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Do I have to resit GCSE maths?

So here's the problem, I will finish my first year in college in England while studying Core maths and getting my qualifications of it. Also studying A level History, Computer Science and Graphics.

Know I'm moving to Scotland, Glasgow but luckily I can atleast finish my first year. The problem arrives people usually pick 5 subjects from what I seen in my research there. I'm 16 but will turn 17 this year. Know I regret picking history, I'm good at it but it's boring and killing my interests.

Moving to Scotland I will probably request to start S5 instead of S6 as I wanna do higher than advance, so far that's my plan. My probability list I would study snd hoped to get is;
1. Higher Physics
2. Higher Biology
3. Higher Chemistry
4. Higher Computer Science
5. Higher Graphics

So next year I hopefully study the advance know the problem arrives I want to do dentistry but I don't wanna do maths so I picked physics over it but I'm worried their will look at my GCSE graded too, I didn't do the best in GCSE but improved so much. Would they care about my core maths grade too? I hope they do well someone answer this question please?

Also, in GCSE my grades were;
Combined Science + Maths = 5 (so 3 grade 5's)
History + English Lit, Lan = 7 (so 3 grades 7's)

So would I have to resit maths for dentistry or can I get away with core maths if I score a B in it? Do I have to resit maths or can I get away with it by getting A on physics? Someone answer my question please it's bugging me off spot and I have not even started in Scotland yet but already so worried about everything.

Reply 1

Original post
by SkyLit
So here's the problem, I will finish my first year in college in England while studying Core maths and getting my qualifications of it. Also studying A level History, Computer Science and Graphics.
Know I'm moving to Scotland, Glasgow but luckily I can atleast finish my first year. The problem arrives people usually pick 5 subjects from what I seen in my research there. I'm 16 but will turn 17 this year. Know I regret picking history, I'm good at it but it's boring and killing my interests.
Moving to Scotland I will probably request to start S5 instead of S6 as I wanna do higher than advance, so far that's my plan. My probability list I would study snd hoped to get is;
1. Higher Physics
2. Higher Biology
3. Higher Chemistry
4. Higher Computer Science
5. Higher Graphics
So next year I hopefully study the advance know the problem arrives I want to do dentistry but I don't wanna do maths so I picked physics over it but I'm worried their will look at my GCSE graded too, I didn't do the best in GCSE but improved so much. Would they care about my core maths grade too? I hope they do well someone answer this question please?
Also, in GCSE my grades were;
Combined Science + Maths = 5 (so 3 grade 5's)
History + English Lit, Lan = 7 (so 3 grades 7's)
So would I have to resit maths for dentistry or can I get away with core maths if I score a B in it? Do I have to resit maths or can I get away with it by getting A on physics? Someone answer my question please it's bugging me off spot and I have not even started in Scotland yet but already so worried about everything.

No you dont but just do higher math instead its more beneficial and desired by med school or dentistry. You have to choose one place my friend- choose eitheir scottish higher sqa currriculum or choose the english gsce and A level.

Reply 2

Original post
by MR finder al
No you dont but just do higher math instead its more beneficial and desired by med school or dentistry. You have to choose one place my friend- choose eitheir scottish higher sqa currriculum or choose the english gsce and A level.


The problem is I'm moving to Scotland and have no choice, I would done my first year of a level but will restart in Scotland to go to S5 as I mentioned. The main question is do I have to do higher maths can't I replace it with higher physics?

Reply 3

The thing is sky dear- higher math and english are quite important- many student do them at s5-
you dont need to study higher math for dentistry but it can be seen as negative point because higher math and english are core subject. Higher math is also even more important in your case since your applying to a science like subject.

So conclusively, you should definetly study higher math and english but youre not required to study them. My advice will be to replace graphic with higher math instead.

Reply 4

Original post
by SkyLit
So here's the problem, I will finish my first year in college in England while studying Core maths and getting my qualifications of it. Also studying A level History, Computer Science and Graphics.
Know I'm moving to Scotland, Glasgow but luckily I can atleast finish my first year. The problem arrives people usually pick 5 subjects from what I seen in my research there. I'm 16 but will turn 17 this year. Know I regret picking history, I'm good at it but it's boring and killing my interests.
Moving to Scotland I will probably request to start S5 instead of S6 as I wanna do higher than advance, so far that's my plan. My probability list I would study snd hoped to get is;
1. Higher Physics
2. Higher Biology
3. Higher Chemistry
4. Higher Computer Science
5. Higher Graphics
So next year I hopefully study the advance know the problem arrives I want to do dentistry but I don't wanna do maths so I picked physics over it but I'm worried their will look at my GCSE graded too, I didn't do the best in GCSE but improved so much. Would they care about my core maths grade too? I hope they do well someone answer this question please?
Also, in GCSE my grades were;
Combined Science + Maths = 5 (so 3 grade 5's)
History + English Lit, Lan = 7 (so 3 grades 7's)
So would I have to resit maths for dentistry or can I get away with core maths if I score a B in it? Do I have to resit maths or can I get away with it by getting A on physics? Someone answer my question please it's bugging me off spot and I have not even started in Scotland yet but already so worried about everything.

Core Maths is higher than GCSE - I would ask the unis you might apply to and not rely on advice on here.

Reply 5

Original post
by MR finder al
The thing is sky dear- higher math and english are quite important- many student do them at s5-
you dont need to study higher math for dentistry but it can be seen as negative point because higher math and english are core subject. Higher math is also even more important in your case since your applying to a science like subject.
So conclusively, you should definetly study higher math and english but youre not required to study them. My advice will be to replace graphic with higher math instead.


Why would I need to study English from GCSE I already have a grade 7 on both lit and lan. When I looked up at requirements no where it mentioned I need English and if I do resit maths and get a minimum of 6 what they want then I wouldn't have to do higher maths? The system for England and Scotland is different alot but these are the stuff I found out from my research.

Reply 6

Original post
by Muttley79
Core Maths is higher than GCSE - I would ask the unis you might apply to and not rely on advice on here.


Alright thx, I will double check with my new place I would study too. Just wanted to gather information before I contact them.

Reply 7

I think your first issue is going to be you are unlikely have the choice to enter S5 instead of S6. Council’s are unlikely to want to pay for an extra year of schooling for you if they don’t have to. More than that though, you don’t actually have the right to start school once you are 16, only to stay at school, so they don’t even have to accept you into S6 though they will probably do so. You can do five Highers in S6. The other issue is most schools shift you up a year after summer exams - so you start S6 at the beginning of June. If you start after the summer you will be a month behind (though students do swap courses over the summer when they get their results so there may be others starting then too).

In terms of core GCSEs, I am not familiar with these but you need to look up dentistry entry requirements. They will look to ensure you meet their academic requirements across all qualifications. Dentistry is a very competitive so you will need mostly As at Higher and your previous grades and the fact you are not studying science A levels now suggests you would be wise you consider alternative options.

Reply 8

Just saw you have already left school and are now at college in England - it is very unlikely you will be able to go to school in Scotland. You will need to look at further education colleges.

Reply 9

Original post
by FiBox
Just saw you have already left school and are now at college in England - it is very unlikely you will be able to go to school in Scotland. You will need to look at further education colleges.


In England you finish school at 16 but in school from what I seen you finish at 18 so I have to go back that's why I was asking

Reply 10

Original post
by FiBox
I think your first issue is going to be you are unlikely have the choice to enter S5 instead of S6. Council’s are unlikely to want to pay for an extra year of schooling for you if they don’t have to. More than that though, you don’t actually have the right to start school once you are 16, only to stay at school, so they don’t even have to accept you into S6 though they will probably do so. You can do five Highers in S6. The other issue is most schools shift you up a year after summer exams - so you start S6 at the beginning of June. If you start after the summer you will be a month behind (though students do swap courses over the summer when they get their results so there may be others starting then too).
In terms of core GCSEs, I am not familiar with these but you need to look up dentistry entry requirements. They will look to ensure you meet their academic requirements across all qualifications. Dentistry is a very competitive so you will need mostly As at Higher and your previous grades and the fact you are not studying science A levels now suggests you would be wise you consider alternative options.


Alright as from what I read they expect you to stay till your in in S6 that's when you become 18. And when I did tried to search up colleges they just showed schools instead that's when I found out the school have 2 extra years then you go to uni. If I do enter S5 then in the end finally day of S6 I would turn 19 in the last day of exams which won't matter alot because I finished it before turning 19 as colleges well from what i seen they schools keep you even when your 18 so I guess is would be fine?

Reply 11

Compulsory school age is 5 to 16. You have a right to stay in the school you are already attending for S5 and S6, but no right to join (though it may be allowed). Pupils leave S6 between ages 17.5 and 18.5. There is one less year of schooling in Scotland compared to England - the age range starts six months older and finish six months younger. The cut-off date between year groups is end of February, not August. Yes that does mean a lot of students starting university age 17 (or potentially age 16 if you go straight from S5 - which you can hence the four year degrees). So if you turn 17 in May this year you would currently be in S5 in Scotland a near the older end of the year group. But if you had left school at the end of S4 and were attending college (as you are) you would not be allowed to return for S6 and definitely not S5.
(edited 1 month ago)

Reply 12

How would I be considered in S4? College first year is like S5 in Scotland and last year of College is S6 in Scotland. I will ring their education line and tell my college if they can help me with arrangements just in case.

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