GCSE supporting - to half term, and beyond!

[SheilaFentiman]

Making a new thread to support half term revision and the set of GCSEs afterwards!

I think it depends on the course though.

My DS will be applying for a Maths Degree so has to have that 4th FM A Level otherwise he'd have no chance of getting into his first choice plus they have to do the MAT exam which is really important

@PennywisePoundFoolish your DS sounds naturally gifted in the maths department so he'll be fine even he gets an 8. It's a fantastic mark and there are so many circumstances that would prevent anyone getting their best mark such as exam nerves or just making a silly error.

My DS when doing past papers etc often finds he's done a silly error by writing a - instead of a + or something like that making the answer way out. It's not that he didn't know it but maybe he rushed or got brain fog after 6 consecutive hours of maths homework.

Exactly this. All other things begin equal (which they seldom are!) the offer of an Oxbridge place would go to the 4 A-level student rather than the 3 A-level student, especially in STEM subjects. (Long-time UCAS ref here.)

DD1 always planned to drop one after AS -level exams - if gives a few extra UCAS points but not that many - I thought it would be the new subject psychology that would get dropped. She seems to think her current offer will accept the welsh bac for one grade which we thought was unusual so could end up helping her in the end

With DS I think many places expect the further maths with maths - so he could drop the physics after AS-level - see when he gets there. The red bricks I went to actually want 3 A* for course he wants more than oxford - though I think he'll aim for elsewhere it probably won't be a good idea to carry on all 4 - will be a conversation for next summer though.

Happi My director of studies (RIP) for my Cambridge maths degree had a saying about 'don't bother about the 2s'. (you get a lot of them when integrating or differentiating). He didn't really care too much about minor mistakes as long as you understood the methods.

I'm not personally convinced Cambridge maths care if you have done 3 or 4 A levels as long as your maths is top notch, but I have zero current knowledge.

Anyway we're a long way off topic from GCSEs.

@DontForgetToBreathe and @PennywisePoundFoolish my DD also says the most extreme things in relation to how she'll feel if she doesn't get a 9 in maths and that she will retake if she gets an 8 (slightly amused that she doesn't even consider a 7 or below a possibility!). Maths was always a strong subject for DD but it wasn't until secondary where she started to really fly with it. She's had 2 fabulous teachers since Yr 9. One admits she (the teacher) is not a natural mathematician but DD feels comfortable with her and admires her organised and structured way of teaching. The other is a maths 'genius' according to DD and has blown DDs mind in further maths many times. I guess a large part of DD's determination to get a 9 is that she doesn't want to let them down (although that's not really how she operates I don't think so maybe not). @PennywisePoundFoolish If a tutor said to DD that an 8 is great, she'd be similarly annoyed/outraged! They don't understand our DC.

@TeenDivided that's good to know - I think yes so long as it's obvious they know the methods thats got to be a good thing - DS will apply to Oxford because he preferred it on the visits with his school and college but who knows if he'll get in. I mean it must be extremely competitive. I am on the Oxbridge thread for this. I'll just sit back as it all unfolds in due course.

His college seem to have it all in hand as they have an Oxbridge department as it were and have now put all the eligible students in new forms so all Oxbridge for all subjects are together.

It's a state school. All of his education has been state.

Getting into Oxford or Cambridge is a lottery.
There are far more suitable candidates than there are students.

(Re silly mistakes. That doesn't mean he shouldn't try to avoid them, but I'd assume that STEP papers (that my director of studies took a lead in) give a lot of marks for methods. But don't take my word for it!)

Yes it really does sound like a lottery. I've no idea what he'll be putting down as 2nd or 3rd choice

I'm so confused DS2s school say they have to do 3 A Levels plus err a something else. The natural choice for DS2 would be the further maths. The other thing didn't sound like a good fit for him. I can't remember what it's called and I'm sure it was mentioned on this thread but I can't find it. 3 letters E something?

This is all on the assumption he makes the grades.

I'm even more baffled by universities. Thats even further off, but DS2s next goal after A Levels. Obviously not looking at Oxford etc, but if he gets reasonable A Levels im hoping he will get in somewhere. Though extra curricular interests are non-existent and I can't imagine a lot changing there. Hopefully allowances are given for ASD anxiety diagnosis.

Give me an EHCP to deal with any day!

EPQ I think

I have heard DS2s school is on a list that means some universities are more generous with their offer? I really need to get my head around it all

https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/projects/project-qualifications/EPQ-7993/introduction

Yes! That's it thank you

I honestly don't think that Oxbridge cares about four A Levels. They are well aware that many students won't be offered the opportunity to do four. Oxford probably cares more about their own subject specific aptitude tests and Cambridge about STEP. Maths is different as most sought after courses will not accept a candidate who has not done Further Maths - though I believe that at some institutions there is some leeway for candidates who cannot do it as it's not available to them at their school or college.

For context, the vast majority of children at DD's school do three A Levels and they get ~40%+ of the year into Oxbridge every year (it's a selective school). For potential Maths candidates, they are expected to do Further Maths in addition to Maths and two others. Some people applying to American universities do four as breadth is more important for that. For most UK university subject choices, getting three really good grades will be preferable to getting four slightly less good ones.

Love how now that GCSEs are nearly over, lots of us have started to stress about the next step!!

DD has picked four A-Levels - English, Politics, History and (er) Biology...

Bit random, but she just wants to try them all and decide what to drop if it's too much so I'm happy with it as a strategy. Her school has mentioned Oxbridge but she is sure she wants to do nursing - hence the biology - so we will have to see how her plans pan out.

Both her Dad and I are Oxbridge, both state educated with only three A-Levels. Assuming things have changed a lot since our day though. Though her Y9 sister, who is moving to a specialist music school where the destinations are pretty much either oxbridge or conservatoire, will only do eight GCSEs and will be banned from doing more than three A-Levels, which has rather changed the way we think about it all.

DD1 is not expecting high grades for herself (despite very high predictions) but is in a very competitive friendship group and I think it's almost a defence mechanism to present herself as the 'less academic one'. She often surprises herself on the upside in the end,.

We have had record take-up of pre-exam sessions this year. Y11s have only been required to attend for exams since HT but warm-ups are getting almost 100% attendance. This is up on last year and anything pre-Covid. It has actually caused a bit of a headache, in a good way, because we would expect to collapse classes and release teacher time at this stage.

We have had a few uni conversations here too but ds really unsure what he wants to do. Elder ds is graduating this year and got an unconditional offer so we had no stress over results although he did well. Ds has been so laid back through exams I have no idea what results he will end up with!!

Secondary schools try to push the EPQ so they get extra funding. It's really not necessary with regards to Uni applications and takes up valuable time.

DD1 changed what she wanted to do very last minute just before application went in - she ended up applying to three universities - two with very different courses.

It's a good fit what she finally decided but did mean with early open days she was looking round only one department and of course she then decided wasn't for her.

DS been much more consistent in what he wants to do - but we'll probably try and get some conversations and research going this summer so it feels less rushed.

I can not get DS to settle to any revision today - he's very grumpy - he has last English language on Monday.

Poor DD has to go to Saturday music school in this heat in the middle of exams. I've been sitting here helping her with Latin literature in between lessons - the only one she'll let me touch!

Struggling to get going with revision here too. Thought they’d be up for the final push but not a lot going on!

she just wants to try them all and decide what to drop if it's too much so I'm happy with it as a strategy

I think that's a great strategy and exactly what DD's school makes them all do. The vast majority drop the fourth and concentrate on the three they like best.

DD is not revising today. She's gone off to her drama club. The house is empty and nobody is stressing about anything. I am considering a deckchair in the sun and a gin and tonic!