Somewhat Disheartened

[ramfeild66]

So this morning I awoke to find two company's I previously thought I had adequate grades to apply for have rejected my applications based on my GCSE C in Maths. Considering in my notes I had already ruled out Anglo Eastern and SSTG because they required B's I can only assume these two other companies have either decided applicants need a GCSE B in Maths recently, or I misread their minimum entry requirements.

From a number of sources I have read there is currently an upturn in applications and I am wondering if this is causing companies to reassess their entry requirements.

I've been looking around as to how to resit and re-educate myself in GCSE maths but it seems so complicated (the route that is, not the syllabus). I've looked into Distance Learning, but they only provide the course material, they do not get you a place in an actual examination and amidst all this I'm in the process of moving AND even if I do retake my GCSE Maths I'm not eligible to take any exams until June next year (by when I'll be 28 and headed rapidly toward my 29th year).

I guess I'm just a bit frustrated that so many of the major recruiters have effectively been closed off to me. I've now got just 5 applications outstanding and with the exception of Maersk and CMT, they're all with small recruiters.

[alistairuk]

There are minimum "academic requirements" specified by the colleges who run the courses - as you have said some companies have higher requirements and others much higher (usually because they are not accepting applicants for the HND course).

The present *minimum requirements* (for anyone else reading this - as I guess you already know) are;

HND Course: GCSE Grades A-C/Scottish Standard grades at Levels 1-3 in English, Maths, a Science based subject and at least one other subject.

Foundation Degree: 120 UCAS points in unspecified A Levels or Scottish Highers Plus GCSE / Scottish Standard Grades in English, Maths, a Science based subject and at least one other subject at levels A or B / Scottish credit level.

If they stated the reason for your rejection was the 'c in mathematics' then it's most likely they are recruiting for the foundation degree course or they have had a large number of applicants with higher grades.

Not really much to say - you already know the solutions to the problem, so all I can really do is wish you luck with the other companies you are awaiting a response from - on a side note 29 isn't the oldest to be starting - on last ship I had a cadet who was 35.

[strasjack95]

For the Foundation Degree, can you count the UCAS points from the Scottish Standard Grades? Or does it mean you must have your Highers before applying?

[alistairuk]

UCAS points didn't used to cover standard grade / GCSE - and I don't see it on the UCAS Tariff web site http://www.ucas.com/students/ucas_tariff/tarifftables/

If you're asking can you apply while still sitting your Higher examinations - then yes - but any offer will be conditional on you passing your higher examinations with sufficient grades.

[strasjack95]

Yes I looked at that but then on other websites it said a Standard Grade 1 was equal to 38 points, so I became a bit confused.

I'm sitting my Highers this year so does that allow me to apply for Viking with their minimum entry requirements?

[danielbv07]

Hi Ramfeild66, as Alistair said really. If you have indeed applied for the HND route I suspect the sponsors in question have increased their minimum entry requirements based on a significant increase in the number of applications they are receiving.

As for your maths, have you thought about getting hold of a specification and teaching yourself? There are plenty of resources online. It may also be worth while looking at doing a FSMQ (see http://www.ocr.org.uk/qualifications/type/fsmq/maths/fa_maths_mei/).

Strasjack95, AFAIK it is only Highers / Advanced Highers that attract UCAS points.

Oh and it’s probably worth a mention; for the FD some sponsors will only consider applicants with an A level in maths and/or physics.

[Clanky]

To be honest there is a fair bit of maths in the course for both deck and engine cadets and the better a grasp you have of GCSE level maths you have the less you will struggle with the maths which are expected of you at college.

[lazygenius]

I was accepted onto the FD Engine course last year with only a 3 at standard grade in maths with Maersk. To be honest I can understand why the want a higher level of maths as Maths figures heavily in almost every subject you do as an engineer. I am finally now at a level I feel semi comfortable with maths but that?s been after a year of hard work on it. If you do have to resit the GCSC then it wouldn?t be time wasted, although I can understand your frustration.

[ramfeild66]

My frustration is more borne out of the fact the entry requirements have been raised. My low GCSE Maths was a combination of a number of things... being forced into the higher tier, when I could have got a B in the intermediate tier (like my sister did), knowing at the time I would be dropping Maths. Also talking to a couple of maths teachers the standard level has dipped noticeably in the last 15 years on an increased gradient. The thing is what I consider practical maths I'm bang on, despite having an English degree I find the kinds of mathematical questions in apptitude tests reasonably easy and most non-calculator maths I'm great at. Having a brush up on maths is certainly no bad thing. I'm more frustrated that I didn't have a clue what I wanted to do until I was in my 20's as I'm sure many are when they reach 25. Hopefully something will materialize with the other companies I still have applications out with. I tend to do well in interviews.

[Ducki52]

So this morning I awoke to find two company's I previously thought I had adequate grades to apply for have rejected my applications based on my GCSE C in Maths. Considering in my notes I had already ruled out Anglo Eastern and SSTG because they required B's I can only assume these two other companies have either decided applicants need a GCSE B in Maths recently, or I misread their minimum entry requirements.

From a number of sources I have read there is currently an upturn in applications and I am wondering if this is causing companies to reassess their entry requirements.

I've been looking around as to how to resit and re-educate myself in GCSE maths but it seems so complicated (the route that is, not the syllabus). I've looked into Distance Learning, but they only provide the course material, they do not get you a place in an actual examination and amidst all this I'm in the process of moving AND even if I do retake my GCSE Maths I'm not eligible to take any exams until June next year (by when I'll be 28 and headed rapidly toward my 29th year).

I guess I'm just a bit frustrated that so many of the major recruiters have effectively been closed off to me. I've now got just 5 applications outstanding and with the exception of Maersk and CMT, they're all with small recruiters.

Mate, I was in the same position regards an RFA application. Even though my written and spoken English and grammar is (saying so myself) pretty damn good, and better than some graduates , because I have Cs in GCSE English language and literature instead of the required Bs, they are just not interested. I offered to write them essays, tried the old 'I would be a mature student so GCSEs dont particularly count' trick, trying to get my current service taken into account, the key skills qualifications that the army makes us have which the RN and RFA don't recognise, I was pretty much whoring myself out to the advisor on the other end of the telephone and I just kept on getting rebuffed.

So, I just sacked off the RFA and found someone who would take me with my lowly C, which is pretty much every other company. The really annoying thing is that it would be easiest for me to go to the RFA, as I could take my pension and number with me as it would basically be considered as a transfer from the army to the navy.

[danking]

Hi mate,

As I said in a previous post, our situations are weirdly similar. The GCSE maths thing is pretty easy to sort out. They send you the material and all it took was one phone call to book my exams at a school/college. It might also be worth looking at the Marine Society's Maths at Sea course. It doesn't take long, you can do it online and its only ?15. Might give you a slight advantage on your applications, worth a shot either way.

The only company I have heard back from is Maersk so far. It's awful waiting for the replies after spending days filling everything in.
And like everyone says, I wouldn't worry about your age with regards to doing maths next year. Its frustrating having to put it off for another year but if its going to see you get in then surely its worth it. I'm 31 and when I spoke to a few companies about my age they all said it's not a problem.

I'm also in the middle of moving but currently with no place to move to! It's a nightmare! having to box stuff up that you need to use/have then pulling it out of boxes again is driving me crazy. Doing the Maths is a nice little distraction from sorting through the crap I didn't realise I still had!

Out of interest, which companies did you get a reply from?

Good luck dude,
Dan.

[stevo]

Hi Lazgenius was just wondering when you do the maths test with Mearsk can you use a calculator???

[h.sinfield]

Don't hold me to this but my understanding is that you can't use one....? I have been told that it's not a very hard test but it is timed and there is quite a few questions, and not a single Maersk person I know managed to complete them all so just make sure you don't rush to much and end up making silly mistakes.

If you don't know the answer to one leave it and move on, come back to it later. Don't waste precious time trying to think when you could use that time to gain 3/4 more correct answers.

Hope that helps
Harry

[CharlieDelta]

With most of these sorts of test it's a case of do as many correct as you can, there may be negative marking for wrong answers and nobody's expected to complete it. Work diligently, move on if you're not sure.

[lazygenius]

I didn?t have a maths test at my interview, so I couldn?t comment. I also went to a Princess Cruises interview where I did do a maths test and it was non calc.

Everyone stresses about the maths, but the college will teach you everything you need to know. You will have to work hard if your maths isn?t great but at STC they run evening tutorials and can?t do enough to help.