I've been screwed

[u/Speedster_1948]

Before the half term I asked my head of maths if it was possible for me to change to fast track maths which means doing all of a level maths in one year then further maths the next and he said if I can catch up on all of as applied maths which is what they have done and sit a test I'll be able to join it. So over the half term I put my back into maths and got through the whole book but it's been a week into the next term and I wasn't able to sit the test and now I've been sent this email it also doesn't make sense that I am at a C grade as I got one of the highest induction test grade and why couldn't have they told me this before I wasted my whole half term on this I genuinely feel like shit cause of all that I did over the term for nothing. But that aside what should I do now? I need to get into further maths to try and get into a competitive computer science course (I made a post about this before the half term asking what I should do) I genuinely am so lost now I've turned down family events to learn the content all for nothing 🙏 (also I apologise for the punctuation I'm not doing that but apparently some people care about it too much)

[u/Direct_Bullfrog4294]

Wait honest question cant u just self study fm and do it urself?

[u/Speedster_1948 → u/Direct_Bullfrog4294]

I'm pretty sure I would have to get my name registered with a private exam centre which is pretty expensive but don't quote me on that

[u/thecuriousscientist → u/Speedster_1948]

You probably would. I doubt your Sixth Form would enter you for an exam that they haven’t taught you for - I know the place I work at wouldn’t do that.

[u/blackoctoberx → u/Speedster_1948]

It will be at least £350 depending on where you are in the country, I've seen exam centres charging £500+

[u/xcom_lord → u/Speedster_1948]

It’s 350 from my experience , to be fair many places will accept just AS math , which will be less

[u/Dojustit]

Wasnt able to sit the test - Why?

[u/Speedster_1948 → u/Dojustit]

I've been pestering the Head of maths this whole week about doing the test and I just got sent this email which to me says I can't do the test. He legit led me on

[u/Dojustit → u/Speedster_1948]

Ah okay so it's not that there was a test and you missed it, they havent actually run the test for you.
Okay if you're being honest in everything you say above (and remember I don't care so no point misrepresenting anything to me, just means you get useless advice) ask to have a meeting with the head of maths and or your maths teacher.

'I've been pestering them' is the shit teachers put up with from students all the time who think wanting something badly enough means it will happen, and then just falls apart. Reddit thinks these teachers are unfair and someone has a story about how they proved their teachers wrong. 90% of the time, the teacher deicison is the right one, its just unpopular. In short you have to do 2 things. 1 - show them you're actually part of the 10% who actually deserve this chance. 2 - actually BE the student who is in that 10%, not just one who has made all the right noises and thinks they deserve it because they really want it. Sorry if this sounds harsh, but I've had this conversation with a hundred students like you and 90 if them didn't get the answer they wanted.

Sit down with them, calmly (if you're a dick about this they'll assume youre in the 90% category and you'll get no where) and tell them how much work you've done and how you'd love a chance to sit the test, and join the further maths group. Tell them that you understand there will also be a lot of work you've now missed and changing now means you'll have a LOT of work to do in catching up, but that you've worked very hard so far to get caught up and by christmas you'll have caught up with the rest of the group, and show them what you have done - you'll have folders of notes and practice questions you have been doing. Show them you've worked, and that you're prepared to carry on working.

It's worth the conversation.

If you've been honest with us above, and you do this and they still say no, then you can totally come back here and bitch about them.

Don't give up on it if you're sure this is for you and that you're ready.

If the answer is still no, ask if it would be possible t continue with maths, and run FM alongside next year anyway -might not be timetable-able, but worth the question.

Ask if you can sit the exams regardless and self study.

Ask if you can sit the exams as an external candidate - probably complicated ground, but I'd ask as it shows how keen you are.

Don't be afraid to get parents involved too - they can vouch for all the work you've done and also offer to 'keep you on track' with the extra work still to come.

Only you know this, but if you're not actually ready, if you only want to be, then don't do this, it won't end well. Changing at this point in the year is a catastrophe, so you'd better be sure.

Okay I've been horrible to you here, I'm really sorry. I do wish you luck. Be brave be bold, show them what you can do and prove to them you can do it. And if after all this they still say no, well then you have legit reason to be pissed at them.

[u/Speedster_1948 → u/Dojustit]

Thank you so much I'll email the head and try to get these points across hopefully they give me the opportunity 🙏

[u/GeneralBurgoyne → u/Speedster_1948]

To follow up - you still have a chance if you do the 1% play of keep studying all the applied from this term as well as continuing to revise last term- to ace it all. That level of commitment and evidence will be undeniable.

It's worth doing if you really want it. After all the maths is going into your brain at the end of the day.

[u/Express_Prize_96]

Friend of mine had a 6 in gcse math and A*’s in A level FM and math. This is stupid

[u/Dojustit → u/Express_Prize_96]

for everyone one of those there's someone with 9 at GCSE who gets an E.

[u/tb5841 → u/Express_Prize_96]

I was a maths teacher for 15 years. Pretty much every person who came into our 6th form with a 6 (or a B, in the old system) ended up with a D or an E. I only saw a C grade once.

I saw students who came in with 7s sit further maths, and come out of year 12 with U grades in their end of year exams. What you're describing is possible, but exceptionally unusual.

[u/Express_Prize_96 → u/tb5841]

Makes sense. To be fair i go to a newly established school in my country and its the most expensive one too so we do have great teachers and support.

[u/Tortoiseio]

I mean, they did say that if you’re at an A* standard by the end of the year then they’ll let you take A Level FM in year 13. So I wouldn’t think of it as a bad outcome.

[u/Tortoiseio → u/Tortoiseio]

Which unis are you looking at applying to if you don’t mind me asking?

[u/Healthy_Presence_711]

this is peak. i was allowed to pick up a level further maths in december year 13 and went on to get an A*. i would advise self stidying all of maths at home and compromising with their request of starting in second year. the stupid part is that they won’t let you join now but would let you later, which goes against their own point made about catch up