I've failed

**Patty**

Voyager2002 wrote: »

With good teaching, anyone can get GCSE Maths. The problems you now face are clearly not your fault, so blame bad teaching in the past rather than yourself.

The test you took for the GCSE course is actually very useful: the result shows that the teacher who let you down was at an early stage, so you never understood some of the concepts that provide the foundation upon which GCSE understanding is built. So no wonder that you found Maths lessons and exams baffling and frustrating.

You will need to learn now what they failed to teach you then. So long as you have good guidance, and start at an early enough stage, it will not be difficult,

^^^ This times a million.

Math is like bricklaying. If you don't get the foundation laid properly, the bricks won't cement.

Give it another shot. What have you got to lose?

dawyldthing

I did primary school teacher training for 4 years, got my degree but failed final placement due to the stress of it as I couldn't concentrate on all the demands and I do regret it sometimes. How about being a cover supervisor. If I was to look back at my younger self I would probably not have gone to uni until now I recogn as I've had more life experience and from 18-23 I still felt like a big kid and didn't take it as seriously as I could have done. I also got a 2.2 but am happy with it, just haven't got the qts.

The more experience you have the more chances you will have of getting onto the PGCE course as there are more people trying to get on the course than there are places, so the more experience you can demonstrate the better. Also the tutoring route might help as I was told at some point you can teach or tutor 2 levels below what you have got, so technically with a degree in English you should be able to tutor to GCSE, but will in the future ideally need the qts. Have you also tried the bbc bitesize videos and dvds of maths as they helped me get through my maths gcse as they are more practical. There are standards you need to pass before getting your pgce as someone also mentioned, but these can be practiced online. There is also TAs, HLTAs needed, Learning support assistants and other roles in school that may help get the foot in the door as some schools also train people on the job on SCitt programmes I think they were (might have changed now though as going back some years now).

Do try different options as you never know with the right tutor who gets your learning style could be the gateway to getting the GCSE you want and require

grey_lady

When i was at a very low point someone told me that God doesn't close a door without opening a window.

Please don't refer to a 2:2 and a D in maths gcse as crappy, that's what I achieved and I earn over 50k a year as a freelancer.

Pm me if I can be of any help but i think success is down to your own attitude.

thorsoak

Dear Wiggy - have you heard the term "Dyscalculia"? See http://www.bdadyslexia.org.uk/about-dyslexia/schools-colleges-and-universities/dyscalculia.html

My friend - in her 40s - applied to uni as a mature student, studying biology. She attained a 2.1 B.Sc degree after a horrendous struggle which was compounded by her inability to deal with figures - uni sent her for testing and discovered that she suffered from this condition - and she was given some assistance (timewise, I believe) in attaining her degree. So there may be help out there for you.

So don't give up on everything - you are succeeding in the most important career open to anyone - bringing up your little boy.

harrys_nan

Hi,
I have nothing more to add to the brilliant advise you have already received on here. I remember your other struggles that you have been through and far from being a loser, you are a survivor and with your attitude you can overcome anything that life sends your way.
Read the links that have been posted and act on them.
You are everything to your child and dont ever think of letting his grandma have him, that will break his little heart. If he turns out as strong and determined as you, he will be a star

paulineb_2

I dont even have an honours degree and I dont consider myself a failure. I didnt want to stay on and do my honours year, I did 2 post grads later on but my path to a career wasnt easy to be honest, because I couldnt get a job when I graduated, I spent 2 years on the dole after I did my first degree because when I graduated in 1992 things were much the same as they are at the moment, few jobs around.

But I did get work, I got part time work, went and did a post grad and then worked full time for a number of years. I did a lot of voluntary work along the way, because my view is, not only are you helping people, its good for the CV as well

Ive had a few spells of unemployment over the last 4 years, Im now self employed and yes being out of work got me down, but I never considered myself a useless, jobless layabout and Im twice your age and a bit more.

We all have something to give, no matter what we think at any given time.

As for maths, it was never my strong point. I got a C in my O grade, we had some very new teachers who got a tough time from some of the classes, I got that grade due to extra tutoring as well and it took me two goes to get my Higher Maths, all I can say for me is that something eventually clicked, I got 70 per cent in my Higher prelim second time around and a B for my Higher. I have a friend who failed her Higher Maths twice, she just failed both times, but it didnt stop her getting a job in a bank.

Id agree that there are probably other ways you can get that GCSE, modules that are equivalent, so stick with it.

And dare I say it, if you are feeling so low, I dont think it will just be because of this GCSE, Ive not read your other threads, but sometimes when life has been a bit tough, you lose perspective and things feel like the end of the world.

If you havent been to your GP for a chat, Id certainly go, take all the support you need.

Id never call anyone a failure, as I said, we all have something to give.

You got your degree, thats a big achievement, you should never feel the need to say sorry for the grade you got.

Prothet_of_Doom

You managed to get a 2:2 and bring up a baby ? Brilliant. Just the sort of hard working, go getting person we need in our work force.

I'm struggling to suggest your next step. I'll have a think and maybe PM you.

Jenny484

I just wanted to quickly say, I work in marketing and I dropped out of university after studying philosophy. There are plenty of options for you.

Lunar_Eclipse

Do you know what, I think you're doing brilliantly!

If you can, my suggestion is to study for the Maths again by yourself. You can sit the exam at a study centre. What are you doing for money though? Very tough to have a mortgage and a child as a young single parent. Keep going, you're doing so well!

duchy

Honestly you are in a real strong position at the moment - ironically stronger than most graduates from this year because as a single Mum you get support whether you work or not so it gives you time to sort things out.

Go and talk to your local college-you won't be the first graduate without GCSE Maths and you won't be the last... I know a couple of people with Firsts who don't have Maths..... I also know a lady starting her first teaching job today as a NQT who also had exactly the same struggles with Maths you do (also a single parents but with two children) but she did exactly what people have suggested here and got some classroom experience (she also got involved with a guide troop) and studied part time after her degree to improve her CV (PGCE is over subscribed where she lives) for when she was ready to apply to college for PGCE ...which basically took the pressure off to get the Maths -and once the pressure was off she found proper adult Maths support and got the help she needed to get it.

You probably feel like you are the only person in this situation - but honestly you are NOT.

Hopefully after a good night's sleep you are feeling more positive today-this is the beginning not the end for you and your son.