Maths GCSE in Year 9.

Hi.
My teacher offered me the chance and after a little thinking - I said yes...
Anyway, I'm in year 8 now and there's 4 days of school left before summer.
In order to get a good grade (it's merely practice but imagine if I got my desired grade - I wouldn't have to retake or worry about my Maths GCSE) it would require me revising for the entire summer. I honestly don't mind - I was planning to do more maths and physics this summer anyway.

The purpose of this post is partially the question: would I do the GCSE exams with the year 11's when they do their early entry in November? Or, would I do it with those year 11's who retake in the summer?

Also, I'd obviously get a few chances to retake myself, am I correct?

I want to know how to revise so much... I've looked through past papers and most of the stuff I've done, however when coming to the end of the booklet it becomes more challenging.

I hope you guys can provide me with some good advice or even try to understand what this post is about... because I'm not even entirely sure myself lol.

Many thanks.

- 美咲 (Misaki)

EDIT: it doesn't matter anymore - the department said no year 9's can do it.

(edited 12 years ago)

My only question would be what is your teacher proposing you do in Year 10 and Year 11? Acceleration can result in students becoming bored and disaffected with mathematics and ending their study of the subject prematurely.

http://www.acme-uk.org/media/7392/early%20and%20multiple%20entry%20to%20gcse%20final.pdf

http://www.m-a.org.uk/resources/Policy%20on%20Early%20and%20Repeated%20Presentation%20for%20GCSE.doc

https://www.ncetm.org.uk/news/31970

Reply 2

oli_G

12

As Mr M said taking it that early might not be the best idea. What would you be doing after the GCSE?

Reply 3

Dalek1099

21

Original post by Mr M

Well in my school we did Unit 1 in Y9 and are doing Unit 2 in Y10 and Unit 3 in Y11.In your school i'd imagine you'd be doing them with the Y10's because your will probably starting maths gcse in y9 and not finishing it in that year with the year 10s starting it in Y10 and finishing it in y11.Also,you don't need to revise much over the summer i revised one night before the exam and we only started the course in christmas.

(edited 12 years ago)

Reply 4

OkashiAddict

OP

16

Original post by oli_G

As Mr M said taking it that early might not be the best idea. What would you be doing after the GCSE?

Mathematics A-Level

Reply 5

OkashiAddict

OP

16

Original post by Mr M

My only question would be what is your teacher proposing you do in Year 10 and Year 11? Acceleration can result in students becoming bored and disaffected with mathematics and ending their study of the subject prematurely.

http://www.acme-uk.org/media/7392/early%20and%20multiple%20entry%20to%20gcse%20final.pdf

http://www.m-a.org.uk/resources/Policy%20on%20Early%20and%20Repeated%20Presentation%20for%20GCSE.doc

https://www.ncetm.org.uk/news/31970

Mathematics A-Level.

I suppose that's relatively true, however it depends on the individual, no?

Personally, I love maths. I want to do it for my A-Levels and I also want to do further maths, so I think it'd be good to get a head-start - as I want to study Physics at university.

Reply 6

OkashiAddict

OP

16

Original post by Dalek1099

Well in my school we did Unit 1 in Y9 and are doing Unit 2 in Y10 and Unit 3 in Y11.In your school i'd imagine you'd be doing them with the Y10's because your will probably starting maths gcse in y9 and not finishing it in that year with the year 10s starting it in Y10 and finishing it in y11.Also,you don't need to revise much over the summer i revised one night before the exam and we only started the course in christmas.

I mean the actual exams in year 9. So all the revision would have to be done before that.

Reply 7

Tortious

16

Original post by OkashiAddict

I mean the actual exams in year 9. So all the revision would have to be done before that.

I'd say it's doable - I did the GCSE early and then self-taught the A2 with the help of TSR. :p:

However, having said that, it'd only be worth doing early if you were going to get a good grade, otherwise you're better off waiting. :smile:

Reply 8

hajer_09

1

If you feel that you're not ready and would not be able to realistically acheive an A*, then it would not be the best idea to take the maths GCSE exam early. It's best if you do the exam once with confidence.

Reply 9

goggy

1

If you're good at maths, do it.

I would rather get an A* in Year 11 than a B in Year 9 though.

Original post by OkashiAddict

Mathematics A-Level.

I suppose that's relatively true, however it depends on the individual, no?

Personally, I love maths. I want to do it for my A-Levels and I also want to do further maths, so I think it'd be good to get a head-start - as I want to study Physics at university.

Be careful. Some top universities will ignore A Levels taken early and it may count against you if they believe your mathematical skills have atrophied.

http://www.cam.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/teachers/selection/academic.html

Reply 11

Dalek1099

21

Original post by OkashiAddict

I mean the actual exams in year 9. So all the revision would have to be done before that.

Yes thats what I meant.

Reply 12

oli_G

12

Original post by OkashiAddict

Mathematics A-Level

In my school the good mathematicians do the GCSE in year 10 and then go on to do an FSMQ (which incorporates a lot of core AS maths) in year 11 as a standalone qualification. Most of the people doing this go on to do Further maths at A level.

Does your school offer something similar as some Unis look down on a levels being taken early and I think it would be better for you to wait at least till year 10 to do the GCSE - get 100% in it, if you're good- and then do some kind of extended qualification in year 11, but not the AS.

(edited 12 years ago)

Original post by oli_G

In my school the good mathematicians do the GCSE in year 10 and then go on to do an FSMQ (which incorporates a lot of core AS maths) in year 11 as a standalone qualification. Most of the people doing this go on to do Further maths at A level.

Does your school offer something similar as some Unis look down on a levels being taken early and I think it would be better for you to wait at least till year 10 to do the GCSE - get 100% in it, if you're good- and then do some kind of extended qualification in year 11, but not the AS.