I failed My As levels, and need your advice

I think the first thing you should do is look at your GCSE's, were there any specific subjects that you thoroughly enjoyed and/or got really good grades at it? Although there is a real big gap between GCSE's and A-levels, and I assume you realised that, the work load would be too much if you move onto Year 13. I suggest you want to build yourself back up so retake Year 12 with perhaps a different set of subjects?

I personally retook the year by going back to the sixth form attached to my school, college is a really independent atmosphere so you'll have to really push through if that is your only choice.

Also check the exam boards when looking at other places to do A levels. If worst comes to worst a good idea is to take a combination of Btec and A levels as well. I know some people who got into courses that require higher grades for A levels but they have a combination of both with lower A level result.

Best of wishes, it is tough but remember you'll be retaking the year for yourself and not for anybody else. Be totally honest with yourself about your options and don't spread yourself too thin three subjects suffice!

(edited 7 years ago)

Reply 24

Original post by Abirella

I want to retake year 12 as well and got similar results: German A2: C, Psychology: D and then Biology and Economics U. My current school wont let me retake I think so will other school let me? I am currently just emailing other sixth forms.

If you have a strong set of GCSE's (they don't have to be amazing as long as there is a few A's and B's) then you can for sure. When you are looking at other sixth forms look at the exam boards. If you they have different exam boards to the set of subjects you have mentioned before, then check them out. Sometimes people retake not realising that the exam board is either more difficult than their previous one and end up doing worse.

Reply 25

Original post by Musty1999

I took As levels Maths , chemistry and biology and I got UUU. I feel really depressed right now and my parents are disappointing at me and they keep shouting at me because i failed and took everything away from me and really need your help to turn things around because i truly believe i can do well. My sixth form wont accept me back and i dont know where to go and was wondering if there was retakes or a place to do exams this year . E.G do my as levels this year and A levels in year 13. Please would like any advice and help because i cant take this anymore

I am going to give you the realist advice here, go to another college or sixth form and study BTEC applied science 100% you will get a distinction* if you work hard, and also pick up like finance because it has maths in it but is not hard at all, you can guarantee yourself an A or B if you listen in class. I had the same options as you last year except I did physics instead of biology, it went all wrong. Now I do BTEC science and it is way much easier, the fact that you are assessed throughout the year releases the stress of having an exam at the end of the year. It's just a suggestion but I think you should consider it, you can still get into Russell Group uni's with a btec and an a level, just do your research on uni's you want to go to first and take it from there.

Reply 26

Original post by lizzyktaa

I am going to give you the realist advice here, go to another college or sixth form and study BTEC applied science 100% you will get a distinction* if you work hard, and also pick up like finance because it has maths in it but is not hard at all, you can guarantee yourself an A or B if you listen in class. I had the same options as you last year except I did physics instead of biology, it went all wrong. Now I do BTEC science and it is way much easier, the fact that you are assessed throughout the year releases the stress of having an exam at the end of the year. It's just a suggestion but I think you should consider it, you can still get into Russell Group uni's with a btec and an a level, just do your research on uni's you want to go to first and take it from there.

If you are sure what you wanna do career/uni choice wise I would agree with @lizzyktaa if it is science related

Reply 27

Original post by Musty1999

Hey, I know what you are feeling just like me im looking for colleges who will let me do my as and a2 because i dont want to redo the whole year and just go into year 13. Science as levels dont even count this year so thats a relief. Please keep my updated on your situation so we can solve this together.

I know your AS grades do not really count according to the new specification but trust me on this do not go into year 13 with those grades, I got ACU and still retook, many people in my sixth form got EUUU or UUUU in year 12 and continued to year 13. Yesterday on results day they were crying because they failed and got into no university. They should have retaken the year like me but their pride got the better of them. Trust me on this one you will be better off retaking the year, maths is no joke and I believe if you can't even pass it in AS what makes you think you can pass the A2 exam when it's much harder. My results were banging yesterday, immediately enrolled as soon as I got it, whilst everyone else was sad about their AS and A2 results. Think about this long and hard please.

Reply 28

Original post by Ninaaaah

If you are sure what you wanna do career/uni choice wise I would agree with @lizzyktaa if it is science related

Yeah I am planning to study computer science at uni so if what you want to do is science related I highly recommend you consider what I said

Reply 29

soLit

10

Original post by Musty1999

Hey there, Did you redo the year at the same school you failed or a different school because my school wont accept me back and its hard trying to find a different school with The U grades i got. Do you think i should redo the year or go in straight to year 13 by redoing all the exams in the same year because hand on my heart i s will sweat my guts out to get the grades that i truly deserve.

If you really think it is a wake up call, resit the exams.

Take the year out, you don't need to re-enrol at your school, but you should get the textbooks and revise and retry!

Reply 30

FranRodgers

Musty this just happened to my son. He totally tanked on Physics Chem and Maths. Whilst working his bottom off this year, going to every revision class and totally acing past papers in revision sessions. He is just not a linear exam person, he has a duff short term memory for stuff that he is not actualising ie 'doing' in a hands on way and difficulty understanding questions. He's a top end GCSE engineering student and He has decided to do a two year Level 3 extended diploma in Engineering (worth three A levels) with a bolt on A level Math on the side. It puts him one year behind some of his peers, but gives him the chance to gain Engineering equivalency for a degree course in a 'none linear' ie coursework curriculum and bolt the one really useful A level on. Take a look at the extended diplomas, if you want to take a little bit longer and be a little bit more prepared and you are a committed coursework achiever rather than a brilliant academic 'theoretical mind type' it might work for you in your subject specialism. By the way I am a teacher. We all learn differently. Linear exams don't work for many very very intelligent people for multiple reasons. Find the route, to the right Uni course for your way of learning. If you are really struggling and stressing at AS now. A slower route and a bit more time might prepare you to succeed at UNi more than a fast track into a less good Uni on poor grades.

Reply 31

FranRodgers

Original post by FranRodgers

Musty this just happened to my son. He totally tanked on Physics Chem and Maths. Whilst working his bottom off this year, going to every revision class and totally acing past papers in revision sessions. He is just not a linear exam person, he has a duff short term memory for stuff that he is not actualising ie 'doing' in a hands on way and difficulty understanding questions. He's a top end GCSE engineering student and He has decided to do a two year Level 3 extended diploma in Engineering (worth three A levels) with a bolt on A level Math on the side. It puts him one year behind some of his peers, but gives him the chance to gain Engineering equivalency for a degree course in a 'none linear' ie coursework curriculum and bolt the one really useful A level on. Take a look at the extended diplomas, if you want to take a little bit longer and be a little bit more prepared and you are a committed coursework achiever rather than a brilliant academic 'theoretical mind type' it might work for you in your subject specialism. By the way I am a teacher. We all learn differently. Linear exams don't work for many very very intelligent people for multiple reasons. Find the route, to the right Uni course for your way of learning. If you are really struggling and stressing at AS now. A slower route and a bit more time might prepare you to succeed at UNi more than a fast track into a less good Uni on poor grades.

Apologise for my awful grammar in this. I am on holiday, having a beer, didn't edit and then just posted. but you get my gist. Extended level three opportunities are one of the best routes into Uni for students who do better on practical coursework than linear exams.In my mind it is better to accept that most sixth form teachers agree that with maximum effort you can pull up 'one grade' after a poor AS performance than to ignore that and forge ahead feeling massively doubtful and under double pressure. What you need to ask yourself is 'Am I happy' It might sound trite, but being happy in your study, even if your route is a little bit longer is a lot better than being utterly stressed and miserable and running the risk of a two year waste of your time.

Musty, I am a teacher in FE. I teach students who are very intelligent and have what it takes for Uni but who benefit from a 'none linear' coursework route. You're definitely not alone in your struggle and you are definitely not unintelligent, lazy or a loser if you have attended all of your classes and your revision programme.

My advice is to decide where you want to go in subject specialism and find an extended level three diploma that supports that journey. It is a two year course and you may need to bolt on one A level to it on the side. But it is a route that takes the pressure off, allows you to go at your own pace and see the value of your work as you pass modules and it allows you a years grace to really prepare for Uni.

Your parents will probably be happy as long as they know you ARE on a route towards Uni and a good career. Maybe they will support you if they see that A level is not the only route to Uni success.

Best to you and well done for being open enough to ask for advice. You will go far with that attitude to your future.

Reply 32

ACER676

5

Original post by Musty1999

Thank you for the kind words and inspiration. Im trying to find a college / sixth form so i can carry out these subjects because i am really passionate of the subjects and would like to do well. I will keep you updated on how things are going.
Thanks Musty

I would say either do the exams privately which you can search on google, but you will have to pay quite a lot. Or try Hackney college, Tower Hamlets college or B-six which are lenient when it comes to applying for A-levels.

Reply 33

FranRodgers

Original post by lizzyktaa

I am going to give you the realist advice here, go to another college or sixth form and study BTEC applied science 100% you will get a distinction* if you work hard, and also pick up like finance because it has maths in it but is not hard at all, you can guarantee yourself an A or B if you listen in class. I had the same options as you last year except I did physics instead of biology, it went all wrong. Now I do BTEC science and it is way much easier, the fact that you are assessed throughout the year releases the stress of having an exam at the end of the year. It's just a suggestion but I think you should consider it, you can still get into Russell Group uni's with a btec and an a level, just do your research on uni's you want to go to first and take it from there.

THIS ^^^^ Is great advice. I teach in FE and a none linear curriculum route to Uni is fantastic for students who are more 'hands on doing people' than 'theoretical remembering people'
If you make this move at AS level you gain an extra year of prep for Uni and you get an industry and HE respected hands on opportunity to learn in a way that suits your learning style. Not everyone with intelligence and commitment is a 'hot house' academic. But that means nothing in outcome. My brother went this route to a BSc in Environmental Science and is now one of the few people in his cohort working already in his field, because his BTEC set him up for industry work. BTEC level three extended is very well respected in industry and in HE for practical subjects.

Reply 34

Original post by FranRodgers

THIS ^^^^ Is great advice. I teach in FE and a none linear curriculum route to Uni is fantastic for students who are more 'hands on doing people' than 'theoretical remembering people'
If you make this move at AS level you gain an extra year of prep for Uni and you get an industry and HE respected hands on opportunity to learn in a way that suits your learning style. Not everyone with intelligence and commitment is a 'hot house' academic. But that means nothing in outcome. My brother went this route to a BSc in Environmental Science and is now one of the few people in his cohort working already in his field, because his BTEC set him up for industry work. BTEC level three extended is very well respected in industry and in HE for practical subjects.

Thank you!

Reply 35

Abirella

14

Original post by Ninaaaah

If you have a strong set of GCSE's (they don't have to be amazing as long as there is a few A's and B's) then you can for sure. When you are looking at other sixth forms look at the exam boards. If you they have different exam boards to the set of subjects you have mentioned before, then check them out. Sometimes people retake not realising that the exam board is either more difficult than their previous one and end up doing worse.

Thanks for your advice. However I don't think I have that strong set of GCSE's :frown:

My GCSE grades are pretty average only 1A 5Bs and the rest C's. Yes I've done that and most sixth forms don't have the exam boards on their website only the subjects. Yes I've heard that before too that people do worse in their retakes which is quiet shocking. My current school wants me to do Psychology and BTEC level 3 applied science which I don't even know what it is and don't want to do.

Reply 36