Can a current maths level 2 reach GCSE grade 4 in a year?

[Clearsunnysky]

As per the tittle. Is it s GCSE of 4 achievable from a current level of 2? In a year?

Should we get DS in a maths camp. Intense maths tutoring for a year?

It's hard to say – we don't know whether your DC is working at the ceiling of their ability, or actually could do much better but teaching has been poor, or they don't attend in lessons, or do their HW.

If there is an issue with concentration and practice (crucial for GCSE maths) then if they can get on board with aiming to get a 4 I don't see why not. Otoh if they have LD that mean a 2 is their best possible grade, and they are already doing all they can, then perhaps it is less likely.

What does school give as their target grade?

Is this grade 2 a year 10 mock? what does the paper look like – where are the gaps? Foundation maths GCSE leans heavily on fractions, percentages, decimals, ratio, basic algebra – how is he on all these? Is this something you as parents can support with? I think I would probe a bit further before looking for a tutor – though that may be your ultimate solution.

Likely to get grade is 3. Maths teaching at school is poor, He has been with a maths online tutor for 2 plus years. I think we are wasting our money; perhaps a face to face will be better. Surely a good tutor should be helping DS improve and get more confidence in maths.

Current tutor is once per week.£50

Well yes I would expect improved results from a good tutor.

Is this a qualified maths teacher? If not, do they have a good grasp of the spec (eg a sixth-former taking maths)?

Is there any SEN at play? you don't have to say of course but it's worth bearing in mind. Is the grade 3 his school target grade or PG – ie, does the school think that is what he will gain or is that the best they think he could do? How is the maths teaching poor? Does DS do his work in class, his work at home?

Face to face tuition can be better but for any tuition to improve his grade, your DS needs to be fully on board and completing the work – is he and does he?

Qualified maths teacher. I just think the online Maths doesn’t work for DS. A 2 is very low considering they have had over 3 years of tutoring

What work is your son doing outside of the tutor once a week? Is her working regularly? What paper is he taking? Is foundation maths a possibility? My Dd got a 2/3 in maths mocks in January this year. She worked her butt off with the use of some online resources and a change to foundation paper and she can now confidently expect a 5 in her exams this summer. It’s perfectly possible with some effort and help.

And what does his teachers and tutor actually say about his effort and ability?

I'd be asking for head of maths to call to go through what they can do to help him. How are his other grades as may be some maths related SEN.

Other grades are ok

Doing foundation maths. Maths teaching at school is poor

I think that's a doable improvement..

In my experience there is often a jump of 2 grades from exam results in yr 10 to GCSEs in the following summer

(£50 for an Foundation GCSE tutor is a very high price to be paying. Is a change of tutor possible?)

That is good to hear. We are looking at other tutors

I know the tutor can’t be the only one to blame but can’t help to feel dissappointed.

Fees are actually increasing at £65 per hour

I’d try a new tutor.

That is double what i am paying. For face-to-face with a maths HOD. My child‘s confidence has soared and it has also improved her science and food and nutrition theory. I wish i had started with the tutor earlier than the last bit of year 10. Every child in my daughter‘s class has a tutor. Her maths teacher told all parents at year ten parents evening to get one. She retires this time…

My DS went from 2 at start of year 11 to a 5 in foundation maths. But he had good teaching and was highly motivated for those months. The head of maths told me it was possible if he worked hard. So they knew he had the capability. You need either school or a good tutor to tell you what’s really possible and then sound like a good tutor to get him there.

I think online maths tuition is very hard. Maths is about practice and actually doing it. If they are not actually sat next to him how will they be able to see what he is doing?

We have face to face tutoring at £90 per month for 1 hour per week face to face tuition and I get feedback each week.

I am dissappointed. Surely a good tutor will know this isn’t working and suggest face to face with someone else. If he doesn’t believe he can achieve the grades needed what is the point on continuing to waste the money. He thinks he will likely get a 2 or 3

We highly recommend a program online called Mathmo. Some of the stuff is free to look at on YouTube and then you can pay a subscription for all the other stuff. It really helped my Dd. The free stuff will give you an idea if it might work with your child. The stuff on calculator hacks and exam techniques was excellent.

Have you spoken to the school? If the problem is poor teaching the school must be getting quite poor GCSE results in maths. I’m surprised that they’re not doing more to improve their maths scores.

there are lots of resources, she uses laptop, ipad, apple pen. He can see what he does

I know a maths tutor who says that if you’ve mastered the primary school maths syllabus you are close to getting a 4. So I think you need to change tutor ASAP.

I am sure the right tutor will get him through