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.

@Fudgeball123 He wants to study Economics.
He has got a 9 in Maths (and he has a A in FSMQ.which is the highest mark) and an 8 in history ( one mark away from a nine so we might have it checked). His other subject is Economics which he hasn't studied yet but his knowledge of the subject is very good. To be honest he has spent more time on Economics than any of his subjects but he is paying the price now.

He was horrified when he opened his results.

Givinghope, I really sympathise. Sounds like your son was/is in a similar place to mine. If they don't want to do the work...🤷‍♀️

Wombatchocolate, your comments are spot on. Dear child's year 7 Midyis test placed them in the top 5% for ability, so think they have the raw materials to excel, just not the work ethic (yet🤞🤞🤞). Unfortunately you need both.

I'm slightly stunned. I have a pretty able kid who worked very hard, at least in y11- and got similar results. Not getting all 8-9s isn't always evidence of laziness.

One of my DC got a MUCH lower batch of GCSE results than that, but strong A level results and a 1st class degree. The key was studying a subject they found really interesting.

Aramox, children all have different abilities. For some, those grades will never be achievable. For others, they can get them easily and with little effort, but could achieve much more. For others, those grades are possible with a lot of hard work.

So no-one is saying everyone who gets those grades is lazy, or that even bright children getting those grades are lazy. But as OP says, her son was capable of more. Some children are capable of all 9s or a mix of 8/9. Anyone can feel disappointed if they and their child know they could have done significantly better, but didn’t due to lack of effort. And for the same grades, other parents will rightly feel thrilled as they know their child pushed themselves and did the best they could.

Just because some other children would be thrilled with particular grades and others could never even dream of them, doesn’t mean everyone should be thrilled. And the fact they aren’t, isn’t a reflection on anyone else’s child, as they all have a different context and ability.

@Undertheoldlindentree hopefully he will turn it around like your DC. Did your DC have to downgrade his/ her choice of university because of the GCSE results?

@Givinghope those are almost exactly ds2's results (albeit 2019 so a different landscape). He was delighted rather than horrified, I'll be honest.

He got offers from 3 x Rg (not LSE, but Leeds and Nottinfham). He ended up at Loughborough and is very happy. Top universities are not closed to your ds.

With little work those are very good grades, but A levels are going to be a shock to him - maybe that's what he needs. If he works for his A levels he absolutely has the brains to go to uni, but he can't coast.

A levels are incredibly tough. DD1 has just graduated and said her A levels were actually harder than getting her degree, and she was a hair's breadth off a First.

In a sense it's actually a disadvantage to do well at GCSE with no work - the shock of having to graft can't be underestimated. DD2 got a 1 x 9, 2 x 8, 4x 7 and 2 x 6 and worked her socks off for most of it (except the 9 in English lang), so A levels weren't a shock to her and she got ABB and first choice of uni doing a STEM degree.

He needs to really love Maths. My DS achieved an 8 in Maths GCSE and came away with an E at A Level. He fell totally out of love with the subject which dragged not only that subject but also his others day as he became so disheartened

@clary I'm glad it all worked out for your DS. My DS freely admits that he did no work whatsoever.
He appeared to be studying at home but was not. His choice of university is UCl or LSE , we are considering applying after he has his A level results but will see how things go. I'm not how that would work, he says that he can achieve A*/ A at A level and will dedicate the next 2 years to nothing but that. We shall see l....

Thanks @Givinghope but I wouldn't even say "it all worked out". I would say he got great GCSE results, with 889 in his A level choices (so 3 x A star) and nothing lower than a 6. Perhaps it's very different this year with lower grade boundaries and other support in place, but I just recall he called me on results day, "mum I smashed it." He did too.

I'm so sorry you are disappointed in your son's results. It won't matter tho. A levels will get him to uni, his degree will move him on from there.

@clary Is your DS studying Economics or a similar degree?

’parents’ don’t get a clean sweep of 9s or anything else! Sometimes I think being too invested and pushy is detrimental to the work ethic of the child. At some point they have to want to do it for their own reasons and they need to figure that out with natural consequences. They’ve all had a particularly difficult time the last few years, if your kid really wants the results they’ll work for them whether that be now or in a few years when they’re stuck in a job they don’t want.

How depressing. A child gets mostly A's, A's or A*'s and they are classed as failing.

No wonder our children are in the midst of a mental health crisis.

They are not being classed as failing by anyone. This has been said multiple times….the OP is commenting on the fact that they were capable of more and their laziness prevented them achieving what they could.

It isn’t a race to the bottom, where anyone who achieves anything above the lowest level isn’t allowed to feel disappointment when their child could achieve much more. People with all kinds of grades (students and parents) can feel disappointed, in the same way that others are allowed to be thrilled with grades that wouldn’t please most.

Perhaps there is too much pressure on some children and they can’t enjoy what are successes for them. But at the same time, some students and also parents are probably too easily satisfied and sell themselves rather short with their expectations or effort. There’s a right balance somewhere.

@Givinghope no he does biological sciences. Got AAB at A level. He's a smart lad with a huge amount to offer and I am so proud of him.

I can imagine it is different if you have paid for private school, perhaps with expectations of that bringing higher grades. I am sure private school offers more and other benefits than a string of 8/9 grades tho.

@TheGreekTaverna
The teacher is wrong about gcse grades. Some universities do look at them and weight them. Bristol for one. Economics is competitive at a number of universities and posters talking about less competitive science courses are wide of the mark. Some of these a bums on seat courses that go into clearing. economics at top universities doesn’t.

He will be better placed with great A level results. But he needs them. He might also look at management courses of economics doesn’t work out.

@TizerorFizz Would you advice waiting until after A level to apply for Economics at university.
With A*/ A already achieved. My DS sixth form thinks these could be achievable ( if he buckles down). He has a 9 in Maths and is one mark off a 9 in history (we are having it looked at). Economics is his 3rd subject and has a real interest in the subject. He won't need to be pushed and has already read widely in the subject.

If he “didn’t work” for GCSEs why will he work at a level? He won’t have his exam technique sorted. Dd worked SO hard got 9s for all her a level subjects then 8s and 9s for everything else bar maths which she has always found so difficult which she got a 7 for. State school. They’ve got to want to do it for themselves.

He"s had a real wake up call. Hopefully he will want to do it now, he is already putting in work.
He enjoys the subjects that he's doing for A level.
I hope his positive attitude continues.

@Givinghope
Its not necessary to wait as the entry requirements won’t change. If they weight GCSEs, they do. They won’t just look at A levels if they say they give 30% weighting to GCSEs/70% A levels. So cannot see the value in waiting post results.

I understand @TizerorFizz , I had thought that having already achieved A*'s at level may help.

Well, those GCSE grades are higher than my daughter's... and she's off to do a BSc at a Russell Group uni, on a very competitive course. The uni is ranked number 1 for her subject in the league tables and the uni reports that there are over 30 applicants for every place...

Like your son she was lazy at GCSE (and most of her A levels tbh) but she did manage to turn it around in time to exceed the required grades needed for A level.

So yes, it can be done, and at competitive unis too.

@goherbie thank you, this is great to hear.
Best of luck to your DD at university.