Re-Sitting Year 12

I would take yr 12 again if I felt like I was gonna fail physics even with revision time but I would try to carry on yr 13 if I did well on a few practice papers I would do before making my decision

I would take yr 12 again if I felt like I was gonna fail physics even with revision time but I would try to carry on yr 13 if I did well on a few practice papers I would do before making my decision

If you were currently in Year 12 and you were given the opportunity to start Year 12 again in the September, would you take the opportunity or would you carry straight on to Year 13? (+Why?)

I am so conflicted right now I have been unofficially given the chance to by my lecturers but I really can't see a clear decision!

I’m retaking Year 12 currently, changing from Bio, Maths and Physics to Bio, Maths and Business. I was failing so badly, but since retaking I’m doing a lot better with As in most tests. I would advise to if you will definitely change your ways. Good luck.

If you were currently in Year 12 and you were given the opportunity to start Year 12 again in the September, would you take the opportunity or would you carry straight on to Year 13? (+Why?)

Hi. I actually retook year 12. I moved schools for sixth form but about 8 months in I decided the school isn't for me and I went back to my old school (they only allowed me to go back if I repeated year 12 as it was very late in the year). Since I was repeating, I changed two of my subjects as well.

It was the best decision I made. I improved so much and did subjects that I enjoyed even more. Starting fresh again was great as having already experienced nearly a year of sixth form, I knew exactly what I needed to do to excel. I did revision as I went along, and found a levels much more enjoyable.

I think if I had not repeated and carried on straight into year 13, I wouldn't have done as well as I have been doing. I'm in year 13 now finally, and basically did 2 years of year 12 but it was totally worth it!

If you are thinking of doing year 12 again, do lots of research and talk to teachers. If you're changing your subjects, do lots of research into that subject, whether it matches what you want to do after a levels, and whether your school's department is good. Talk to the subject teachers!

If you're continuing the same subjects (I kept one of my subjects the same) even better! Now you know what you need to do to excel. I was on a D for the subject back in the other school, but having repeated and in my new (but old haha) school, I ended up getting As and A*s in the subject because my previous year 12 experience taught me what I need to do to get top grades.

Any questions, feel free to ask!

Oh great! This helped so much, thank you x

Hi. I actually retook year 12. I moved schools for sixth form but about 8 months in I decided the school isn't for me and I went back to my old school (they only allowed me to go back if I repeated year 12 as it was very late in the year). Since I was repeating, I changed two of my subjects as well.

It was the best decision I made. I improved so much and did subjects that I enjoyed even more. Starting fresh again was great as having already experienced nearly a year of sixth form, I knew exactly what I needed to do to excel. I did revision as I went along, and found a levels much more enjoyable.

I think if I had not repeated and carried on straight into year 13, I wouldn't have done as well as I have been doing. I'm in year 13 now finally, and basically did 2 years of year 12 but it was totally worth it!

If you are thinking of doing year 12 again, do lots of research and talk to teachers. If you're changing your subjects, do lots of research into that subject, whether it matches what you want to do after a levels, and whether your school's department is good. Talk to the subject teachers!

If you're continuing the same subjects (I kept one of my subjects the same) even better! Now you know what you need to do to excel. I was on a D for the subject back in the other school, but having repeated and in my new (but old haha) school, I ended up getting As and A*s in the subject because my previous year 12 experience taught me what I need to do to get top grades.

Any questions, feel free to ask!

I've known many people that have retaken Year 12. And they all say one thing. Retaking Year 13 is much better than retaking Year 12. Retaking Year 12 is such a waste of time!

don't most universities look down on it though?

don't most universities look down on it though?

I am thinking about retaking year 12 but not because of grades but because I want to change one of my subjects. However, I don't want to be considered as someone who is retaking the year because of bad grades. Would Universities look down on me retaking a year just to change one subject? I could hold out with my 3 subjects till the end of year 13 but then I would have to take a gap year to do another A-level in one year which is another thing which I am not sure if Universities mind about. Surely Universities wouldn't discriminate someone who just didn't pick the right choices first try?
Thanks in advance.

Why do you want to change it? No they wouldn’t unless they stated so, which few of them do. Even cambridge will consider that in your application process if you have the wrong subject. It’s much better resitting it as you don’t need to handle exam centres and references for uni and etc.

I want to change economics to physics or maybe biology and then potentially study further maths in my own time (as it wasn't offered in my school). I do still thoroughly enjoy economics and the topics that it brings up but because I am not certain at all what I want to do in the future I wish I had picked up physics/biology A-level as it would have kept more degrees open to me. While economics is interesting (well at least Macroeconomics), I feel like I have limited my options too early as I thought an economics degree was for me, hence I picked economics A-level. The problem is that I am interested in many subjects so I didn't specialise in the arts or the sciences. In lockdown, and maybe these last few months, I have come to realise what subjects I like spending my time on and thinking about. Science A-level can be difficult but I enjoy it for the challenge whereas for economics most of the time i find the subject less demanding. If you want to do science to degree level, most unis prefer 3 science-based A-levels which I don't currently have.
Btw you mentioned a "few" universities do care if I resit to do a different subject, Do you know which ones? I am aware that if I wanted to be a medic I would have needed to complete my a-levels in 2 years but after listening to Adam Kay a while back I knew that it wasn't the field for me.
Where does it state the information on university websites about resitting not for better grades but for a change of subject?
Again, Thanks in advance. I do feel like there are a lot of people (at least in my year) who aren't doing subjects they like and are unwillingly to resit because they want to rush off to university. I advice people reading this that it is a good idea to pick something which you enjoy as there will be both an economic cost and an emotional one if it is the completely wrong decision.

Ohhh I understand. That’s what I meant because I only know medics for sure at some unis but I don’t know all but you could simply research this at their website - It would be in their general entry requirements (without any specific courses) and if you want more clarification I suggest contacting them - it’s worth trying as you have a lot of time. No no I suggest resitting for those reasons because they won’t get a high grade in them unless they go through the pain of studying something they don’t like which isn’t great because it becomes harder - it’s much better resitting because you don’t want to take a gap year unless you plan to but then you have to explain to unis while you take a gap year, sort out references where you have to ask your teacher again but from outside the school, figure out the exam center and etc, which seems like a hassle. However you would take 2 years of subjects when you could take 1 when you already know you rather take the subject. Trueee