Take our quiz to find out what your revision personality is! >>

I want to drop out of A-levels already?!

I've been going to 6th form for 3 weeks now and I'm really, really not enjoying it.
I know it's still early days but I'm finding it all too stressful and too much. I spend all my breaks, free periods, lunch hours and several hours after school doing school work but I still always seem to have more and more work to do. I don't really like the thought of going through all this only to have to move away from home in 2 years time and go through another 3 years of education.
My parents dropped out of education when they were 16 and then had me at a young age so they're pushing me to go to university and have told me if I drop out of sixth form then I'll need to find somewhere else to live, even though I'm only 16 years old.
Everyone says it's such a huge step up from GCSE's and I thought I had prepared myself and was expecting the worst but it is still such a huge shock to me and I just want to leave and go get a job. I know it's a failure attitude and that to get anywhere in life you need education but I can't stand it much longer.
Is it too early to decide? :confused:

Scroll to see replies

Reply 1

NapoleonDynamite

You'll get used to it

Reply 2

mrdreamerstar

what subjects do you take?

Reply 3

Astonix

It is a massive step up, and it'll take some time to get use to the level of work required, and to just get use to the level of knowledge required for A levels. However, I promise you, it will get easier for you to manage your time and you'll have more free time to you. It's only been 3 weeks too, give it at least the first half term to see how it fairs up down the line.

Reply 4

SwingOnTheSpiral88

enjoy your McCareer then.

Reply 5

h0llyyx

Original post by mrdreamerstar

what subjects do you take?

I do Spanish, French, English Language and English Literature.

Reply 6

CharleyChester

I was exactly like you during my AS year and my advice would be to stick with it, at least until half term. If you feel like you're struggling go and speak to someone at your school/college. They're there to help you but if you don't say anything they will just assume you feel fine.

With regards to your work. Are you giving yourself extra work i.e. redoing your notes? Or are you doing what you're being set and struggling? If it's the former, then my advice would be to to try and make your notes and best as possible in your lessons etc. Otherwise you really do need to go and speak to someone.

Best of luck to you :smile:

Feel free to pm me, should you need/want anymore advice :smile:

Reply 7

IHopeIGetIt

I don't think you should drop out of A-Levels. GCSEs to A-Levels is a massive leap and I remember completely panicing that I wouldn't be able to do it. I think that without A-Levels, you are going to find it extremely difficult to find a job that you enjoy.

Are you getting a lot of essays? Are you find the subject itself difficult to study? Maybe you should considering doing a different course, e.g. BTEC or IB. What do you want do for a career?

Reply 8

Becca94

Why don't you try dropping just one subject? I take three and it means i get enough time do do work in free's and after school.

Reply 9

h0llyyx

Original post by IHopeIGetIt

My original plan was to become a translator or interpreter as I'm already an Italian speaker due to coming from an Italian family, but I'm finding my A-levels too difficult and I'm scared that when it comes to uni, that will be too difficult as well.

Reply 10

House Dagoth

when I first started sixthform the workload gave me heart pain due to stress. I didn't even know it was related until my mum pointed out that the pains in my chest were probably from college work.

Don't let this put you off, it is not out of the ordinary. I am now into A2 and I am doing fine, you really do get used to it until it is a doss.

Reply 11

harmlessweapon

Also keep in mind that A levels are not the be all and end all of further education. I miserably failed my as levels in physics, maths and chemistry, however I decided to go from 6th form into a National diploma at college in software development. From here I ended up with DDD (equivalent to 3 As at A2) and ended up at Plymouth university doing computing. Personally I find A levels and outdated concept and, by extension, vocational courses that go more in depth in one specialisation to be much more appealing. The teaching methods are very different too. A levels tend to be very structured where as vocational courses are a lot more hands on-do it yourself kind of learning. Helps that there is no exams too, all coursework based.

Reply 12

IHopeIGetIt

Okay, I think you might need to consider dropping one of your A-Levels. By dropping one A-Level, you can lighten up your workload. If you stay at 6th form, you might have opportunities to do DOE or go abroad to another country, which will look good on your translator CV, especially if it's a Spanish/French speaking country.

You don't necessarily have to go to uni. You could take a gap year, teaching children how to speak English or find an internship/job in translation.

Reply 13

username826246

first things first, I just want to tell you that you're not alone - many people feel like this at the beginning of A-levels as it is a big jump from GCSE's.

However I would say stick with them for now. If you are still struggling then talk to your teachers/someone at college and maybe consider dropping a subject :smile:

if not then look into alternate qualifications such as an IB, BTECs or Diploma's etc - there are lots of options out there :smile:

Basically what I'm trying to say is, don't give up completely on your education.
If you find that A-levels really aren't working for you then try an alternative then after that consider going to uni or travelling (as someone mentioned earlier, you could teach children English abroad) or getting an internship etc.

Also, don't feel pressured into doing anything you don't want to by your parents. HOWEVER, remember that they have your best interests at heart and are only trying to help :smile:

But there will be people at your college that can help you - go and talk to a careers adviser and see what your options are

Sorry if I'm just repeating what people have already said, hope this helps & good luck :smile:

Reply 14

Jonesdawiz

Drop English Language :smile:

Reply 15

ameelia22

Original post by Jonesdawiz

Drop English Language :smile:

Reply 16

Eclipsion

First of all, don't despair (: Anyone could be a little down in the dumps after such a major transition. Have a good night's sleep or try exercising (I mean sth like rollerskating or cycling to school, not dedicating an hour or more when you can't afford to). I was tired all the time when school started and I even dozed off during a Literature lesson and I'd slept for 9 hours the night before when 7 is normal for me. I'm going to school in my country and self-teaching A-Levels alongside) but I found I felt a whole lot better when I cycled to school and back last week and I went roller skating today after school. Exercise actually gave me energy instead of making me tired. I also suggest dropping English Language. If you want something with little work to do, I'd say do regular AS Maths. I don't mean to offend you and I have nothing against humanities, but the concepts are simple and you don't need to remember a lot or do coursework (at least Edexcel have no cw component). It's also a really respected subject. Plus, contrasting subjects are fun. I'm doing Bio, Chem, Geo and Maths A-levels and the History and Philosophy classes at my school (they're not A-levels) are a fantastic break. I'd say stick to it at least for another month and try rewarding yourself with little things when you get some of your work done. This is how I managed to get the highest possible mark in Physics last year (a hell of a lot more complicated than GCSE and it involved 3 dimensions and crap). I hate Physics more than any other subject and I'm naturally horrible at it. I ate a row of milky Milka chocolate when I was happy with my progress :smile: