GCSE 2019 support thread 6

[DeRigueurMortis]

Hello All,

Welcome to thread 6 - results...

Last thread here:

Gcses 2019 support thread 5 http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk/secondary/3610608-gcses-2019-support-thread-5

It's been a fantastically supportive set of threads to date with a diverse set of expectations and challenges (for both parents and children).

I expect this thread may be the most emotive for us all (crikey how did the time fly!!)

Good luck everyone

@JennyWreny the marks for the papers (90 marks are the raw marks) whilst the marks for the grade boundaries are UMS (uniform mark scheme) - basically the raw marks are converted into the UMS based on a formula that the exam board determines based on the difficulty of the exam p21 on the grade boundary document shows the raw marks for each grade for each paper.

Hi, my Dd also wants to study medicine. After her results she was persuaded to try 4 A levels with the option to drop one. She’s doing chemistry, biology, physics and maths. Realistically she will drop physics quite early to make it manageable. Don’t think she knows how tough A levels are!
For GCSE she got 4X9, 5 X 8 and a 7 (AQA English lit which we might get reviewed)

Sorry to to extrapolate a bit on the FM question.

There's some debate as to whether FM is harder than maths.

In theory it isn't - it's still an A Level. Rather it's simply an extension of maths (covering additional topics).

However, some (though not all) of those topics are more complex - thus more challenging.

Speaking to the school, the biggest issue with FM, especially if your child is also doing physics is that 75% of their workload is then super maths intensive.

If, like my DS, your child is not only good at maths but actively enjoys it, then that's a great thing.

On the other hand if they are good at maths but don't really have a passion for it, then to have so much of your workload for 2 years focused in that area can be a huge demoralising slog.

@ROZ12 I gather from that list she is doing the 1 A Level equivalent BTEC. The Extended Certificate will require her to do 4 units - 2 of which are externally assessed.
Unit 1 - Exploring Business; this is a large coursework unit and will have 3 assignments
Unit 2 - Developing a Marketing Campaign; this is assessed via a 3 hour write up (high control) using the research she will compile from a pre-release case study
Unit 3 - Finance; this is a 2 hour exam personal finance and business finance. This is a tough exam - but a lost of the learning I would describe as 'life lessons'!
The final coursework unit is an optional, however some colleges pre determine which unit to complete whilst others do give 'free range'

This is the spec but if you need even more info then PM me

For those interested in medicine, there have been a couple of really interesteding threads on either the Further Education or the Higher Education board.
There is this on the further education:
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/further_education/3650372-Can-anyone-explain-the-complete-basics-of-applying-for-medicine-vet-med-at-Uni

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/higher_education/3670407-3-A-Levels-for-medicine-when-everyone-else-is-doing-4
and
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/higher_education/3649792-General-advice-for-wannabe-medics-dentists
for example

Thanks so much cricketballs3 I think I understand that (although I'll admit to having to read it more than once! - So it's not the same as scaled marks which are where one component is weighted - is that right?

The school have given me the individual marks for the papers which must be the raw marks then.

You will notice me popping up on all of these medic threads, because DS decided last year that was what he wanted, and i didn't have a clue.

DS is taking Further Maths with Maths, Chemistry and Economics. Already had a taster of FM with the AS level and got an A so he feels confident he can do it justice. I do remember the Maths teacher at the 6th form open evening saying there were pupils who dropped out of it every year, but as a fourth A Level neither she nor the senior 6th form leaders saw that as any great problem.
I had qualms about dropping an A level but then I remembered that I did that by failing one miserably (an ill advised subject swap after nearly a year of the course) and still had 3 to play with for offers. So if that system still stands, more or less, then that’s fine.

Ds has enrolled at college to do English Language, Spanish and Government and Politics and will do an epq. He got fantastic gcse results all round and I can’t help feeling a little sad he isn’t doing maths a level. Hey ho, his choice and hopefully the 3 he has chosen will prove useful for uni (cos he has no clear idea what he wants to do yet). Any comments on his choices gratefully received.

ROZ12 my dd1 did state 6th form after single sex private school. She went mad for partying and boys, ploughed her ASs then took an extra year to get same as your dd, a BTEC and 2 a levels. I can't pretend it was easy, but shes now off to a top 12 uni for her course.

Why is English language not recognised as a good a level
And not accepted at many unis?

Thanks so much for sharing that @onaroll - your son is absolutely flying and I'm going to copy your comments to my son as inspiration! We are in Merseyside. The workshop facilities at the college he's going to are incredible, industrial scale. Thanks again.

AQA English

Ds had a 3 in his last mocks, and was awarded a 6 in his exam. The thing is, he is one mark away from a 7. Would you risk asking for his papers to be reconsidered? Ds said no. He doesn't need a 7 for his chosen A levels.

Aqa Geo expecting a 6 dd scored a 5, 17 marks off a 6. Is geo subjective ? Especially paper 3 - case study paper . Is is ridiculous of me to ask for a remark? Anyone has experience of a Aqa geo paper being remarked and going up?

I would get English checked. My Ds went up 2 grades 2 years ago when we were only hoping for one grade higher.

How lovely, my Dd has just been speaking to me about her circle of friends.
Regardless of results attained, last night all had a brilliant night of sleep - something that hadn’t happened for many of them for a long while.
In paticular a lad who has been suffering awful night terrors since June. Last night he slept through, uninterrupted like a baby , couldn’t believe it when he woke up just before lunch today.
Shows how much stress the whole process brings I guess.

If my shared experience of my Ds’s sons experience with apprenticeship/BTEc’s /plan B etc help anyone - it’s my pleasure.

I strongly believe that all children have their own special gift to give. Especially at results time, those children who’s gift is not brilliant academic success - can easily be made to feel not so special & celebrated. Which is just such a shame.
Sometimes those that work the hardest, are rewarded the least with scores.
I do feel no child should feel themselves as a fail at age 16.

I am in danger of sounding like a hypocrit because of course I am celebrating my Dd’s great results from yesterday at the same time.

Really would love advice for my Dd. She wants to enter the diplomatic service sector. I have no experience of it, she is taking maths, economics, Spanish and French. Any ideas of Uni courses?
Hoping Mumsnet has the answers!

Hi, my DP is fairly senior in the foreign office. The staff who work there for a variety of degree’s and some no degree’s. The foreign office is notoriously more difficult to get into than other government departments. For my DP he joined the Home Office and then transferred in via an internal job. He has a law degree - but says many there are from RG university’s - certainly not essential though. Dp has travelled the world and is going to be based in Asia for the next few years

arewedone she could look at degrees in International Relations

ROZ12 there is absolutely no issue with English Language A level on my DD's application for Oxford, Durham etc for an incredibly competitive degree course. It includes a lot of analysis of styles, language development, diversity and change. It is not a soft option. Admissions tutors seem perfectly happy with it.

@Darbs76 that’s really interesting thank you will look into it! We are English but Dd has grown up in Shanghai and India . We came back to the UK for GCSEs but have to travel back constantly. Due to our work she speaks fluent Mandarin and basic Sinhalese and this what has inspired her career path as I think she wants a career where she can be based overseas. We met by chance a foreign office diplomat at the airport who spoke to her for about an hour an now she is convinced this is what she wants to do !

@fortyfifty thank you- on to it!!

Just noticed this thread. Anyone know if maths, further maths and physics are good choices for A level?

Hello gym

There's quite a few posts this afternoon discussing FM.

I'm only going on what I've been told by DS's school - I don't claim to be an expert.

They are a good combo in the sense that's there is crossover, but doing just those 3 may be very limiting.

So a lot depends on your child's further aspirations.

Overall the advice I was given was to regard FM as an "extra" A Level unless they are looking at maths/physics as a degree.

However, if you scroll down a PP below posted about their child doing maths, FM and Comp science (Ati @ 13.07) who's got excellent uni offers (Cambridge and Manchester).

@gym also no expert but my DS is off to Oxford with those, but he also has economics which is considered an essay subject. Really depends on your end game as to whether an essay subject is required. For DS who loves Maths the further maths was an easy add on!