Are these GCSE grades good enough for Uni

[TheGreekTaverna]

So, dear child got there GCSE results last week and unsurprisingly, given lack of revision until day before each exam, ended up with 2x8, 4x7, 3x6, 1x5.

They were predicted at least 7s but basically, said that teachers had told them that University doesn't actually look at GCSEs for entry. Dear child is very lazy so will try and get away with doing absolute minimum.

I went to Uni in the 1980s so know that things are different now.

Given dear child's total lack of work ethic, not sure Uni is right place for them. Very bright but doesn't want to work. When I suggest doing any they got very defensive.

Dear child has also chosen notoriously difficult A Levels. Maths, Physics and Computer Science.

So, really looking for Mumsnetters input. Do you think that they still have a chance to turn things around and secure a place at a good Uni???

Thank you.

7s and 8s are great. Even a high 6 doesn’t that equate to a low B?

im assuming they got higher grades for their a level subjects.

if they pull their finger out for A levels and get good results they’ll be fine

Unless your child wants to apply to Oxbridge then those grades are absolutely fine.
Some courses need minimum grades in Maths and English and then maybe a subject related to the course (Science for scientific subjects) etc.
My daughter applied for vet med so she needed to do well in Science.
If your child has some sort of idea about degree subject it might be worth booking some open days, it might give your child something to focus on.

Of course they are. That’s the equivalent of six As and four Bs (5s could be borderline old c I think).

The issue is whether they get the A Level grades. And then whether university is actually the right option for them. With the high costs (which will only increase given the economic situation) it needs thinking about very carefully now. It shouldn’t just be the automatic option

And while universities may say they don’t look at gcse grades I’m sure a lot do. I’m senior admissions lecturer at a university and I definitely discount borderline people due to gcse grades. But someone who has good A levels I’d be less worried about gcse results.

Their GCSE grades are fine. Their A-level grades are down to them.

I'd let them get on with lower sixth and see how they are doing by the time you get to UCAS application stage.

Those are great grades. If they accomplished that without revision then they will be fine for uni.

A 6 is a good solid B.
A 4 is a pass, a 5 is a high pass (high c/low b border)

And yes, those GCSEs grades would be perfectly fine for university. Outside of MN they are very good gcse grades. People are going to university and Doug well there with lower.

And at some point they will have to do some work.

I was very similar to your dc, turns out I have adhd but that's largely irrelevant here. Going to uni later was not a bad thing, going too soon without a clear objective wasn't good. Also picked "hard" a levels...failing is not helpful for confidence.

It's up to them really. Let them find their own path. But don't bankroll indolence. If they are having trouble with identifying barriers to working, then now is a better time to find that out than a fail at degree level. Support but don't enable is probably what I'm trying to say.

Unfortunately they got a grade 6 in the subject they are keen to study at University! 🙄 Most of the dear child's friends appear to have got 7/8/9s.

I think we will just see what happens this year. I am not going to push them. Will step back and see if they actually have the wherewithal to achieve themselves.

Part of the problem I think is that I am seen as 'bad cop' in the family in that I encourage them to work hard and get a good education. I went to University in the 1980s from a single parent working class family and my education changed my life. I had the desire to succeed. Consequently, my dear child has had a middle class upbringing in a very wealthy area ( but state school educated) and seems to just expect things to fall into there lap. Not sure if this is a result of upbringing or there generation.

Husband didn't go to Uni and laughs at there antics. Expects me to manage the education side of things. 😕😕

In old money, that's 6 A's, 3B's and a C. Of course it's good enough to get in to university. However it's the A level grades that really count and they are much harder than GCSEs. His GCSEs show that he has the potential and ability to do well but he's going to have to apply himself and probably won't be able to cruise along like he's done so far. Year 12 is a bit of a shock for many

For someone who is writing “there antics” you are being awfully harsh on a 16 year old child!

Really? But 'there antics' is an accurate description. Gaming constantly and swearing and shouting...🙄But hey, the Mumsnet police has arrived...

One important question with that choice of A-levels is what did they get in their maths GCSE?

Maths A-level result is usually highly influenced by maths GCSE result as one builds directly on the other.

If he's aiming for Comp Sci at uni, they are usually more interested in Maths A-level result than Comp Sci.

Their... their antics. You are wanting people to pile in saying how a child with really good GCSE’s isn’t capable of university - yet you went, apparently, and don’t know the difference between their and there. Leave the poor child alone, they’ve done perfectly fine.

Of course I know the difference 🙄

*their 😊

I think the way to look at GCSEs is whether they are good enough to move onto the A level they want to take.

@TheGreekTaverna you sound like your attitude towards your kid needs a refresh tbh, I can understand you are frustrated but you do not sound like you like them and this will be apparent to them I expect.

I absolutely adore them of course 🥰.

And yet you wrote “Husband didn't go to Uni and laughs at there antics. Expects me to manage the education side of things. 😕😕”

and “Really? But 'there antics' is an accurate description.”

and “and seems to just expect things to fall into there lap”.

Your poor child. Their results are fine but you clearly want them to feel like a total failure.

Question was: Are these GCSE results good enough for Uni?

Like I said in the opening, I literally have no idea. Can see what A Level grades are required but no clue about GCSE grades.

Can you answer my question about what he got in maths? That's going to be quite important.

If your child really wants to study these subjects then THEY have to put in the work to get to where they want be.

I know it's hard but you can't make them put in the work if they can't be bothered unfortunately.

Their results are fine for most courses at most unis.

The important question is can they go on to do the A levels they want to do with the results they achieved.

Was the 5 in Maths or English language? SOME unis require a 6 in these for some courses.

DD was slightly limited by her 5 in English language, a couple of her preferred unis required a 6.

This.
DS1 got a good 7 at GCSE maths and really struggled at A level although did come out with a B.

Yes they are. Depending on what they want to study all they need is a 4 in maths and English. If they want to study something like medicine they may need higher grades, but most unis just ask for a 4 in English and Maths. Emphasis is on a levels more than GCSE's. Those grades are absolutely brilliant, especially with little revision. You should be proud of them and I hope they know how well they've done.