Re-taking GCSE Maths - worth it?

[Bloodrayne]

Hi all,

I took my GCSEs over 20 years ago, but am now in a position that I would like to retrain and do something entirely new with my career; when I took my GCSEs I did not do particularly well - my result for Maths was a D, which means that many pre-qualifications listed rule me out.

However, I have spent the past 20 years or so doing a variety of roles in a professional business environment, so whilst this hasn't quite covered what I remember from my GCSEs (I can't remember the last time I had to calculate an angle, for example...) it does demonstrate that I am numerate and comfortable using numbers.

Is it worthwhile re-sitting the exam after all this time? Or will my professional experience cover this requirement for most?

Or does it really depend on what I want to do? (for example, as a teacher - the grade would be needed, but for other roles less pressing an issue).

Thanks

 

[Bloodrayne]

Thanks - I think it's a case of for any new role I'd probably want to retrain, so it's just in case training centres were sticklers for that sort of thing.

My GCSEs don't actually appear on my CV currently, and with good reason (long time ago, not great results!) - a friend relocated to the Middle East for a role and had to reapply to have his results sent to him, so I am just trying to rule out any such issues with low grades/poor performance in my distant past having an impact.

It's absolutely worth redoing. It's frustrating how important GCSEs remain long after you've taken them but they're evidence of your ability. As such you need the evidence to prove you're a better hire than the next guy that comes along.

Thanks - I was thinking this, and I think I could easily beat my previous grade (my teenage years were not brilliant), but it's just the cost involved - would learndirect courses leading to GCSE exam/award be the way to go?

 

[Bloodrayne]

Thanks for all the feedback - to confirm that the only reason I would re-take my GCSE Maths would be if a training course required it, and would not take any of my 20 years professional experience as relevant. It's not something that appears on my CV (as my education ended at secondary school I tend to keep my CV down to two pages and focused on the much more relevant experience of the past few years).

I imagine I could get a better GCSE pass, but I am not sure it's the best way to spend time unless I first find a training course that insists on it (and as mentioned above, hopefully there would be some option to train alongside my chosen qualification).

I think the first step will be to actually figure out what I want to do, and again bemoan the fact that I didn't spend some time over the past 20 years getting a token degree...

Lots of results on the internet about changing career in mid-30s so I am not worried about that or taking a salary hit, but it's just finding something that is in demands, and fits around child care commitments that I have.

 

[Bloodrayne]

Thanks again - some more food for thought - when it comes to education on CV, I have just neglected to mention this in recent CVs; as all I have are GCSEs my work achievements since then are much more impressive than what I did when I was 15.

I'm not thick (well, I don't think so...), but I lack the relevant bits of paper to offer re-assurances to anyone that may want to employ me... It amazes me that 20 years after doing the GCSEs I could still be denied opportunities because I opted to go minimal effort years ago (teenage me has a lot to answer for), and after the good fortune of consistent employment it is very strange to be in this position when thinking if I want to do something else.