Ask my firm university to lower offer due to unforeseen circumstances

I sat AQA Physics for A-Levels and our class never knew for 2 years we had to sit a practical skills paper until 1 week before the exam and I had to do all the past papers to prepare and this was extremely stressful and had a toll on my other A-Levels, I need to email my firm university for lower entrance grades now A-Levels are over but don't know how to phrase it because I don't want it to look like an excuse. Any help to phrase this to my university without making it look like an excuse as this means I don't think I have made my offer?

Did you never actually look at the specification? Surely you had mock papers that covered practical skills, in AS and A2?

I don’t think you have a valid reason tbh. I can’t believe you went through 2 years of practicals in class, and mock exams and not have any idea.

Apologies but I thought I’d be blunt. I would wait for results day and see what you get

Not to be rude, obviously your teacher is a bit of a tw*t but I’m shocked you never looked at the spec or revision guides or anything?

Obviously I looked at the spec and stuff I would download past papers all the time everyone thought we just did an optional module and that was all, it was the entire year doing physics that had no idea we thought practical questions and stuff that would be integrated into the first 2 papers like the AS papers

If you looked at the spec, then you should have known which exams you are supposed to take, since it explains that in the spec document.

I don't think the uni will accept such an excuse sadly.

despite this I still feel that if the grade boundaries are reasonable then I could get an A* but it was just unfortunate that nobody really knew until a few weeks before the exam and it was just added stress that was put on my a levels

There is still a chance that you can get into the course if you miss by a grade or two.

Just enjoy your summer break and worry about your results when results day approaches. Not a lot of point in worrying about what you got as it is pretty hard to know what grade you got if you do not know what the grade boundaries are.

Obviously I looked at the spec and stuff I would download past papers all the time everyone thought we just did an optional module and that was all, it was the entire year doing physics that had no idea we thought practical questions and stuff that would be integrated into the first 2 papers like the AS papers

I sat AQA Physics for A-Levels and our class never knew for 2 years we had to sit a practical skills paper until 1 week before the exam and I had to do all the past papers to prepare and this was extremely stressful and had a toll on my other A-Levels, I need to email my firm university for lower entrance grades now A-Levels are over but don't know how to phrase it because I don't want it to look like an excuse. Any help to phrase this to my university without making it look like an excuse as this means I don't think I have made my offer?

Obviously I looked at the spec and stuff I would download past papers all the time everyone thought we just did an optional module and that was all, it was the entire year doing physics that had no idea we thought practical questions and stuff that would be integrated into the first 2 papers like the AS papers

I just find this very difficult to believe. It says on the spec at a glance that you get asked questions on practicals in paper 3. It also says in the main specification which you claim to have read.

https://filestore.aqa.org.uk/resources/physics/specifications/AQA-7407-7408-SP-2015.PDF

I sat AQA Physics for A-Levels and our class never knew for 2 years we had to sit a practical skills paper until 1 week before the exam and I had to do all the past papers to prepare and this was extremely stressful and had a toll on my other A-Levels, I need to email my firm university for lower entrance grades now A-Levels are over but don't know how to phrase it because I don't want it to look like an excuse. Any help to phrase this to my university without making it look like an excuse as this means I don't think I have made my offer?

im not only the one this was my entire physics class as well I assumed that's what the spec meant obviously I shouldn't have been so careless until the final few weeks to read up on the spec again but then again we had no reason to look at the spec because we thought we knew the structure of the course , it turns out we didn't and our teacher never told us anything about section a

You need to activate their extenuating circumstances procedure.

In these circumstances though I think the problem is the school and they tend not to get involved with that.
The fact you can do Physics for 2 years and not know about the practical endorsement I find difficult to believe.
Were you doing any other sciences?
Did you ever look at the specification?
If you applied for a science related course, then didnt they ever mention practical endorsements?

I would keep it factual and understated. the fact you are seeking consideration for all your A levels is a bit far fetched imo.
I agree with admit one that a letter form your school explaining their incompetence might be helpful. I doubt they will help.

You need to activate their extenuating circumstances procedure.

In these circumstances though I think the problem is the school and they tend not to get involved with that.
The fact you can do Physics for 2 years and not know about the practical endorsement I find difficult to believe.
Were you doing any other sciences?
Did you ever look at the specification?
If you applied for a science related course, then didnt they ever mention practical endorsements?

I would keep it factual and understated. the fact you are seeking consideration for all your A levels is a bit far fetched imo.
I agree with admit one that a letter form your school explaining their incompetence might be helpful. I doubt they will help.

I am unsure whether you mean the practical endorsement or the paper 3?


If its paper 3 then you should have been practising papers for at least a year.
Your studies are your responsibility. If you are complaining about paper 3 I just dont think its credible when the specification has been with you since year dot.