The woes of teenage exams

FBaby

just remind her as long as she gets 5 A-C's with at least a C in maths, English possibly science with the subjects she would like to continue studying in, GCSE's don't really mean a lot!!!

I would think that very much depends on the subjects they might want to pursue. I was informed that Medical Schools WILL check GCSEs results during their admission process, not just A levels and some schools will not take pupils with Bs, even if they got 3 As at 'A' levels.

securityguy

sazaccount wrote: »

Hi,

I know this might get shot down by others but unless your DD has decided not to go onto A-level or NVQ, just remind her as long as she gets 5 A-C's with at least a C in maths, English possibly science with the subjects she would like to continue studying in, GCSE's don't really mean a lot!!!:j

I'm afraid that's simply untrue. GCSE results (not quite as a raw score, but contextualised in ways which don't make a huge difference) are one of the primary mechanism used to filter applications to selective universities. Without decent GCSE results, your options at 18 are significantly reduced. And most schools will not permit you to take an A Level unless you have at least a B, and in many cases an A, in the subject, and for maths the gatekeeper is sometimes an A* (particularly if you want to do further maths).

Once you have your degree, your GCSEs cease to matter. But to get your degree, they can be very important.

sazaccount

securityguy wrote: »

I'm afraid that's simply untrue. GCSE results (not quite as a raw score, but contextualised in ways which don't make a huge difference) are one of the primary mechanism used to filter applications to selective universities. Without decent GCSE results, your options at 18 are significantly reduced. And most schools will not permit you to take an A Level unless you have at least a B, and in many cases an A, in the subject, and for maths the gatekeeper is sometimes an A* (particularly if you want to do further maths).

Once you have your degree, your GCSEs cease to matter. But to get your degree, they can be very important.

Unless things have drastically changed in the last 10 years, I do disagree. As I said I coasted along at my GCSE's I got CC in English BB in maths (1 taken a year early) CCC Sciences, The rest were C or below. I still went onto to do Maths, Physics, Psychology, Geography, science for public understanding. I then fell of the wagon completely in AS/ALevel. But I was still offered places at 5 of the 6 universities I applied to do Earth sciences/geophysics courses. I came out the end of my Alevels with a grand total of 1 which was geography and 4 E's at AS's.

The point I am trying to make though for the OP is to make her DD aware that its not the end of the world and not to get too stressed out over them!!

Andypandyboy

sazaccount wrote: »

Unless things have drastically changed in the last 10 years, I do disagree. As I said I coasted along at my GCSE's I got CC in English BB in maths (1 taken a year early) CCC Sciences, The rest were C or below. I still went onto to do Maths, Physics, Psychology, Geography, science for public understanding. I then fell of the wagon completely in AS/ALevel. But I was still offered places at 5 of the 6 universities I applied to do Earth sciences/geophysics courses. I came out the end of my Alevels with a grand total of 1 which was geography and 4 E's at AS's.

The point I am trying to make though for the OP is to make her DD aware that its not the end of the world and not to get too stressed out over them!!

Indeed they have changed. The top universities do place a great deal of emphasis on GCSE grades.

securityguy

sazaccount wrote: »

Unless things have drastically changed in the last 10 years,!

They have, although GCSE results were alway the top selector for selective universities.

You will not get an interview at Oxford or Cambridge without essentially straight As. Startling AS results will override GCSE results for Cambridge. With the GCSE results you describe you would be lucky, depending on the course, to get an offer from a Russell Group university.

You will not get an interview for medicine without pretty much the same, although a high UKCAT/BMAT may help.

Which universities did you apply to?

Jagraf

It's medicine she wants to do, although she has also made a list of alternatives related to medicine as she knows it ain't gonna be a walk in the park.
Also for some subjects all the A level exams are at the end of the two years, and apparently will be "harder", whatever that means.