advice on subject choice-please help!

lanavdt

Hi there, I'm really hoping someone can help me out with some advice.

Basically my step sister has recieved her exam results and she got a 3 for her chemistry. She'd hoped for a 2 so she could take higher and the school were going to appeal it as she got a grade one in her prelim exam. Going by the grades she got in the prelims, she decided to take higher chemistry and started the class before the holidays.

The school initially said she could take the first NAB in October and that if she passed she could continue with the course. They have now decided against appealing and have said she cannot continue in the course. She's upset as she needs the chemistry higher to continue in her career path towards becoming an optometrist.

Her Dad is going in for a meeting tomorrow and would like to know if there is anything he can say to help change their minds. Thanks

Savvy_Sue

Can she give any explanation for why she didn't do so well? Was she unwell, was there a family 'situation', or has she struggled with the course?

lanavdt

She says it was just nerves the problem solving bit was the bit that let her down. She did lots of revision and in her final parent's evening the teacher told her Dad that she was really good with the knowledge and understandig and practical skills but that she needed to brush up on her exam techniques which is what she thought she waas doing. She did past papers and got good marks on them.

LilacPixie

The biggest pointer would be does her chemistry teacher think she can handle the course??

I have higher Chemistry from 1998 so it may of changed but problem solving was a large part of it so it could be that they just do not think she can make the grade. Is there not a short course/nvq the school offers that would be pitched between standard grade and higher that would then allow her to study higher next year or can she do the higher herself outwith the school enviroment with Aberdeen or Aberdeenshire college??

lanavdt

LilacPixie wrote: »

The biggest pointer would be does her chemistry teacher think she can handle the course??

I have higher Chemistry from 1998 so it may of changed but problem solving was a large part of it so it could be that they just do not think she can make the grade. Is there not a short course/nvq the school offers that would be pitched between standard grade and higher that would then allow her to study higher next year or can she do the higher herself outwith the school enviroment with Aberdeen or Aberdeenshire college??

The teacher initially thought that she could do it and she started the higher course before the summer holidays. I also did higher chemistry but it was back it 2000 so I know what you mean. They've looked into it but the school doesn't offer an intermediate 2 and Aberdeen college doesn't offer it as a higher.

What do you think the chances would be of her Dad convincing the school to let her try up until the October NAB(i.e the first big test of the course) and if she passed then she could continue but if she failed then that was it, she'd have to drop it?

Savvy_Sue

Impossible to tell, I'm afraid. Some schools are willing to let people try, others are too concerned about their stats. I'd suggest that she takes the past papers she'd been doing and asks whether on the evidence of those she couldn't be allowed to continue but resit some papers - is that possible in Scotland?

Also does it have to be the school which appeals? Can she not put in an appeal?

Also worth asking why they've changed their mind - that's what seems unfair, to me.

VK-2008

i had similar situation few years ago with history but what they agreement was, was that i sat in higher class and learned what the rest did until my appeal came through, if it did not i would need to sit the intermediate 2 and if it did i could do higher and would not lose out on work. you should say this to teacher
i was lucky my appear came through
best wishes

Peanuckle

There is always the option of the NC in Applied Sciences SCQF level 6 at the college next year and go for the HNC the year after?

TBH the criteria for appealing seem to be very strict, my eldest was rushed in for surgery in the middle of exam season last year and sat his higher computing a few days later whilst doped up on pain killers but an appeal was refused.

esio_trot

Sounds like she should probably be looking to do an Intermediate 2 (approximately level to a credit level SG) this year with a view to sitting Higher next year. At least, that's what it was like when I was at school and they'd just brought in the intermediate grades - no idea if it has changed any.

lanavdt

Unfortunately her school doesn't do an intermediate 2 in Chemistry. The frustrating thing is that she is doing higher maths and biology and her teachers there have no concerns

VK-2008

did the allow her to change and sit higher? i would kick up a stinker with the head master/mistress
say you are going to papers x,y,z and then see what they say