Dilemma, higher or foundation?
Discussion for GCSE students, including those studying for IGCSEs and O Levels.
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Dilemma, higher or foundation?Basically for some reason I chose to do french at GCSE and it is by far my worst subject. I now have a choice whether to do higher or foundation. All together, my 4 course works have been C, B, A and A which means I'm on a solid B, however the only reason I got these marks is because I'm good at remembering stuff, so for the actual exams I'm kinda screwed. I'm wondering if by doing foundation paper for reading and listening and by getting Cs in both, is it possible for me to get a B overall? What shall I do, thank you!
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Re: Dilemma, higher or foundation?The reason I'm asking is because I KNOW I won't get an a in higher, I reckon C would be the highest I'd get, so I'm wondering if foundation will be easier to get a C in? And if I do get a C in that if I could get a B overall with my course work grades, thank you(Original post by hcam)
Please do the higher paper. Then you can get an A. Doing foundation limits you to a C. It may be easier but there is no reward. -
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Re: Dilemma, higher or foundation?Always go for higher. You need around 85% in the foundation just to get a C and we all make silly mistakes in a exam situation so unless you are confident of hitting the exam with your best shot then don't do foundation.
Higher generally has an overlap; some of the questions are foundation style and are there to help students get a pass grade. I would say always go for higher. The easier test that foundation offers isn't really worth it when you consider you need almost full marks to attain a pass grade of a C -
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Re: Dilemma, higher or foundation?the reason I can't get an A is because I am SO bad at french, I know barely any vocab and so always do bad in the proper exams and it's too late for me to start learning it now(Original post by hcam)
Why not aim for A? If you can get B why not?
Why do think you only can get C? Sure, it will be B but not a high B. Sorry for being pushy, I just want you to get the highest grade possible. -
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Re: Dilemma, higher or foundation?oh so do you think it is easier to get a C in higher than in foundation? If so what is the point of the different tiers?(Original post by ConorF)
Always go for higher. You need around 85% in the foundation just to get a C and we all make silly mistakes in a exam situation so unless you are confident of hitting the exam with your best shot then don't do foundation.
Higher generally has an overlap; some of the questions are foundation style and are there to help students get a pass grade. I would say always go for higher. The easier test that foundation offers isn't really worth it when you consider you need almost full marks to attain a pass grade of a C -
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Re: Dilemma, higher or foundation?The listening and reading is on the 14th and 17th, and my teacher advised me to take higher because my coursework grades were quite high compared to the rest of the class, but I think it will be better for me to take foundation because I know I won't get higher than a B(Original post by hcam)
It's not too late to start revising, just a bit every day. When is your exam? Who advised you to take foundation? Was it the teacher? -
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Re: Dilemma, higher or foundation?the only reason I have a B for my course work grade is because I used google translate for it all and have a good memory, not because I am good at french haha(Original post by hcam)
Listen to your teacher. You've already got a B so you can get B in the exam or higher. Thoughts? -
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Re: Dilemma, higher or foundation?You've still got over a week, that's not too late to start going through the vocab. Go Higher or you're just limiting yourself incase the questions in the higher turned out to be ones you know.(Original post by physicshelpme)
the only reason I have a B for my course work grade is because I used google translate for it all and have a good memory, not because I am good at french haha -
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Re: Dilemma, higher or foundation?To sort the weak from the chaff so to speak. Hey, you can go and do foundation and the view of the exam boards is anything apart from a U is a pass (Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General...cation#Grading)(Original post by physicshelpme)
oh so do you think it is easier to get a C in higher than in foundation? If so what is the point of the different tiers?
So they see the foundation as an opportunity for the weaker students to receive a range of grades; In reality anything below a C is a fail so you have a much better chance of getting a real world pass if you do the higher tier.
I know someone who done their GCSE maths twice and failed with an E & U respectively. Now that person went and done the course again and stuck with the higher tier. Why? Not because they became a genius at maths all of a sudden but because the teacher advised everyone strongly that if your weak at a subject and you want a pass then go for the higher because it is much easier to get a C in the higher than it is to get a C in the foundation. That person came out in the end with a middle boundary C grade in their maths.
