Help understanding 3rd year exam results

fletch3163

Can anyone help this A,B,C mother out please? How lazy/thick/clever is my 14 year old at his subjects? I suspect average to lazy. Would also welcome guidance to help (that does not include actually knowing everything):o

Maths 4/2
English 4
Physics 3/4
Chemistry 3/3
French 4
History 4/7
Graphics 5
Computing 4/4

moneypuddle

Sorry never seen them like that before. Is it an attainment and an effort score for each subject? Did his results come with no explanation?

peachyprice

I can't say I've seen them like that either.

In the usual national grading system they give a grade and a sub grade, Ie. 4a. Using that system they're very low, too low for a 14yo, so they must be using their own grading system I would have thought.

kelpie35

is this standard grade for sqa results in scotland?

fletch3163

My son tells me I should not have had backslashes but dashes. So, 4-2, 3-4 etc. He does standard grade next year. We are indeed in Scotland. I betcha I have the wrong end of the stick,. He in general or credit classes normally

Gillyx

1 & 2 = credit (will allow you to study highers)
3 & 4 = general (will allow you to study intermediate 2)
5 & 6 = foundation (will allow you to study intermediate 1)

The 2 different grades for the same subject will be 2 different elements theyre usually graded different for some subjects itl be knowledge and umderstanding and then the other grade mqy be evaluation, or for some subjects practical grade and written/theory.

Hope this makes sense and sorry for typos on my phone x

edit - 7 is a fail x

kelpie35

I used to work with sqa and from these results he will only achieve general grade.
He needs to be gaining at least 3or above to get into the credit range.

I think he needs to get his head down and work hard if he wants to be entered into the credit range.

Hope this helps

fletch3163

Thanks everyone. Very insightful and informative. So if I make him study more maybe He can be credit student? He's at the end of third year now so do I just shelve plans to get him better until the the new term or do I try to get him tutored?

I really just want him to try his hardest but it seems fruitless sometimes and I feel, as the adult, that I fail him? I just cannot find the wherewithal to MAKE him try harder

Gillyx

Your son isn't stupid if he's been entered for the general/credit classes. Teachers will not generally enter pupils for general/credit if theres a chance they will fail, they'd rather take the safe option of foundation/general, that way they will get something rather than nothing.

He's also not obviously stupid as Maths, Physics and Chemistry aren't "easy" subjects.

You can't force someone to work hard and revise, even taking away treats etc for not revising, doesn't work imo. It'd be better to sit him down and ask what he want's out of life? Does he want to go to university? What sort of job and lifestyle does he want?

A tutor will only work if he puts in the effort and wants to get better. If his grades are a reflection of lazyness and not academic ability then a tutor won't help.

ViolaLass

If you feel he doesn't try, I don't see that having a tutor would make much difference.

fletch3163

Am grateful for your candour, thanks.

I think I allow too much down time. Computers, pals, phones and telly are all things that weren't in the way when I was growing up. Am not trying to hothouse Jack, I just want the best for him.

He's got a school pal who has such structure to his world (x time reading, x time on computer, x time on study, x time on free time). Both those parents are academics . That is so far in the wrong direction for me and him. I don't know how to get it.

Perhaps you're right, maybe him doing his own thing is it but am scared I am making a mistake letting him get his own way.