Should my daughter resit Maths GCSE?

[MackenCheese]

My daughter is academically able, but struggled massively with the school environment, including EBSA for the whole of year 10. She returned to school in year 11, with quiet spaces, starting the day at 11am everyday (so missing the 1st 2 lessons each day) and cutting down her subjects.

Despite this, she managed to achieve 8 passes 5-7 . (They were 7,7,7,6,6,5,5,5). She has got into an independent 6th form, doing A level sociology, criminology btec and biology.

She has had a bit of a wobble about Biology because she only had a 5 in maths, but her Head of 6th form felt that the 5 did not reflect her academic ability and she should trial biology, and switch to another subject eg. Btec Sport by half term if there were problems. We also plan to do some targeted maths to support Biology A level.

The other concern is looking ahead to university and all the subjects she might consider are asking for a 6 in maths GCSE.

Should she resit GCSE maths to try to improve her grade? She was 10 marks off a 6 for those interested!

I would say that she needs to do what she thinks she can manage, with the proviso that it may limit her choices of Uni / degree courses if she doesn’t resit maths.
2 years is a long time for her to change her mind on these things! If the pressure on her to get into Uni is taken off her she may feel more positive - she doesn’t have to go at 18, it’s not the end of the world if she has a year out.

If she does resit and it sounds like she needs a higher grade, then can you afford a maths tutor for her? That might reduce the risk of a lower grade again.

There are students who tutor online for extra cash.

Those are A level grades. She’s doing at least one BTEC. Do they give the BTEC equivalent offer? I’m still not convinced by her chosen sixth form subjects though. Or Cog Sci as a degree choice as opposed to Psychology?

I know its a mixed bag because she's not 100% sure what she wants to do, but doesn't quite feel ready for the workplace. Given how miserable she was in her old school, she's delighted to be moving forward with the subjects she enjoys.

I’m not suggesting she works instead! Your question is predicted on her doing one of two, very different, degrees. Her current subject choices don’t suggest those are degree subjects she is actually interested in, so perhaps the lack of a 6 isn’t really that much of an issue. That’s all.

Fair point. She's just trying to keep options open, and as you say, university might not even happen.

My son got a 5 in maths (zero revision to blame) and couldn't apply for the degree apprenticeships he wanted as all needed a 6 ( he had 3 science A levels but not maths). He went in at the deep end and did maths A level in his spare time, hes on track to get an A next spring. For him it's held him back so I'd recommend resitting. I believe there's one in November so that would get it out of the way.

Most people who resit don’t get a better grade, but you say your daughter had extenuating circumstances. If your daughter is motivated to study for the higher grade alongside her A-level studies then it is worth the effort to try once more. Your role will be to provide high support and low pressure.

Biology is quite maths based. 10 marks away is a lot. It is difficult to know if she is not as capable as she thinks. The risk you are taking by encouraging the maths re take now is that she cannot cope with Biol, can’t catch up with the other students on the Sports B tec, gets the same or lower in the maths and that the Universities will not accept the B Tecs. Can she not do three A levels in subjects she achieved the highest grades and then do maths retake in a gap year if still needed?

Potentially. Her highest grades were actually in biology and both Englishes....

She could always contact the universities to ask and see where she stands, given the she has the extenuating circumstances certificate. She can always sit the maths exams next summer, if she decides she needs to. That gives her longer to prepare and also find out if she needs to do it.