Headstart in GCSE Maths

[Taz1981]

Good afternoon, my daughter is in year 6 and just finished her entrance exams which she did very well on and her tutor mentioned she was studying at gcse level. She’s really enjoying her maths so I want her to continue with it so was wondering which books you would recommend or sites where she can start preparing for her GCSE maths as she already has covered so much. Thanks.

[Nella]

Hi Taz1981

Congratulations on your daughter’s entrance exam results.

Apologies in advance that I won’t be able to answer your question; however I will play devil’s advocate. In my opinion (and I’m sure there will be people who disagree) why would you want your daughter to do GCSE level maths when she is not even in year 7? She’s got another 5 years of maths lessons- which she may find very tedious if she’s already covered the work.

How about spending the time being a 10/11 year old... learn to cook/ skateboard/ climb trees... when she does start yr 7 there will be plenty of academic work to do then!

Sorry again for not answering your question!

[PerpetualStudent]

Hi Taz,

Have a look at the maths sticky/beyond 11+ sticky for information on maths enrichment. Guest55, the forum’s resident maths teacher is adamantly against acceleration but a big supporter of enrichment. However there are a few kids I have known who are so quick and adept at maths that moving in lockstep with their year group is excruciating (not simply tedious).
If you do want to consider acceleration I would suggest talking to teachers and/or an organisation that regularly deals with maths-advanced kids.
Many kids in year 6, post 11+, take the opportunity to do more extra-curricular activities, and try new things. GCSE, when it starts can be a boring treadmill with endless revision.

HTH
PS

[tabasco]

Good afternoon, my daughter is in year 6 and just finished her entrance exams which she did very well on and her tutor mentioned she was studying at gcse level. She’s really enjoying her maths so I want her to continue with it so was wondering which books you would recommend or sites where she can start preparing for her GCSE maths as she already has covered so much. Thanks.

You can visit the UKMT (United Kingdom Mathematics Trust) website, there are mathematical challenges of various level which your daughter can participate in. There are also relevant books and past papers available.

[PerpetualStudent]

Thanks, yes, if you look in the Useful websites for Maths Secondary & Beyond sticky at the top of the Beyond Eleven Plus -General forum you will find the UKMT site link as well as many others recommended by Guest55.