Maths GCSE resit - how does it work?

[tellmewhenthespaceshiplandscoz]

Hope someone wise can shed some light as school are avoiding the question ...

DD hoping to stay on for 6th form and fingers crossed she will be ok for required grades EXCEPT there's a chance she won't get the 5 needed in maths. A levels she's look at are English Lit, History, Media and sociology.

How do resits work? Some sources I've found googling suggest she has to gain the required maths pass in November before even starting A's?

Do they have actual maths lessons or are they expected to study by themselves? Are they just limped on with Y11 until exam?

Also - worse case scenario I know but what happens if they fail resit? Does it mean game over for A's?

As I say school are avoiding the question but I don't want to leave it until end of August. Realise this all predicates on schools discretion to allow her on course without maths 6 which they judge on the old case by case basis.

Thanks all

Ahhhh that's amazing! You must have all been over the moon. Well done to your son for achieving that, I'm so glad A levels are going well for him x

We've upped the focus since getting the 2 in November so her progress with past papers is encouraging.

I get what your saying and agree it's a jump up to A Levels but she loves the subjects she's looking at and her teachers have said she would be capable. She would still find it challenging but o don't believe it's beyond her at all to do well at those subjects.

Plan B is Lowe entry requirements and also a plan c at the same venue for a course below a levels so that's there if it's a complete disaster. I do keep casually mentioning these to her so they don't disappear off her radar.

But I really feel that just because maths may go horribly wrong it doesn't mean she doesn't have what it takes to do other subjects at a higher level.

User** just re read my reply and apologise if it sounded defensive. I didn't intend that but I know this whole situation makes me a leeeeeetle prickly at times.

I appreciate your comments. I wish this subject didn't make me feel quite as emotional as it does. X

There are plenty of kids who struggle with English or maths but are strong enough to do A levels.

My DS nearly failed his English, and his teacher was amazed when asking his class what they were going to do for sixth form and he said a levels, he did maths, further maths bio and chem.

We had to tutor him to within an inch of his life.

Is your tutor the best one for your daughter? My DC (dyslexic) went from 2's on test papers before Christmas to a grade 4 pass at GCSE maths. This was just 12 lessons from a tutor over the 8 weeks running up to the exam.. It was an expensive option at £50ph but tutor was a retired head of department and knew just how to target the skills needed, help memory and boost onfidence, so it was well worth it. After I8 months I'd expect to see better outcomes from tutoring than your daughter's level.

If your DD's other grades are 5/6 rather than 7+, I'd also recommend looking at sixth form colleges offering BTEC. I

You didn’t sound defensive at all, don’t worry. I get it’s a highly emotive time!

I completely agree that a low grade in maths shouldn’t stop your DD doing A-levels in other subjects. The red flag for me was you saying she got grade 5/6 in her English mock. Really to be successful in a subject at A-level you should be getting at least a 6, preferable a 7 or 8 at GCSE.

It sounds like you’re being sensible and considering all options so that good. And she’s lucky to have you and your DH supporting her so well at home.

Getting a 5 on a foundation paper is actually quite difficult - the grade boundary is around 75%. A grade 2 is around 30%. By comparison you can get a 5 on a higher paper with around 33% and a 6 with 47% meanings more than half the paper is grade 7-9 material which can be demoralising/throw kids off.

IGWYM in terms of the percentage - but honestly, a 5 for F is a lot easier to achieve than a 5 in H. I am not a maths expert haha but in MFL which is my subject, not only is it easier to gain a 5 in terms of basic skills, but also the F paper is much more accessible (as you note above) so there is no feeling of "I can't do thissss!"

Just a quick example - for speaking in German, the same skill (described in exactly the same way) will score you 10 out of 10 in F paper and 4 out of 10 in H paper. Presumably the same factors are at play in maths for the similar skills.

@tellmewhenthespaceshiplandscoz I hate to join the slight doomsayers but I might be tempted to look at other options apart from A levels. A level Eng lit with a grade 5, while possible, is not ideal, and is likely to lead to a lower A level grade. Not that CCD (or whatever) is a disaster, but it may seem like it if others are gaining higher grades. I am not saying that is what your DD will gain but just to be aware.

My DD is an exam panicker, got 9-A-A (funny year!) in GCSEs for her A level choices and ended up with BCC. DS (not an exam panicker) got 9-8-8 and that turned into AAB, so still not the toppest grades, even with those GCSEs. I know that a lot depends on teachers, work ethic, interest - just saying bear it in mind.

Thanks and yes we do have a couple of solid options for her to drop down to if needed I just need to subtly keep these on her peripheral as she has such tunnel vision with sixth form.

Also I need to balance the message of "let's be realistic " vs "you aren't cut out for a levels ".

Ironically this came about because at the time and still now she hadn't a clue what she wants to do after education, didn't have an obvious interest that a vocational or practical path could follow so decided if in doubt, keep studying subjects you enjoy and are good at.

Again thanks all for your input. Plan is carry on as we are now, ramp things up over coming weeks (while not neglecting other subjects - this is tough to manage as chucking everything at maths doesn't leave much time or energy left and we can't let things that are doing ok, drop) and keep her mind open to other options.

Roll on the end of June