A level choices for yr 11’s who’ve missed big chunks of curriculum

[ContessaVerde]

Hi, I’m not sure if there is a thread already about A level choices.
I just think it’s particularly tricky for young people to decide; my dd did a maths taster where she was told that the basis for A level was the higher level maths gcse content.
She was in set 2, doing higher level, got a 7 in her December mocks, bit feels she’s missed so much content she’ll never be able to keep up.
I’ve heard in the past that even getting a A isn’t good enough to do A level maths, you really have to have nailed all the content with an A * just to consider it.
So surely Maths A level is now only advisable in a very few cases where schools did carry on delivering the curriculum through the lockdowns?

I’m wondering if maths is the only subject that massive gaps in teaching is going to affect?

It’s shoddy that there aren’t going to be any catch up progammes to try and make up for thhe gaps and it will just be on individual schools to muddle through.

Anyone else feeling like this year group is going to be badly affected ongoing?
Anybody got any good ideas about how to overcome the challenges?

Thanks

Yes ask if they offer core maths that would be better than taking A Level. Dd got a 9 in maths and works hard loves maths and she came back in shock after an awful year 12 maths mock she might not pass. Although the flip side is that maths and physics help each other on some topics.

Has she not been doing independent study throughout? That is likely to be a bigger stumbling block than some missing curriculum knowledge. She needs to want to work over and above set/taught work in her chosen subjects and be able to work independently to do well at A level and beyond.

Now would be a very good time to support the development of a structured approach to learning. You could also use online or face to face tuition to go over areas she finds difficult. I think face to face are in high demand at the moment but online tutoring can be very good. Summer school to catch up on missed work might be good, if you can afford it.

I’m not sure that anyone is struggling to get kids to do stem subjects anymore. They are by far the most popular now at my dcs school. About 2/3 of them do maths A Level for example.

Maths A level is really hard though and personally I wouldn’t be advising it with a 7 at GCSE, particularly if the school didn’t cover the whole curriculum. I know other will disagree but it depends on what A Level grades you’re aiming at. They’re graded on a curve remember.

Although I have always wondered how that works in a black and white subject like maths

Oak National Academy still has all their lessons for free online. With just over 2 months to the start of her lessons, I would strongly recommend that she goes through any lessons/topics she has missed or needs to go over again.
With science, because they didn’t have to do practicals, they had more of a chance to cover all the topics, and in most cases, did as a result, so probably not something to be as concerned about, hopefully.
By going over the lessons online, this will also be something very strong that she can put into any future personal statements/applications as proof of her drive/independent working.

I’ll be honest I don’t rate the Oak stuff it seems very basic and incomplete for sciences and maths (no idea about other stuff). But you’re right there are tons of resources out there - my dd and her friends really rate the Free Science Lessons guy and Corbett Maths is fab.

Is that the whole name- free science lessons guy?
My DD feels her biology is somewhat lacking ATM, and wants to catch up over summer.

@AnoymousCoward

Is that the whole name- free science lessons guy? My DD feels her biology is somewhat lacking ATM, and wants to catch up over summer.

It’s freesciencelessons on you tube my dd (who’s going to do A level Bio & Chem) & her friends really like him.

And physics and maths tutor site

@KittyMcKitty

And physics and maths tutor site

Seconded. "Physics and Maths Tutor" is a great resource which includes other subjects and a range of exam boards.

Yes ask if they offer core maths that would be better than taking A Level
This would be great. It’s now in her question list.

Thanks for the suggestions of study sites and books.
Really helpful x

Tumbleton yes thanks for adding it’s not just Physics and Maths - it really is a great resource.

Thank you so much @KittyMcKitty!

@SusannaM
Interesting people have adjusted their plans in response to their experience of lockdown learning.
I am supportive to my dd’s learning, and offer my time, and at times have paid for extra help for her.
She is fortunate to have that. I wonder how many kids out there are like her, on the borderline of being able to do A level, and maybe just accepting that a less demanding course of study might be better because they aren’t well prepared for A level.

My daughter isn’t hoping to achieve A’s at A level. She doesn’t have high aims for a university place. But she is interested in science and feels that if she doesn’t study it now, she never will.

Hopefully she can get into a routine of working on the gaps through the summer with the help of some of the resources that MN’ers have posted on here.