Bearing in mind that I am 66 years old and that my academic education ended when I was about 13 years old. I decided, just for the hell of it, to see about getting a GCSE in Maths and attended my local college last week for what they call a diagnostic test which was a couple of maths papers. After seeing them, and researching the syllabus of a couple of examination boards I realised I would have no chance of keeping up with a class so decided to aim for the foundation course. I had a phone call from the college today offering me a place on the GCSE course based on the result of the tests I did. They said I was in the top 10 percent of those taking the tests. Seeing there were two papers and I completed most of paper one but only a couple of questions on paper two, if I was well scored it doesn't say a lot for those below me. Anyway, rightly or wrongly, I have turned down the GCSE course and am going to aim for the Foundation course. I would still like to do the full exam but I think I will build up to it gently rather than going straight in and finding it too much and dropping out.
GCSE Maths
- Thread starter compo
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Fnaar
Smutmaster General
- Location
- Thumberland
It just doesn't add up 
No, good for you. Never too old to learn, I always say.
No, good for you. Never too old to learn, I always say.
It just doesn't add up
One of the questions didn't add up in my answer. They showed a triangle with 2 angles stated and asked what the third angle was. Easy thought I, 360 degrees minus the sum of the other two angles. DOH. As I was leaving the college afterwards I suddenly realised my error, too late.
numbnuts
Squire
- Location
- Gone over the hill and far away
I was never any good at maths it was all those flipping apples and oranges when I went to school and if Peter had six and Mary had five how many does Jane have how the hell do I know
byegad
Legendary Member
- Location
- NE England
If Baldric has two beans and Blackadder gives him 2 more beans he has, SOME BEANS.
If he gets 4 more beans he has bean soup.
If he gets 4 more beans he has bean soup.
Supersuperleeds
Legendary Member
- Location
- Leicester
I was never any good at maths it was all those flipping apples and oranges when I went to school and if Peter had six and Mary had five how many does Jane have how the hell do I know
Jane doesn't have any, she swapped them for a sherbet fountain.
Fnaar
Smutmaster General
- Location
- Thumberland
Jane showed me her 'apples' behind the bike sheds.
There were three of them, and I've not been the same since
There were three of them, and I've not been the same since
vernon
Harder than Ronnie Pickering
- Location
- Meanwood, Leeds
I was never any good at maths it was all those flipping apples and oranges when I went to school and if Peter had six and Mary had five how many does Jane have how the hell do I know
You should have asked Jane. She's a helpful girl and would have volunteered the answer.
subaqua
What’s the point
- Location
- Leytonstone
good luck with the foundation course.
lots of people tell me they are rubbish at maths and don't understand ratios or percentages or fractions , but ask them to tell you how much you will win for a £10 accumulator on x number of horse at different odds and the answer is there in a flash.
its not about the pure maths its about the application IMHO
lots of people tell me they are rubbish at maths and don't understand ratios or percentages or fractions , but ask them to tell you how much you will win for a £10 accumulator on x number of horse at different odds and the answer is there in a flash.
its not about the pure maths its about the application IMHO
annedonnelly
Girl from the North Country
- Location
- Canonbie
Well done Compo and good luck. Feel free to drop me a PM if you need a hand with anything - I spent last year working in a school coaching borderline students to get their GCSE maths grade so I've worked with pupils who struggled much more than you will.
It sounds like you've signed up for the GCSE Foundation course. Whatever you get will be a GCSE grade, but on the Foundation paper you can't score higher than a 'C' grade. Nothing to stop you trying the Higher paper next year
It sounds like you've signed up for the GCSE Foundation course. Whatever you get will be a GCSE grade, but on the Foundation paper you can't score higher than a 'C' grade. Nothing to stop you trying the Higher paper next year
vernon
Harder than Ronnie Pickering
- Location
- Meanwood, Leeds
It's not about the application. It's about the motivation to get the answer right.
My kid brother got an O' level in metal work and nowt else. He can run rings round accountants and the Inland Revenue when it comes to hanging onto his millions.
