Paps Penny's

postingalwaysposting

postingalwaysposting wrote: »

Still no news from college, impatient moi

Failed! No interview for me:

English: Level 2
Written English: Level 2
Maths: Level 1

Unfortunately, we are unable to offer you a place on the Access course at this time due to your current level of Maths skills. We require applicants to be working at Level 2 in all areas before considering them a place on the course.

So there we go back to square one! I will email the college about the cost of the 'improve your maths' certificate. But I don't think it will be of any use because I will have top retake these assessments next year and will prob still fail them as I can't do anything mathmatical under pressure. Thank heavens yesterday when work offered me Lvl 3 NVQ I said yes otherwise I would potentionally waste a year.

I am devestated but one positve would be I can now save for Uni/College this coming year. Potentially if I continue with this I will now be 32 once I qualify :eek: Which means I need to be in a steady job by the time I am 35 to even imagine getting a mortgage :undecided


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skint_spice

Sorry to hear that PAP, you don't think the extra year and lots of practise might make you confident enough to sit the exam? 32 is nothing - I'll be 47:o but if you don't do it you might get to 32 and think "what if..."

Sparkles87

What Skint said, after another year's learning you might be more confident, the thing is, you haven't got to be a great mathematician - just good enough to apply it to the job and once it clicks then it'll all fall into place.

32 is nothing! Lots of people change careers well into their 40s/50s so don't worry about that. You can't plan your whole future hun

postingalwaysposting

Thanks Skinty and Sparks,

Its not even an exam its a number test (multipule choice) on the PC, if I can't pass that! The reason I mentioned age is I dream of purchasing a house, but it would have to be alone and the mortgage solely on my income. Most mortgages are 25yrs so no one will touch me once I reach 35+. I can't plan what will happen in years to come you are right Sparks but everyone has life goals

I have emailed the college (A) to ask about the fees for that impove your maths course...

However I have also found the access course at the other college (B) in my town. I was looking to see if that college (B) allows adults onto its maths GCSE because the other (A) doesn't. I could prob get on to thier (B) maths GCSE if I wanted to as I think I cover the entry requirements. But do I just apply through them (B) for the access course? :huh:

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greyfox

Oh, PAP, what a shame. I know you must be very disappointed but don’t get despondent. I’m sure you’ll be able to crack this Maths thing by next year. I only wish I could help (I was one of those lucky/sad people who loved Maths!) but I’m rather too far away.

I’ve had a quick Google & found a forum from a few years ago where people were discussing the tests for Nursing Access courses.One of them suggested this site, which she said had helped her. She found it quite hard to begin with but practiced a lot & passed her test on the day. As far as I can see it's free (which is always a bonus!)
http://www.move-on.org.uk/ilr_php/numeracy/welcome.php

Someone else suggested the BBC Bitesize stuff, which might be worth looking at. (Just Google "BBC Bitesize".)

I'll let you know if I think of, or find, anything else.

Good luck!
GF x

greyfox

I shouldn't worry too much that you'll be too old to get a mortgage when you're 35. That might have been true when women's pension age was 60 - as lenders may be reluctant to give loans which would still be running when the borrower retires - but one of the (few!) advantages of pension age going up is that the age at which they will happily lend to people should be going up, too.

skint_spice

PAP by the time you can retire will the age not have gone up to 67/68 anyway meaning you could take it out at 42/43? My not so young man took one a couple of years ago at 43 over 22 years so it's not set in stone - don't worry about it.

greyfox

I've found another site for you to have a look at
http://www.snap.nhs.uk/details.aspx

If you click on "Have a go", it will take you to a sample test. Try the "general" one. If you get stuck on a question, you can ask for a "hint" (though I'm not sure how helpful the hints are, having looked at a couple of them!). Worth a try, though.

I think there may be more on there if you register, but haven't been able to find out quite what there is.

GF x

Sparkles87

Our mortgage is over 35 years so I wouldn't worry about time ticking yet, plus having a profession makes you more likely to get a good mortgage as they know you're more guaranteed a job

Contact the colleges and ask, definitely can't hurt and once you're in the learning environment for your Access, you might find that the Maths comes easier when the brain cells start ticking

postingalwaysposting

Many thanks GF, I used learner route (the site you linked too) in the weeks up to my test, it was suggested by the college. I got Lvl 2 each time I took a test :mad: Thanks for that snap website I will be using that in future.

Thanks GF, Skinty and Sparks for the advice about the mortgage. That makes more sense so I am not panicing as much. However I also wanted to move out of home soon. I had figured out in my head that I only had to stay here 4 more years before saving for a deposit (taking approx 1/2 more years) now its looking at 6 before I even start saving

So I have two options:

A) Attend a GCSE Maths class this coming year, free at college B. Find a personal tutor to aid me if needed. Save like mad and hopefully get accepted to college A next year for access. *maybe find a better paid job*

Apply to college B for access and also attend college B for GCSE Maths. *maybe find a better paid job*

The reason I don't want to go to college B for the access is you need no/little qualifications. You also need very little work experience in the sector. Therefore you have a high percentage of people who are not really interested. Also there rates of leavers going to Uni's are very low.

Still undecided but I really can't see me living here in this box for another 6++ years.

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