Why is GCSE maths so hard?!

[bonbonours]

My daughter has just started her GCSE course which she will be doing over three years (she's in year 9). Maths is not her strong point so she has been asking me to help her to understand and work through her homework tasks.

For background, I got an A at GCSE Maths about 25 years ago, and have a 2:1 degree so whilst by no means a genius, I am fairly well-educated and work in an education field (not maths).

I have been completely baffled by a lot of her maths work, and we have had to watch how-to videos together (as recommended by school) to understand how to do some of the work. It is things like indices, including fractional indices, equations including fractions and minus numbers, surds (literally never heard that word before yesterday) etc. It is all deeply theoretical, and with no practical application that I can see in real life.

Considering that GCSE Maths is a basic requirement of pretty much any job and higher education course, this is insane surely? I can understand requiring people to have a decent working knowledge of usable day to day maths, percentages, ratios, interest rates, budgets, weights and measures etc. But why does everyone, need to know all this in-depth theoretical stuff? My husband works in a finance department and also has no idea about most of this stuff and never has to use it in his job.

There are parents who can't help their primary school children with their homework because they can't read, do maths or write very well, if at all. Sadly, they often don't tell us at parents' evening, because they often don't come to such evenings because they find them intimidating or embarrassing or they can't read the newsletter that told them when it was.....

I never missed a parents evening with 3 of them, but have lost track of the times I've felt thick and stupid.
Only a couple of teachers made me feel like this and I went home and cried.
The other times were my own insecurities.
One asked me how on earth my child was ever going to be good if I couldn't help her.
I felt like thumping her, but didn't want to stoop that low.
Waste of time reporting too, the Head told me she didn't expect much from the children at her school.

There are loads of parents who can’t help their kids with their maths homework because it’s totally beyond them. They tell me about it at parents’ evening.

^
This

The current curriculum and methods are often very different from what parents were taught. It is not just a reflection of parents ability or intelligence. It shouldn't be down to parents to fill in huge gaps because schools are rushing through the syllabus where the current Foundation and Higher maths papers are not reflective of the needs of the middle ability students. Just look at how many parents are paying a fortune for extra tutoring to ensure their DC get 5 or 6 at GCSES because this is a requirement for many sixth forms.

I thought 4 was a pass, Christ I'm worrying now.

If a Uni/ Higher Ed college (not further ed) asks for old level C, not the new 9-1, will they mean a level 4 or 5 then.
My dd has seen a couple of these and we thought it would mean a 4.

Colleges and universities were told that if they accepted a C on the old system, then they should accept a 4 under the new system.

Colleges might require a 6 in maths for a student to do A-level science.

4 is a pass Drabarni.

Sixth forms should be specifying requirements in terms of the new levels. Round here it is at least 8 Level 5s for A Levels. They are happy with Level 4s for BTEC. If they are not specifying I would ask for clarification tbh.

Phew, Thanks Noble.

She's kept checking for the past 4 years and is so worried about passing.
Their whole future shouldn't be determined on passing GCSE's that are irrelevant to their course.
The subject she'll study is predicted a 9, but there's not much hope of anything past a 5 or at most a 6 in any other subject.

I understand they should have a good level if they want to proceed to A level in the subject, obviously.
Mine will just have to choose the best GCSE out of the bunch for A level, at least there's only 2, doubt she'd cope with 3.
Will prob be Music and Art.

To be honest, why school expect parents to help children with their study? Shouldn't the school provide enough support for children's study? I think as long as parents make sure the children know that they need to work hard, do all the homework and revise, that's parent's job done. It's school's duty to provide support if the students can't master.

@Drabarni It depends on the college but many here specifically say 'X GCSEs at grade X or above' and specify a particular grade in a subject if required for A level. So regardless of whether maths is required for what you want to do at A level there is pressure not only to pass to but to get as many grades as possible at or above the requirements.

The Hants 6th form colleges don't tend to have the high requirements of some of the schools I see mentioned on threads. When I looked for DD1 (prior to new gradings) you had to have 5Cs and then meet subject specific requirements.

DD1 will be entered for core GCSEs and the general forecast for her school is 1s and 2s (special school). It will still be every bit worth doing, to show that she can study at GCSE level, albeit at a lower attainment.

Your children will be passing GCSEs. It isn't the end of the world if they don't get 5s, 6s, etc. If they get a 4 they will be allowed to study at A Level/ BTECH.

I think the very best boost to attainment for our children is the knowledge that their parents think they can do it.

BackInTime.

Mine is worried about GCSE's and dropped Language level 3 so unlikely to pass, to gain more in Maths. Now taking 7 GCSE's. English scraping a 4.
There is no pressure from home or school, she makes her own.
She really won't need a GCSE in Maths. Her chosen route doesn't mention it.

Drabarni You mentioned A levels upthread - Music and Art I think. Have you considered some form of creative BTEC instead?

Yes Drabarni a creative BTec would be absolutely the best way to go. If she then wanted university that's totally fine, they accept BTECS every bit as much as A levels.

Music A level is incredibly difficult.

She really won't need a GCSE in Maths. Her chosen route doesn't mention it.

Are you aware she will have to resit it post 16 if she doesn't get a grade 4?

She really won't need a GCSE in Maths. Her chosen route doesn't mention it.

But these days, more than ever, people change career routes, so getting relatively good grades in the basics at least (Maths & English) whilst you're at school makes sense and is easier than trying to get them in adult education later in life when you have other commitments.

Hello teen

They only do A levels at her school, and she doesn't want to leave, They are her 2 best subjects though.

Teachermaths
I think she'll manage to scrape a pass, if not they might consider a Level 2 functional instead.

user
The career path isn't going to change, she's dtermined and focused in one are only.

The not needing maths comment is because nowhere does it state that one of the 3 GCSE's she needs for Degree course is Maths, or English come to that.
I know it's best to have one if possible and I'm sure this new teacher will enable her to scrape a pass.

They'll only consider level 2 functional if she gets below a grade 3. If she gets a grade 3 she will have to resit her GCSE during sixth form.

Degree courses generally require more than 3 GCSEs. It's also unusual for a sixth form to accept students for A Levels if they haven't passed GCSE Maths. Usually students who haven't got Maths go on to do Btecs etc.

They probably don’t mention maths in the specific university entrance requirements because maths and English at grade 4 or above are part of the general requirements for every subject . Given that you can’t even do a Level 2 BTEC without GCSE maths ( or functional skills) it is unlikely any university would admit without. Also bear in mind that the requirements are the minimum , they will expect candidates to have exceeded the in most cases .

If I am right in who Drabarni and their child are:

• The child attends a specialised school

• They are likely to take a degree where admission is dependent on 'on the day' performance in their specialism, not a standard academic degree.

• While some places offering this type of degree DO specify maths GCSE as an admissions requirement, Drabarni's child's preferred institution does not currently do so.

Therefore, while retakes if Drabarni's DD gets a 3 will be a pain, and a 4 is obviously preferable (or a 2, in which case functional maths would be a good alternative to retakes), it genuinely doesn't debar her future progress in her preferred specialism.

If I cite my DS as a similar example, he attends a music conservatoire, studying for a BMus. His course requires 5 GCSEs at 4 and above (and 2 A levels) but while it specifies English language, as one of the 5, it does not specify a pass in Maths GCSE.

Yes, sorry it's me.

I'm not saying that Maths isn't useful, we need it in our everyday life.
But I don't understand for the life of me why children who clearly won't pass it or close to not passing should be under so much pressure to pass.
Both me and dd have checked and double checked, called and emailed. She won't need it in the future.

There should be two types of exams for Maths. One for those who want to progress or can manager a higher level and one for those who won't in a million years.
The level 2 should be offered in place of GCSE, especially if not passed the first time.

Just have to debunk the idea of kids being good at music also being good at Maths, Although maybe it works the other way, more.

Gcse maths is really not hard. and all those things were on the o level syllabus in 1984. At my dcs school it is covered first in year 9