GCSE predicted grades

[Summertimemadness2026]

Curious as to how most schools calculate the predicted grades they provide to sixth forms. DS is at an independent school who have said they don't give predicted grades, only their best mock grades. This has meant that DS has not go an offer at one of our preferred sixth forms. It doesn't seem fair to give mock grades as predicted grades as most grades typically go up by at least 1-2 grades, especially in my DS's case as he didn't do that much revision for his mocks. He got a mix of 7s & 8s but annoying got two 6s in the subjects he wants to study for A-level (the whole cohort found the papers tough and messed up to some extent) and he needs a 7 for one of them (maths) so didn't get on his course. In the real thing, I am sure he will get at least a 7 so seems unfair to use his mock grade.

I'm not sure you are "seeking advice" given that you have disagreed with virtually everyone who has commented. I expect you posted to try and get confirmation of your view and don't want to accept the reality.

Given that you are so bothered, go up the thread and see the number of answers that I have thanked, liked or loved. There's a quite a number. So you're talking nonsense. If you want a thread about whether or not to do A-level Maths then please go and start your own!

We can’t see your likes etc @Summertimemadness2026

You are being a bit snippy to ppl who are trying to help with the benefit of their experience or expertise.

Tbh since you don’t want that, and your DC has an offer they prefer anyway, it’s not very clear why you started the thread.

But it’s led to a discussion which is interesting and may help others; you don’t get to decide what people post, as long as it doesn’t break MN posting rules.

That's just it - they are not trying to help, they are trying to lecture or pass judgement which is definitely not in the spirit of the guidelines of the website. I am trying to keep the thread on topic, i.e. how predicted grades are calculated as that is what I need advice on and it's really frustrating when posters are intent on answering another question. There are loads of threads on whether or not to do A-levels Maths so I don't want or need advice on that question. The answers I have received on the question I asked have been very helpful. As for why am I posting as DS has another offer, pretty much everyone on this thread and on the other thread have said their DS are holding several offers - why would you not think my DS wants to do the same so that he has a few options not just one. He is not sure at this point which school/college he wants to do and he is undecided about Maths and there are a few other moving parts. A lot will be decided on results day with his results in hand.

Honestly - I commented about A level maths and I was trying to be helpful. It’s better to consider any issues now rather than in December of year 12, for example.

I’m not really sure how other schools’ ways of working out PGs helps your DS but I also posted that info FWIW.

Yes I imagine he would like to be holding multiple offers, why not indeed. And I and others advised that with grades in hand come August it may work out.

Again, it’s not for you to keep the thread on topic. If pps want to discuss issues arising, that’s up to them.

No one is passing judgement, just letting you know something you may not know. A lot of parents and YP don’t which is why students start A level maths with a 6 and most of them struggle. That’s all.

Can I suggest you stop biting back? I know it's frustrating when Mumsnetters start going off topic, but you're making it worse for yourself by doing anything other than politely ignoring them.

You can suggest it but I can ignore you! I prefer to bite back rather than have random strangers pass judgement on my 15 year old.

I can promise you that we will very carefully consider his A-levels choices before he makes a final decision on them and that he would not do A-level Maths unless he gets a very high mark at GCSE and feels confident about A-level Maths. We have plenty of friends in RL who have done A-level Maths he can speak to about it. Until this year, Maths was always his best subjects but in the last 6 months he has dropped off and other subjects are much stronger, not sure why other than he thought he put more work into the other subjects and neglected maths. Not that it means anything but his CAT and IQ tests all show a very high/exceptional ability in Maths and he was naturally capable until the mocks really. So we will see. Again, that's not what we are worried about now though.

Ok, I'm checking out then because its painful to watch.

In any case, the advice I gave up thread is all you need to know.

That would be the sensible thing to do.

People posting information about the correlation of GCSE grades and A level outcomes are not passing judgement on your 15 year old. They are sharing information.

And teachers/other experts post on education threads not just for the sake of the OP but for others reading because the thread title has caught their eye. That’s the nature of a forum like this.

You have been far ruder to other posters than anyone has been to you or about your son.

I wish him luck in his exams.

I am not asking them to share that information with me. It's REALLY annoying when people tell you what THEY want to tell you, not what you have asked. And I think you're quite rude actually.

He also doesn't have his GCSE results, he has his mock results, FFS. If he has his GCSE results then I may listen to you.

Which part of my post was rude?

Could you quote specific phrases so I can do better next time?

My DS dropped grades in actual exams compared to mocks/ predicted. He isn’t the only one

You may.

But Magic 8 Ball 🎱 says “Don’t count on it”

Well I would say calling someone rude when they are simply defending themselves against uninvited and and unnecessary criticism is rude. People come here for advice, not to be criticised on what they've done wrong but so many threads seem to go that way. I can honestly say that I have never gone on a thread to criticise or judge someone, only if I have something kind, helpful or constructive to add.

You're right. I probably won't listen to you. I will listen to my friends, his teachers and the school/college he goes to, not some random on Mumsnet.

You must be on a different planet to me.
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Sounds like you have a chip on your shoulder against private schools.
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I find your judgemental tone enough as well. Go and judge and lecture someone else.
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Please stop being so blinkered.
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As a teacher of 20 years, you think you would be able to read the initial question and see that I am not seeking advice on whether or not he should do A-levels Maths. You can lecture all you like but I will disregard as not what we are focusing on right now.
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You're telling me what makes no difference? Nonsense.
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There's a quite a number. So you're talking nonsense.
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That's just it - they are not trying to help, they are trying to lecture or pass judgement which is definitely not in the spirit of the guidelines of the website.
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You can suggest it but I can ignore you! I prefer to bite back

You’re right, you’re the polite one and I’m the rude one. Silly me.

Wow you have a LOT of time on your hands!

None of them are rude. Are you a bit overly sensitive?

Well said.

Nah, just set to See All from OP, quick scan whilst watching the telly, copy paste into and out of Notes app. Took less than 5 mins, but thanks for your concern about my time.

It’s interesting that you think none of your words above are rude, but that my first post to you, which contained no similar phrases, was the rude one.

Perhaps you are overly sensitive 🤔

Anyway, I’ll leave you to reflect on that. You have a good evening and, as I said, good luck to your DS in his GCSEs when they start next month.

You absolutely have been rude to people who have posted helpful information and who clearly know more about it than you do. Unless you can take on board the fact that this is a discussion and people can post anything they like on your thread, I'm not sure you are going to find Mumsnet that useful.

Not in my experience.

You’re just arguing with everyone, including experienced teachers, so there was no point in posting.