She just needed a pass (4) in maths and she's doing science.

NicoAndTheNiners · 29/05/2019 18:40

Think they did try saying she needed a 6 for geography.....I rang them up and pointed out none of the university prospectuses I was looking at specified a 6 in maths for a geography degree so why did she need it for a-level. They backed down and let her do geography with a 5.

Figure8 · 29/05/2019 18:42

Think they did try saying she needed a 6 for geography

They are protecting their results.

NicoAndTheNiners · 29/05/2019 18:43

Well she's predicted a B for her geography A level so has coped with the maths element ok.

Lonecatwithkitten · 29/05/2019 18:51

One of the things I would discuss with school/ maths teacher is his current position in his Maths set. My DD was anxious about making mistakes and was lack in confidence. She was at the bottom her set, they were hoping this would be aspirational for, but it was the opposite. By the end of year 9 she was beside herself. After extensive discussion she was moved down a set so she was at the top of her set and the improvement in confidence has had a dramatic effect on her results.

TheFirstOHN · 29/05/2019 18:52

Mine need(ed):
Grade 5 to get into the sixth form they wanted.
Grade 6 to do Physics, Chemistry etc.
Grade 7 to do Maths.
Grade 8 to do Further Maths.

TheFirstOHN · 29/05/2019 18:53

One of the things I would discuss with school/ maths teacher is his current position in his Maths set.
For some children, this can make a big difference to their confidence levels.

TapasForTwo · 29/05/2019 18:58

Nico a grade 4 in maths won't be much help if your DC is doing physics or chemistry at A level. DD got an A* in maths but still struggled with the maths element in chemistry.

LittleAndOften · 29/05/2019 19:02

English tutor here. I would seriously consider starting the maths tutor prior to the holidays as it will be focused and tailored from the start. Otherwise your son's maths time over the holidays will likely be hit and miss and not really that productive. If he starts next September already feeling confident and prepared he will be in a great position to improve his performance. Confidence is half the battle and tbh I rarely see a student who can truly be effective relying on self-study only. Especially in a subject as vast as maths.

Comefromaway · 29/05/2019 19:17

I can understand a 6th form wanting Grade 6 maths for A level sciences but one would presume a child who was struggling with maths that much would not be contemplating science based A levels anyway.

ElephantsEatEggs · 29/05/2019 22:21

There is a sixth form near us that requires a grade 5 in Maths and English but a 6 is preferred and achieving grade 6 in at least 3 other subjects.

So if you don't get the maths then you probably won't get in - it is a highly sort after sixth form, hence the grade requirements.

I would arrange the tutor prior to the holidays so there is a focused effort for maths.

Original poster
SoTiredNeedHoliday · 30/05/2019 10:28

We're aiming for a 6 or 7 as he'd like to be an engineer where maths is very important obviously.
Plus his teacher feels it is achievable.

Any tips for through the holidays?

OP posts:
TheFirstOHN · 30/05/2019 10:29

We're aiming for a 6 or 7 as he'd like to be an engineer where maths is very important obviously.

So he's hoping to do Maths at A-level?

TheFirstOHN · 30/05/2019 10:30

... or is he thinking about an engineering apprenticeship?

TheFirstOHN · 30/05/2019 10:36

If the former, he should be aiming for grade 7, and should be prepared to put consistent work in to get from his current level to where he needs to be.

If the latter, he would need to research some apprenticeships to find out the specific entry requirements.

TheFirstOHN · 30/05/2019 10:42

Tips for the holidays:
Little and often.

DS3 is planning to do Maths practice 2-3 times a week throughout the summer holidays between Y10 and Y11 (his idea, not mine). He has access to online editions of the textbooks they use at school, also MathsWatch.

FreeFreesia · 30/05/2019 10:57

BBC Bitesize covers Maths KS3. Good for short refresher sessions.