GCSE Maths Foundation/Higher Tier Maths

Hi basically my situation is i had a very interrupted education, i ended up leaving school and being home tutored for a while and not actually sitting any of my GCSE's.

So now i'm hoping to do 5 GCSE's over 2 years, i'm 19 i was hoping to do English, Biology IGCSE and maths at a local college but it's foundation you can only get a C. I need a grade B in maths. I'm wandering whether to do the GCSE get a C then next year do a higher tier maths course that i've seen at another college and get a A or B. But in the eyes of university's would this count as a resit as some of the university courses i'm looking at do not accept resits, i want to keep my options open.

I'm wandering whether to do this or just do a IGCSE distance learning and have the chance to get a A or B without doing a foundation maths for a year then higher tier..

I do feel somewhat that i would benefit from doing maths foundation and then higher tier as maths is generally my weak point, but i also think i could do the 2 GCSE's i'm doing this year anyway revise maths as well throughout the year and then next year just do a IGCSE and get a B.

Can anyone give me some advice? if doing foundation and then higher tier is going to count as a resit then ideally i'd rather just do the IGCSE.

Don't worry about it.
Do foundation and if you get your C then move on to higher tier.
What university has a problem with GCSE resits? They will consider your personal circumstances when they assess your educational achievements.

Posted from TSR Mobile

There's a few but not many to be honest, thanks for your advice, so you think it would probably be a bad idea going straight to IGCSE? i think i'd benefit from doing the C then B but still cant decide. Also i've heard that the foundation paper is harder as you have to get 90% to get a C but on the higher tier only 45% to get a C ??? surely cant be right...

You have to do well in foundation tier for a C (but not 90%). That's because it only tests the easy topics. It's very important therefore to avoid errors.
You need a lower mark on higher tier for a C ( but not as much as 45%) because it tests the harder topics.
If you have studied for higher tier and mastered some of the topics, a C on higher might be easier than foundation. If you have not yet studied them or are struggling with them then foundation may be the best choice.
Try some past higher papers, see how you do.


Posted from TSR Mobile

I'd also like to add that if you're applying to uni next year for the 17/18 cycle and need a B it's better for you to just take the higher paper now, especially if you know that you're able to get it as it's better for you to apply having the grade that you need rather than applying with a C which may be lower than the entry requirements.

Even if you get a C in the higher you can retake it the next year with the experience of having sat the higher paper.


Posted from TSR Mobile

Thanks a lot for your help, I'm probably going to do A levels or an access course after, basically i don't have enough time to do a higher at another college as all the courses have started also as a requirement you tend to already need to have a C in the foundation. I could do the IGCSE, I think i'm capable of just sitting the higher/IGCSE first time and if i don't get a B and i have to sit it again, i'll be in the same situation as if i do the foundation and then the higher anyway.