School won't let me drop AS (doing 6)

I've been told that if I do drop it, I'll get a U (as I've been entered for January exam) - and says that this will go on your UCAS and Cambridge will look at it and think that this student is bad for not realising how much work he can do and why he dropped it at a late stage. Also that it may go down in my reference form.

I don't quite understand why though - if it's a U, surely it's ungraded, and if I've been entered into January just don't enter into June or anything thereafter - it's ungraded and not an AS... so why would it even bother go onto the UCAS (even if I refrain from putting on there)?

She says have a shot, even if it's a B - which I think would be worse than having nothing there at all (if given a U - ungraded)? Plus, that's still having to do the exam in June too... too much to handle.

Do U's really get recorded? I thought not, and if I'm not entered into June exam - does that U/any grade still carry on? Confused.

(edited 13 years ago)

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Reply 1

Excandersham

They can't stop you. If they continue to try, report them to the local education authority.

You will only get a U if youve been put in for an exam.

Reply 2

Cheshire_Cat

Original post by RedCasino

So I asked my teacher if I could drop a subject as I was doing 6.5 A-levels (1 AS over 2 years) last week.

Did it for many reasons:
- Loads of workload, not sleeping enough
- Better to get high UMS in other subjects
- Not really an advantage as unis only ask for 3A2/4AS
- Not enjoying subject

As I was already doing triple sciences, double maths, language, etc... I asked to drop Biology, however the response was that they can't because they would lose funding and I'd get a U, or something akin to those words, and how the cooling period was a month ago, and even had the cheek to mention that I should have thought about it last year.

Surely there's some way to drop it? I mean A-levels you choose, you aren't forced to - but I had to come to terms with compulsory AS, and now taking 6 AS (5 scheduled in school hours) - anything I can do?

Just don't attend the lessons or do any work. A U isn't a grade, it just means that you don't get that A2/AS Level.

Reply 3

member398873

Get your parents involved. Schools will do anything to avoid the scenario of parents shouting at them.

If you manage to convince your parents that you're not sleeping well enough and you're going to bomb your other subjects then they'll quickly side with you :smile:

Reply 4

charcharchar

WOW.. And I thought 3 A- Levels were tough :s-smilie:

Reply 5

Crazy Paving

They can't stop you. :curious:

As lechaton-x said, get your parents involved, but I don't see how they can stop you when you're doing more than enough already. :s-smilie:

Reply 6

GiBB*

If you don't want to do the subject they can't force you to.

Just don't turn up to lectures and don't do the work.

Reply 7

worldscollide

Do universities consider it a good thing to have more a levels than the minimum required? Having 4 when 3 are required etc?

Reply 8

lizlaz350

Keep complaining or get your parents to complain.

It's not fair on you if they're piling work on you that you can't manage.

Reply 9

IPlayThePiccolo

Original post by RedCasino

So I asked my teacher if I could drop a subject as I was doing 6.5 A-levels (1 AS over 2 years) last week.

Did it for many reasons:
- Loads of workload, not sleeping enough
- Better to get high UMS in other subjects
- Not really an advantage as unis only ask for 3A2/4AS
- Not enjoying subject

As I was already doing triple sciences, double maths, language, etc... I asked to drop Biology, however the response was that they can't because they would lose funding and I'd get a U, or something akin to those words, and how the cooling period was a month ago, and even had the cheek to mention that I should have thought about it last year.

This seemed quite greedy to me if it's the sense that they would lose funding for this course for this person (I), when I could ofset the cost of being entered into the exam if I have been already and the school has lots of unused money. I understand their situation, but A-levels are optional...

Surely there's some way to drop it? I mean A-levels you choose, you aren't forced to - but I had to come to terms with compulsory AS, and now taking 6 AS (5 scheduled in school hours) - anything I can do?

you sound like a crazy person. For this, I salute you :congrats:

Reply 10

W.H.T

Original post by RedCasino

So I asked my teacher if I could drop a subject as I was doing 6.5 A-levels (1 AS over 2 years) last week.

Did it for many reasons:
- Loads of workload, not sleeping enough
- Better to get high UMS in other subjects
- Not really an advantage as unis only ask for 3A2/4AS
- Not enjoying subject

As I was already doing triple sciences, double maths, language, etc... I asked to drop Biology, however the response was that they can't because they would lose funding and I'd get a U, or something akin to those words, and how the cooling period was a month ago, and even had the cheek to mention that I should have thought about it last year.

This seemed quite greedy to me if it's the sense that they would lose funding for this course for this person (I), when I could ofset the cost of being entered into the exam if I have been already and the school has lots of unused money. I understand their situation, but A-levels are optional...

Surely there's some way to drop it? I mean A-levels you choose, you aren't forced to - but I had to come to terms with compulsory AS, and now taking 6 AS (5 scheduled in school hours) - anything I can do?

Wait I dont understand this bit. So offered to repay your school the money which was used to enter you for Biology exams? and they still said no?

Reply 11

RedCasino

Original post by W.H.T

Wait I dont understand this bit. So offered to repay your school the money which was used to enter you for Biology exams? and they still said no?

No, they said that I was entered into the course and that they received funding for that and now the cooling period to take up or drop subjects has gone - however, this is surely a non-issue if I'm dropping a subject.

However, what I mean was that if I was entered into the exam already and by me dropping the subject that the school had lost some money, I would have paid for that fee. He didn't say I was entered nor did I offer, but if that were the situation then I would've, but he didn't explain to me very well as to the reason why not - and I even heard back from a friend whom I consulted about dropping, and he said that they get a hissy fit over people dropping A-levels even if they are already doing more than needed - and the school has lots of money which is being unused and it seems greedy that they would let me suffer to get more money for them.

Thanks for other people's responses, greately appreciated.
The teacher that's Head of Year 12 (who is also my Biology teacher) said that I couldn't - I even explained to him, it was too much. I'll talk to him tomorrow again, if not then I'll try to get my parents involved.

For the meantime, I still have to come to lesson otherwise it's a truant, especially as one of my Biology teachers is my head of year.

(edited 13 years ago)

Reply 12

fluteflute

Original post by RedCasino

the response was that they can't because they would lose funding

I thought that funding was capped at a certain point per person, and doing 5 subjects would exceed that. So I find it hard to believe that they will lose any significant amount of funding by you going from 6.5 to 5.5

Reply 13

MostCompetitive

I'm doing 6 and managing them. Then again, I've just started my A-levels .Even If, in the future, I need to stay up all night doing work, I won't ever consider dropping one of my subjects. Going to do all 6 to A2 whatever it takes.

Reply 14

emeleh

I had this problem too - although not with SIX As's... blimey!
Like others had suggested, just stop turning up to lessons etc. I did this and my school decided eventually they'd rather let me drop it than get a terrible grade that would make them look bad. ha

Just be persistent, making you keep 6 is inhumane :|

Reply 15

goodboy4444

Original post by MostCompetitive

and your point is????

Reply 16

Chelle-belle

Ask your parents to write a formal letter explaining your view and their concerns (to the head of the school). Threaten to transfer? How much funding would they lose then?

Drop as many as you want. You only need 4 AS qualifications - and 3 to A2. 4 at A2 is more than enough. 5 at A2 is excessive. 6 at A2 is probably pointless.

(edited 13 years ago)

Reply 17

MostCompetitive

Original post by goodboy4444

and your point is????

The hard work will pay off.

Reply 18

FlobberDobber

if you want to drop it, i agree, ignore them, let people have said, involve parents!!! :biggrin:

just don't let them enter you, or you have to certificate your result, even if you don't sit the exam...

(edited 13 years ago)

Reply 19

Melanie-v

If all else fails, refuse to attend lessons and miss the exam. A U isn't certificated, and you'll only have sat one exam anyway, so you can't be given a certificate. They won't enter you for June then.

That said, they might hold a grudge, which would be bad for your reference. Go to a teacher and bring i your parents.