GCSE to A level

[aslkde]

What GCSE grade is needed to make choosing a subject for A level worthwhile?

In the old days, and A or B was enough at O level to cope at A level.

Does that translate to 6 or 7 at GCSE?

“ actively choosing to spend your leisure time on some extra homework just for fun. “

Hmm. Maybe for the A* grades, but for normal grades this isn’t necessary.

@MikiMurphy are you a student in year 11? Grades 8 and 9 are both A star equivalent and are considered the same by most universities, even Oxford. The jump say in maths from a grade 7 to a 9 is big, roughly 50% of the higher paper is there to determine 7-9 grades meaning you can get a 7 without having a good foundational knowledge to build on if you take it on at A level.

Other subjects would be different.

There is really no point at this stage deepening knowledge beyond a grade 9, Ds1 was told his grade 6 in History was because he was writing at an A level standard and therefore missing lots of the tick boxes on the mark scheme for GCSE, once he changed his exam technique he got a 9. Understand GCSEs are like a game, you have to know how to score points, this is where mark schemes are invaluable to aid revision.

You have a massive 10 week summer after GCSEs to spend doing what you love but for now the GCSEs are important. If you need specific help on any subject for revision, you can ask here. A lot of us have supported our children through them. Youtube is an incredible resource, especially as teachers post videos too.

And this is about attitude, doing what you can to get the best you can, reaching out to teachers, parents, MN or the internet to aid you. So A levels you could completely ace them out.

DS averaged 6.9 (first Covid year and graded based on mock exams he barely revised for) he took A Level Eng Lit, Biology and History and got A*, A and B in that order. He got 8s in Eng lit and Biology and a 7 for history at GCSE. He is now at an RG Uni studying law.