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Computer Science applicant ..but I can’t pass maths😭 What can I do ?

I’m in Year 13 doing A-level Maths, A-level Computer Science, and Level 3 Health & Social Care. Yes, it’s a pretty random mix I didn’t really know what I wanted in Year 12.
I chose Maths because it’s broad and useful for loads of degrees.
Computer Science because I loved it at GCSE.
Health & Social Care because I was interested in healthcare but didn’t want to take a pure science.

I’m doing ok in Computer Science and pretty well in Health & Social Care…
but Maths is absolutely destroying me.

Like genuinely, I’m not even passing. I try SO hard past papers, topic questions, videos, tuition but nothing stays in my head. The second I sit the exam, my mind goes blank and I end up with nearly nothing written. It’s humiliating and stressful and I feel like I’m the only one struggling this much.

Now I’m applying to uni for Computer Science, and most unis want A-level Maths. The foundation years also often won’t take you if you’ve already done A-level Maths, which puts me in such a weird position.

My parents really want me to aim for a Russell Group like Durham, Nottingham, Manchester, Liverpool, etc., but they’re all super competitive and I just feel stuck and terrified. My teachers aren’t helping and my parents don’t understand how stressed I am.

I feel like I’m trying everything but still failing.
If anyone has been in a similar situation or has advice, please help. I’m genuinely so scared and I don’t know what to do anymore.

Reply 1

Original post
by _ja5
I’m in Year 13 doing A-level Maths, A-level Computer Science, and Level 3 Health & Social Care. Yes, it’s a pretty random mix I didn’t really know what I wanted in Year 12.
I chose Maths because it’s broad and useful for loads of degrees.
Computer Science because I loved it at GCSE.
Health & Social Care because I was interested in healthcare but didn’t want to take a pure science.
I’m doing ok in Computer Science and pretty well in Health & Social Care…
but Maths is absolutely destroying me.
Like genuinely, I’m not even passing. I try SO hard past papers, topic questions, videos, tuition but nothing stays in my head. The second I sit the exam, my mind goes blank and I end up with nearly nothing written. It’s humiliating and stressful and I feel like I’m the only one struggling this much.
Now I’m applying to uni for Computer Science, and most unis want A-level Maths. The foundation years also often won’t take you if you’ve already done A-level Maths, which puts me in such a weird position.
My parents really want me to aim for a Russell Group like Durham, Nottingham, Manchester, Liverpool, etc., but they’re all super competitive and I just feel stuck and terrified. My teachers aren’t helping and my parents don’t understand how stressed I am.
I feel like I’m trying everything but still failing.
If anyone has been in a similar situation or has advice, please help. I’m genuinely so scared and I don’t know what to do anymore.

This won't be much help but out of interest what grade did you get in GCSE? Maths A level is certainly "broad and useful" as you put it, but that doesn't mean that everyone should take it as it still needs a solid foundation.

If you're in Y13 now, how did you get on in Y12? Were you struggling then, and were you offered any help or support from your teachers?

Reply 2

Original post
by davros
This won't be much help but out of interest what grade did you get in GCSE? Maths A level is certainly "broad and useful" as you put it, but that doesn't mean that everyone should take it as it still needs a solid foundation.
If you're in Y13 now, how did you get on in Y12? Were you struggling then, and were you offered any help or support from your teachers?


I got a grade 7 couple marks off an 8

Reply 3

My teachers in year 12 were really bad they literally looked forced to be there and there was my applied one and when I asked him doubts he told me that I’ll get it one day 💀

Reply 4

Original post
by _ja5
I got a grade 7 couple marks off an 8

RG is irrelevant for CS. What grade are you working at in Maths now?
(edited 3 months ago)

Reply 5

Original post
by _ja5
I’m in Year 13 doing A-level Maths, A-level Computer Science, and Level 3 Health & Social Care. Yes, it’s a pretty random mix I didn’t really know what I wanted in Year 12.
I chose Maths because it’s broad and useful for loads of degrees.
Computer Science because I loved it at GCSE.
Health & Social Care because I was interested in healthcare but didn’t want to take a pure science.
I’m doing ok in Computer Science and pretty well in Health & Social Care…
but Maths is absolutely destroying me.
Like genuinely, I’m not even passing. I try SO hard past papers, topic questions, videos, tuition but nothing stays in my head. The second I sit the exam, my mind goes blank and I end up with nearly nothing written. It’s humiliating and stressful and I feel like I’m the only one struggling this much.
Now I’m applying to uni for Computer Science, and most unis want A-level Maths. The foundation years also often won’t take you if you’ve already done A-level Maths, which puts me in such a weird position.
My parents really want me to aim for a Russell Group like Durham, Nottingham, Manchester, Liverpool, etc., but they’re all super competitive and I just feel stuck and terrified. My teachers aren’t helping and my parents don’t understand how stressed I am.
I feel like I’m trying everything but still failing.
If anyone has been in a similar situation or has advice, please help. I’m genuinely so scared and I don’t know what to do anymore.

I don't have advice but I can tell you some resources that may help get your grade up! try TL maths videos, he explains things so well! Maybe you just need to be taught by a different person (i.e him)? Also there is a website called a level maths revision that splits questions by topic! Maths is very much a practice practice practice type of subject and I think if your struggling so much the only way of fixing it is devoting a lot more extra time to it. Try not to dwell on why your struggling and if your health and social care is going well, maybe cut back some type you spend revising that for a month and put it towards maths? You still have quite a few months till exams so you've done the right thing by trying to sort it now!

With regards to universities, have you got any contextual offers? Does the university still take a lot of it's offer holders who miss the offer? Apologies, I don't know enough about this kind of thing to be of more help

Reply 6

Original post
by DishPerson :)
I don't have advice but I can tell you some resources that may help get your grade up! try TL maths videos, he explains things so well! Maybe you just need to be taught by a different person (i.e him)? Also there is a website called a level maths revision that splits questions by topic! Maths is very much a practice practice practice type of subject and I think if your struggling so much the only way of fixing it is devoting a lot more extra time to it. Try not to dwell on why your struggling and if your health and social care is going well, maybe cut back some type you spend revising that for a month and put it towards maths? You still have quite a few months till exams so you've done the right thing by trying to sort it now!
With regards to universities, have you got any contextual offers? Does the university still take a lot of it's offer holders who miss the offer? Apologies, I don't know enough about this kind of thing to be of more help


I don’t really qualify for contextual offers at many places :I went to a state school all my life but my secondary was high performing for gcses (not as much for alevels so I get that in some places ),I live in quintile 2.i haven’t submitted my application to anywhere yet I’m not sure about the offers situation either

Reply 7

Hey, i do a level maths too...
Maybe try a past paper at home and see how it goes? Does your mind go blank again or is it knowledge gaps?
If it is knowledge, you just need to practise questions - not just the easier but also the harder.
if you really understand the topic or have practised a lot, your brain shouldnt be going blank in any situation - you should at least be able to do 1 question fully

Reply 8

Original post
by _ja5
I’m in Year 13 doing A-level Maths, A-level Computer Science, and Level 3 Health & Social Care. Yes, it’s a pretty random mix I didn’t really know what I wanted in Year 12.
I chose Maths because it’s broad and useful for loads of degrees.
Computer Science because I loved it at GCSE.
Health & Social Care because I was interested in healthcare but didn’t want to take a pure science.
I’m doing ok in Computer Science and pretty well in Health & Social Care…
but Maths is absolutely destroying me.
Like genuinely, I’m not even passing. I try SO hard past papers, topic questions, videos, tuition but nothing stays in my head. The second I sit the exam, my mind goes blank and I end up with nearly nothing written. It’s humiliating and stressful and I feel like I’m the only one struggling this much.
Now I’m applying to uni for Computer Science, and most unis want A-level Maths. The foundation years also often won’t take you if you’ve already done A-level Maths, which puts me in such a weird position.
My parents really want me to aim for a Russell Group like Durham, Nottingham, Manchester, Liverpool, etc., but they’re all super competitive and I just feel stuck and terrified. My teachers aren’t helping and my parents don’t understand how stressed I am.
I feel like I’m trying everything but still failing.
If anyone has been in a similar situation or has advice, please help. I’m genuinely so scared and I don’t know what to do anymore.
The foundation degree for cs at Liverpool will consider you even if you studied a level mathematics but i'm not sure about the other RG's, maybe try looking at Manchester as well? Also try watching the chapter summaries by Bicen maths on youtube to grasp the foundation of the theory. Also pls keep rinsing out past paper questions you should eventually get it!

Reply 9

Original post
by _ja5
I’m in Year 13 doing A-level Maths, A-level Computer Science, and Level 3 Health & Social Care. Yes, it’s a pretty random mix I didn’t really know what I wanted in Year 12.
I chose Maths because it’s broad and useful for loads of degrees.
Computer Science because I loved it at GCSE.
Health & Social Care because I was interested in healthcare but didn’t want to take a pure science.
I’m doing ok in Computer Science and pretty well in Health & Social Care…
but Maths is absolutely destroying me.
Like genuinely, I’m not even passing. I try SO hard past papers, topic questions, videos, tuition but nothing stays in my head. The second I sit the exam, my mind goes blank and I end up with nearly nothing written. It’s humiliating and stressful and I feel like I’m the only one struggling this much.
Now I’m applying to uni for Computer Science, and most unis want A-level Maths. The foundation years also often won’t take you if you’ve already done A-level Maths, which puts me in such a weird position.
My parents really want me to aim for a Russell Group like Durham, Nottingham, Manchester, Liverpool, etc., but they’re all super competitive and I just feel stuck and terrified. My teachers aren’t helping and my parents don’t understand how stressed I am.
I feel like I’m trying everything but still failing.
If anyone has been in a similar situation or has advice, please help. I’m genuinely so scared and I don’t know what to do anymore.
I'm pretty sure you can apply to the Aberystwyth

Reply 10

Original post
by _ja5
I’m in Year 13 doing A-level Maths, A-level Computer Science, and Level 3 Health & Social Care. Yes, it’s a pretty random mix I didn’t really know what I wanted in Year 12.
I chose Maths because it’s broad and useful for loads of degrees.
Computer Science because I loved it at GCSE.
Health & Social Care because I was interested in healthcare but didn’t want to take a pure science.
I’m doing ok in Computer Science and pretty well in Health & Social Care…
but Maths is absolutely destroying me.
Like genuinely, I’m not even passing. I try SO hard past papers, topic questions, videos, tuition but nothing stays in my head. The second I sit the exam, my mind goes blank and I end up with nearly nothing written. It’s humiliating and stressful and I feel like I’m the only one struggling this much.
Now I’m applying to uni for Computer Science, and most unis want A-level Maths. The foundation years also often won’t take you if you’ve already done A-level Maths, which puts me in such a weird position.
My parents really want me to aim for a Russell Group like Durham, Nottingham, Manchester, Liverpool, etc., but they’re all super competitive and I just feel stuck and terrified. My teachers aren’t helping and my parents don’t understand how stressed I am.
I feel like I’m trying everything but still failing.
If anyone has been in a similar situation or has advice, please help. I’m genuinely so scared and I don’t know what to do anymore.

Hi there!

Sorry to hear you are really stressed and struggling.

We aren't a RG uni but we are still in Liverpool!

Our Computer Science degree has no subject specific requirements so we would not require A Level Maths. I will link both the typical 3 year course here as well as our Computer Science with a Year in Industry degree.

We do also offer Computer Science with a Foundation Year if you think that would be of interest.

I hope this helps!
Daisy- Graduate Advocate

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