[JDWhite1995]

I want to study English Literature, Film Studies, History and Spanish for my A levels but I have some problems...

In my GCSE History I am on a low 'C' and if I get 65% on the next exam I will get a 'B'. The problem is I am worried I will fail A level History. I believe it's not down to my history technique - but my teacher's teaching technique. Should I gamble it? I could take it - ace it. Or take it - and fail it.

Also, I have a high 'C' in GCSE French and could easily get a 'B'. I wish to study A level Spanish but I am wondering if I would fail that too?

I must admit my current Norfolk school is terrible! It is in "special measures" - could this be the reason for my average grades and could this play to my advantage when applying to university? My GCSEs are: AABBBC and I am planning on taking additional GCSEs to make a total of 8. Should I take the risk?

Thanks in advance,

JDWhite1995

[sukhys]

i wouldnt take spanish if u didnt study it at GCSE as your gonna have no background knowledge. history i believe u should do as it goes well with eng lit

[JDWhite1995]

(Original post by sukhys)
i wouldnt take spanish if u didnt study it at GCSE as your gonna have no background knowledge. history i believe u should do as it goes well with eng lit

The local sixth form allows newbies to study GCSE in AS year and sit the AS and A2 modules in A2 year

[ATCAdam]

(Original post by JDWhite1995)


I must admit my current Norfolk school is terrible! It is in "special measures" - could this be the reason for my average grades and could this play to my advantage when applying to university?

No and if you get B's in those subjects there's no reason you shouldn't take them at A-level, if you get below seriously reconsider. There is a lot less teaching at A-level, GCSEs are pretty much spoon fed and you'll realise how much easier GCSEs are to A-level.

[sukhys]

woah that means studying the whole of AS and A2 in one year?

[super_kawaii]

Well, it all depends on what you want to do at uni and what grades you need to go where you want. I realise you might not know at this point, but it's always worth thinking about when you choose A Levels. What grades do you think you're capable of getting at A Level?

A Levels are a LOT harder than GCSEs, and you will have to work hard to get the best grades. You can't completely put your grades down to your teachers. You have to want the grades and work for them, otherwise you will fail, guaranteed.

My advice is, take what you enjoy. It'll make it a lot easier if you're actually interested in the subject. I cannot stress how much harder you will need to work, especially in year 12, to get the best grades. You will have to take a lot of responsibility for your work. Teachers won't chase you up for late work as you're there because you want to be, not because you have to.

Good luck!

[JDWhite1995]

(Original post by ATCAdam)
No and if you get B's in those subjects there's no reason you shouldn't take them at A-level, if you get below seriously reconsider. There is a lot less teaching at A-level, GCSEs are pretty much spoon fed and you'll realise how much easier GCSEs are to A-level.

Is that a "No" to me using my Norfolk "special measures" school as an excuse for average GCSEs?

(Original post by sukhys)
woah that means studying the whole of AS and A2 in one year?

Indeed it does.

(Original post by super_kawaii)
Well, it all depends on what you want to do at uni and what grades you need to go where you want. I realise you might not know at this point, but it's always worth thinking about when you choose A Levels. What grades do you think you're capable of getting at A Level?

A Levels are a LOT harder than GCSEs, and you will have to work hard to get the best grades. You can't completely put your grades down to your teachers. You have to want the grades and work for them, otherwise you will fail, guaranteed.

My advice is, take what you enjoy. It'll make it a lot easier if you're actually interested in the subject. I cannot stress how much harder you will need to work, especially in year 12, to get the best grades. You will have to take a lot of responsibility for your work. Teachers won't chase you up for late work as you're there because you want to be, not because you have to.

Good luck!

I am a very hard worker I just think I could've taught myself History better than my teachers at my failing Norfolk school...

[sukhys]

thats crazy do AS and A2 in 1 year!! find a different college if i was you

[Ewan]

If you believe you could of taught it better yourself, why didn't you? Honestly when I see people blame their teachers it just sounds like laziness. There are books on all subjects these days, while a bad teacher may be a hindrance you can always make up for that with more work. I mean the amount of content isn't even that big, there are probably 100 page revision books for your course even.

Anyway, you won't fail anything provided you put in the work, regardless of how bad your teacher is. I would suggest just doing what you enjoy, so if that's history/spanish/english/film studies then I'd do those. Just bear in mind it will be a lot of work, so you've got to question whether you have the persistence to succeed at all four subjects.

[cuckoo99]

i'll tell you from personal expierence that doing an A level in a subject that you got a C in at GCSE can be problematic. I did English Lit at A-Level after geting a C at GCSE and i ended up dropping out of the course :/ also only the top 5 uni's take into account GCSE grades, not that your grades are bad at all. i got ABBBCCCDD btw i now just do my other 3 courses( Chem,Human Bio, Psychology)

[JDWhite1995]

(Original post by Ewan)
If you believe you could of taught it better yourself, why didn't you? Honestly when I see people blame their teachers it just sounds like laziness. There are books on all subjects these days, while a bad teacher may be a hindrance you can always make up for that with more work. I mean the amount of content isn't even that big, there are probably 100 page revision books for your course even.

I taught myself my coursework and got 88%. I did however have some prior knowledge of the topic and the teacher told us how to style to answers.

I just haven't been taught how to answer each question properly.

[Ewan]

(Original post by JDWhite1995)
I taught myself my coursework and got 88%. I did however have some prior knowledge of the topic and the teacher told us how to style to answers.

I just haven't been taught how to answer each question properly.

Get revision books... they tell you how to style answers... How do you think self schooled kids cope? If you want to get a good grade then do past papers (ALL of them) / practice essays & ask if he'll mark them for you.

[JDWhite1995]

(Original post by Ewan)
Get revision books... they tell you how to style answers... How do you think self schooled kids cope? If you want to get a good grade then do past papers (ALL of them) / practice essays & ask if he'll mark them for you.

I did past papers but she said she would mark them and then lost them (this was in Y10) and since then I didn't bother because I couldn't mark them accurately myself and I would be wasting time.

[JDWhite1995]

(Original post by Ewan)
If you believe you could of taught it better yourself, why didn't you? Honestly when I see people blame their teachers it just sounds like laziness. There are books on all subjects these days, while a bad teacher may be a hindrance you can always make up for that with more work. I mean the amount of content isn't even that big, there are probably 100 page revision books for your course even.

Anyway, you won't fail anything provided you put in the work, regardless of how bad your teacher is. I would suggest just doing what you enjoy, so if that's history/spanish/english/film studies then I'd do those. Just bear in mind it will be a lot of work, so you've got to question whether you have the persistence to succeed at all four subjects.

I am going to do: English Literature, Film Studies, History and French or Spanish (French has the advantage because I have prior knowledge - however Spanish looks very interesting).

[ATCAdam]

(Original post by JDWhite1995)
Is that a "No" to me using my Norfolk "special measures" school as an excuse for average GCSEs?

Most Unis don't care about GCSEs unless you're applying to somewhere like LSE.

[Muppet Science]

I'll be brutally honest. A-levels are hard, clue is in the name. If you are not comfortable at GCSE then I would think very hard about taking them for A-levels.

[Ewan]

(Original post by JDWhite1995)
I did past papers but she said she would mark them and then lost them (this was in Y10) and since then I didn't bother because I couldn't mark them accurately myself and I would be wasting time.

Next time type them on your PC or photocopy them. If she loses them, give her another copy. She can't continuously lose them. If she won't mark them, then complain to someone higher up, or ask your parents to complain to someone higher up (either works). If there is more than one History teacher in your school you could ask another one to mark them if possible.

[Ewan]

(Original post by JDWhite1995)
I am going to do: English Literature, Film Studies, History and French or Spanish (French has the advantage because I have prior knowledge - however Spanish looks very interesting).

Why do you think Spanish is interesting? Have you tried to self study at home some of the language to get a taste for it? You may find you actually hate it.

[JDWhite1995]

(Original post by Ewan)
Next time type them on your PC or photocopy them. If she loses them, give her another copy. She can't continuously lose them. If she won't mark them, then complain to someone higher up, or ask your parents to complain to someone higher up (either works). If there is more than one History teacher in your school you could ask another one to mark them if possible.

I talked to the Head of Year and he said he'd follow it up. He never did. I got my parents to complain - they did, talked to the Head. She didn't do anything. That's why my Norfolk school is in special measures.

[JDWhite1995]

(Original post by Ewan)
Why do you think Spanish is interesting? Have you tried to self study at home some of the language to get a taste for it? You may find you actually hate it.

I love Spanish culture and have always wanted to learn it. I have a Argentine friend who has taught me conversational Spanish and it's cool.