Taking GCSEs early

Mado

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

Have you actually looked at the marking schemes though? (Examples http://web.aqa.org.uk/qual/newgcses/languages/current/french_a_materials.php?id=11&tabid=2 ) You might be surprised (and shocked) at how little grammatical knowledge is required, even on the higher tier paper.

It's me who thinks she ought to know some basic grammar anyway!:rotfl:
Last year I helped the said baby-sitter rehearse her oral part for her A level and I realised that the pass level wasn't that difficult. (She got a . I think DD is more fluent but with less vocab than she had and with a bit of work, she could really shine through.

sheilavw

My Youngest Daughter did GCSE Eng Lang and Lit in Year 10. They started the process early by identifying pupils who they thought were able in year 7, they did their English Sats year 8, coursework in Year 9 and the exams in year 10. We were extremely proud when she got 2 As. In year 11 they did AS Literature, she would have preferred to do language. She found it difficult but got a Grade C.

adelight

Talk to the school before you do anything. You have to consider that it could cause time table clashes for her and the school might not be willing to foot the bill if they're not confident of her competency. If the school doesn't support her taking GCSEs early and you do them privately (through adult education colleges or language schemes) then it could go very wrong and she could end up being forced to resit them in year 11. Music might be safe as it's less likely to be compulsary, but then why not just focus on her grades and getting to diploma level as that is much more useful and highly regarded than a GCSE.
I did my maths GCSE before starting senior school and because of silly policies I was forced to sit through five years of maths I already knew and sit the exam all over again and it made me despise the subject and teachers!

Mado

adelight wrote: »

Talk to the school before you do anything. You have to consider that it could cause time table clashes for her and the school might not be willing to foot the bill if they're not confident of her competency. If the school doesn't support her taking GCSEs early and you do them privately (through adult education colleges or language schemes) then it could go very wrong and she could end up being forced to resit them in year 11. Music might be safe as it's less likely to be compulsary, but then why not just focus on her grades and getting to diploma level as that is much more useful and highly regarded than a GCSE.
I did my maths GCSE before starting senior school and because of silly policies I was forced to sit through five years of maths I already knew and sit the exam all over again and it made me despise the subject and teachers!

Not to worry. I will talk to the school in September.
I just want to have some ideas of what to expect before and knowing how far I can push my luck.
DD mentioned that 2 girls in yr 7 who also have french Mums are doing GCSE level work, but for some reason she wasn't picked up. It probably has to do with the very mediocre teacher she started the year with (an Italian teacher who was making mistakes teaching French but wouldn't admit to it). Since she went on maternity leave after Easter, DD's teachers' assesment in French has gone up by a full level (from a 4a to a 5a). I'm still not entirely convinced she was evaluated properly.

Oldernotwiser

adelight wrote: »

. Music might be safe as it's less likely to be compulsary, but then why not just focus on her grades and getting to diploma level as that is much more useful and highly regarded than a GCSE.

What do you mean by "diploma level"?

adelight

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

What do you mean by "diploma level"?

I play a different instrument, but after doing grade 8 a lot of people would carry on to do a diploma in performance. I don't know much about the specifics as I never got that far
If she's at grade 5 already it's entirely possible she could have passed her grade 8 by the time she comes to do her GCSEs. It's definitely a lot more enjoyable than music GCSE, and it's true that some really talented players struggle with the history and little facts that GCSE music involves.

adelight

Mado wrote: »

Not to worry. I will talk to the school in September.
I just want to have some ideas of what to expect before and knowing how far I can push my luck.
DD mentioned that 2 girls in yr 7 who also have french Mums are doing GCSE level work, but for some reason she wasn't picked up. It probably has to do with the very mediocre teacher she started the year with (an Italian teacher who was making mistakes teaching French but wouldn't admit to it). Since she went on maternity leave after Easter, DD's teachers' assesment in French has gone up by a full level (from a 4a to a 5a). I'm still not entirely convinced she was evaluated properly.

Your daughter's french is probably much more useful in real life than the rounded approach schools take to it. If other girls are doing it then it looks promising and could tick off the GCSE language that increasing numbers of unis have as an entry requirement(even though that's a long way off she sounds like a smart girl who might want to go to uni).

Mado

adelight wrote: »

Your daughter's french is probably much more useful in real life than the rounded approach schools take to it. If other girls are doing it then it looks promising and could tick off the GCSE language that increasing numbers of unis have as an entry requirement(even though that's a long way off she sounds like a smart girl who might want to go to uni).

Thanks!
She is very smart and we would be very disapointed if she didn't go to Uni. Equally, she is keen to continue a grade per year at piano, so, provided she keeps on working she could reach grade 8 by year 10:eek:

Oldernotwiser

adelight wrote: »

I play a different instrument, but after doing grade 8 a lot of people would carry on to do a diploma in performance. I don't know much about the specifics as I never got that far
If she's at grade 5 already it's entirely possible she could have passed her grade 8 by the time she comes to do her GCSEs. It's definitely a lot more enjoyable than music GCSE, and it's true that some really talented players struggle with the history and little facts that GCSE music involves.

Sorry, I hadn't realised you were talking about a music diploma.

Oldernotwiser

adelight wrote: »

Your daughter's french is probably much more useful in real life than the rounded approach schools take to it..

If you think that GCSE language teaching takes a "rounded approach"
then I'm afraid you're sadly mistaken.