GCSE Results

[scoobydooby]

I've had a phone call from my daughter this morning giving me her exam results. She's working at the school this week and is helping with their summer school, so she's not able to answer this question for me. She has A* in most of her subjects (yes, I'm the proud Mum today) but she has AA in double science. Can anyone explain this result for me? I know it must be good but is it somewhere between an A and an A*? Thanks :o)

[loobie]

Hey Scooby,
Firstly massive congratulations to your daughter, they are fantatic results.
I think that the AA is because it is double science she would get two grades for it. I only done single science (a good few years ago) and only got one grade and because of that only ended up with 8 gcse's where others had 9! If I am wrong I apologise but I think that is prob what it is.

[pingping]

Hey Scoobie, yes loobie is right, the A's stand for two seperate grades as they are usually assessed seperately. When I did them, I got one grade for Biology and a seperate grade for Chemistry and Physics.

congrats to your daughter!

[foxydivano1]

Congrats. Its a double grade - as most science GCSE's are for a dual/double award :)

[ewand]

To supplement with some (potentially incorrect but I think i'm right) information, a while back Maggie Thatcher wanted a heavier focus on science in schools therefore the time allocation was "upped" and some students could get a dual award, therefore the value of two GCSE's.

[JeWeL41]

I teach science Double Award which is common in most secondary schools now. Essentially Biology, Physics and Chemistry have equal amounts of time dedicated to them and the result is equal to 2 GCSE's. The 2 results are always the same - double A is excellent. Have to say though I wish the sciences were taught seperately as they were in the good old days so that we could get some real specialists back. Teaching all sciences as one means that if you are particularly weak in one discipline it drags your overall grades down!

[higgirach]

yeah it just means that she gets 2 A grades! Science is a double award at most school so shes got 2 A's for science, same as me!