GCSE Foundation maths - impact on university places?

[TwoLeggedGrooveMachine]

My DD in year 10 has decided to sit maths at foundation level. She’s forecast a grade 6 which is her lowest forecast. It’s grade 7 for other subjects. She’s finding the questions at higher level hard to understand and feels the need to drop the pressure somewhere

She’s dyslexic and working extremely hard to maintain this. Her aim is to study history at university. The best she can possibly get in to in her words.

Will a grade 5 in maths affect her choice of university if going for a history degree? I’m guessing not but don’t want her to harm her chances.

we could at a push get a maths tutor but we’re already paying for a dyslexia tutor for the English side of things.

No.

Entrance requirements for unis are usually passed maths and English plus conditional offers for a level results.

It won’t matter. Dd was similar - her teacher thought she may get a 6 on the higher paper but she could get a 5 easily on the foundation. It took a lot of pressure off and she worked very hard and got 9s in the subjects related to what she actually does at university. Some courses want a 6 in maths but history won’t be one.

It won't affect her no - as long as she does essay type A levels and checks the requirements carefully. She could be ruling out say A level Economics, which compliments History nicely, by only doing foundation tier.

Her school will probably not agree to put her in for foundation btw.

All very reassuring thank you. She tells me school have agreed. I will discuss with the teacher at parents evening which should be be happening soon.

In addition to A level history she is looking at art, RS, maybe French although her difficulty with spelling is proving a challenge.

GCSE results certificates give the grades only and do not state whether pupils have taken the Foundation or Higher tier exams.
So your dd will be fine with a grade 5 from either tier.

Agree with others tho do check.

Some uni courses ask for 6 in maths and/or 6 in English. Many as for a 4 in both.

I would be surprised if a history course wanted a 6 in maths. DD’s offer for Eng lit at Warwick didn’t. But worth a check.

Otherwise yes to F maths being so much more accessible. Check with school they will allow it too.

No issues - my discalculic child is a 2:1 graduate in a social science (which included some stats modules!) with a foundation level maths GCSE

Has she tried a foundation paper?
My dd finds it much easier to get a 5 on higher rather than foundation, as the grade boundaries are VERY low.

That's interesting @newmum1976. Yes the mark for a 5 on H is much lower, but a lot of students IME find it dispiriting to be sitting a paper where they can only access less than half the marks. Very challenging. Also the questions of course are that much harder.

MFL not maths is my subject but I would certainly advise anyone aiming for or happy with a grade 5 to sit foundation; much more accessible and probably feels a lot easier (tho in fact an F 5 and an H 5 should have parity).

@TwoLeggedGrooveMachine I just looked at Warwick (random high-rated uni) and it only requires a grade 4 in maths for history BA. I reckon your DD is fine.

It probably depends on the child, but DD finds it easier to get 30% on higher, than 73% on foundation (Edexcel grade boundaries last year for grade 5). She only really finishes half the higher paper, but that’s enough.

Yes @newmum1976 agree, I imagine it would depend on the child for sure. It's great that your DD is doing well and positive about sitting higher. Sounds like the OP's DD feels the opposite, so F may be better for her.