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Hiding retakes and low unit grades on UCAS forms: morally wrong?
A friend and I discussed this today, and it's left me feeling pretty confused about how I feel about the whole situation. Before I go on, please don't take offence to anything written, and try to look at the situation as a general issue within sixth form education, rather than personal feelings towards certain groups.
Most of us work very hard for AS grades. We get stressed, revise an awful lot and then suffer a terrible wait inbetween exams and results day. Some people, however, do not work during year 12 and arrogantly think they will either do well anyway, or hope to drag themselves up to a respectable mark with resits etc.
On results day, people who are disappointed fall into one of two camps: those who did revise and cannot understand why they did badly (this could be because of poor teaching or an exam board cock-up, for example), and the people who didn't work and now complain that they don't have good grades as AS. I have complete sympathy with the former (indeed, it has happened to me in the past), but none for the latter.
With UCAS applications looming, many start to worry (understandably). Most choose to resit a number of modules. Then they start to plot how to limit the damage to their chances of uni entry. This forum details the lengths some will go: not declare AS exams, decline grades, put grades as 'pending', etc. Some of these tactics are allowed by UCAS, others are somewhat more shady.
Very few people with poor grades choose to be 100% honest - and brave - and continue into year 13 without resits and aim to ace their A2 exams.
Am I alone in feeling slightly p**sed off, when I have worked really hard during the year and am lucky enough to be entering year 13 with great grades and UMS marks without the need for any resits, whilst others hide the true picture of their AS exams from admissions tutors.
Doubtless these people have ability, but they haven't put the work in during the past year. Yet these people could be taking uni places from those who have worked hard in year 12.
To me, it just seems slightly unfair that real effort (and therefore success) at AS level is sometimes cheapened by those 'playing the system' when it comes to UCAS.
Please don't kill me!
Most of us work very hard for AS grades. We get stressed, revise an awful lot and then suffer a terrible wait inbetween exams and results day. Some people, however, do not work during year 12 and arrogantly think they will either do well anyway, or hope to drag themselves up to a respectable mark with resits etc.
On results day, people who are disappointed fall into one of two camps: those who did revise and cannot understand why they did badly (this could be because of poor teaching or an exam board cock-up, for example), and the people who didn't work and now complain that they don't have good grades as AS. I have complete sympathy with the former (indeed, it has happened to me in the past), but none for the latter.
With UCAS applications looming, many start to worry (understandably). Most choose to resit a number of modules. Then they start to plot how to limit the damage to their chances of uni entry. This forum details the lengths some will go: not declare AS exams, decline grades, put grades as 'pending', etc. Some of these tactics are allowed by UCAS, others are somewhat more shady.
Very few people with poor grades choose to be 100% honest - and brave - and continue into year 13 without resits and aim to ace their A2 exams.
Am I alone in feeling slightly p**sed off, when I have worked really hard during the year and am lucky enough to be entering year 13 with great grades and UMS marks without the need for any resits, whilst others hide the true picture of their AS exams from admissions tutors.
Doubtless these people have ability, but they haven't put the work in during the past year. Yet these people could be taking uni places from those who have worked hard in year 12.
To me, it just seems slightly unfair that real effort (and therefore success) at AS level is sometimes cheapened by those 'playing the system' when it comes to UCAS.
Please don't kill me!
Very few people with poor grades choose to be 100% honest - and brave - and continue into year 13 without resits and aim to ace their A2 exams.
FYI, I was planning to do just this and it's a worrying prospect, I'll tell you that.
Anyway, I think you're absolutely right - hiding what you got and getting around a bad result seems quite shady to me, but I have to admit, when I got my results, the thought did cross my mind.
Many very clever people cocked up their as levels while stupid, but hard working people ace them, and its not a true reflection of thir ability. Just because people mess up one year of exams doesnt mean they should have to change their whole life plan to suit those who did well. oxbridge want intellectuals, which is why they interview, as they realise that grades can be decieving.
And also, honesty has nothing to do with retakes after as level. Its to do with striving to achieve the grades they want. People doing retakes on top of a2's will be working alot harder than you this year, in effect making up for the lack of effort in the as year. It all levels out.
And also, honesty has nothing to do with retakes after as level. Its to do with striving to achieve the grades they want. People doing retakes on top of a2's will be working alot harder than you this year, in effect making up for the lack of effort in the as year. It all levels out.
Okay, I'm going to pinpoint a particular area in this subject, because it's one that's worth mention. Language A-levels. Nearly everyone who studies a language for two years will re-sit the AS modules, since languages is obviously something that one learns cumulatively. In fact, the language department at my college has made it quite clear that the only reason their students take AS exams in the first year is college regulations. My AS grade jumped from a C to an A with resits and absolutely zero revision in French.
A student will hide his AS grades if he thinks he is more likely to be accepted at university that way. Similarly, he will show off his AS grades if he thinks it's more likely he'll be accepted that way.
I think the system should be tightened up, either one way or the other here. At present, it simply isn't a fair way of selecting students. I would probably swing towards forcing students to show their AS grades, although since I'm not an admissions tutor, I can't comment on its usefulness.
A student will hide his AS grades if he thinks he is more likely to be accepted at university that way. Similarly, he will show off his AS grades if he thinks it's more likely he'll be accepted that way.
I think the system should be tightened up, either one way or the other here. At present, it simply isn't a fair way of selecting students. I would probably swing towards forcing students to show their AS grades, although since I'm not an admissions tutor, I can't comment on its usefulness.
At my school, it was precedure for every student to put "pending" as their AS grade. So only the subject and exam, and not the mark, were displayed. This meant the admissions tutors only head the PS and the "predicted grades" given in the references to go on. It was also standard procedure to re-take any exams one did not do too well in. Essentialy, this is still the candidates own work (even if it is with more revison time overall and a better knowledge of the kind of questions asked). In my case, this proved very useful. I am someone who has potential, but needs a kick up the ass (like poor grades) to actualy realise this fully. Not the best, I'll admit, but this is how my brain works (i.e, better under pressure and when it is a final, all-or-nowt situation). Everyone has their own way of working, and not eveyone can be crammed through a standarised system and hope to do well, even if they are fundamentaly desireable choices for admissions tutors. For example, some people are not so receptive to memorising content, and so need more time. Some have been badly prepared for exams by teachers, some have hit problems right over the exam period (as I did with my A2s - I was suicidaly depressed, had just broken up with my bf of two years and was having nightmares and suffering insommnia) etc etc. However, universities are often indiffarent to such differences and obstacles as far as applications are concerned and so penalise certain mindsets and people who have suffered from problems such as poor teaching. This is why we often hide our retakes. We know that, depsite it being our own work and effort, and despite it being a clear sign that we are being pragmatic about a set back, we will knock our chances. In the end, one year/month/week should not have to define out entire future.
But then again, there are those who are plainly arrogant and lazy, and who want to cheat the system simply becuase they are objecting to the prospect of hard work. I have ny sympathy.
But then again, there are those who are plainly arrogant and lazy, and who want to cheat the system simply becuase they are objecting to the prospect of hard work. I have ny sympathy.
I understand your point OP but I disagree with you. The fact that you will not have to hide your AS grades on your form will be of benefit to you when you compare your application to those who do hide them. It must be annoying that you have done well and you are competing with someone who has retaken numerous modules and achieved the same grade as you. That annoys me as well, but you have to look at it from another perspective.
Me personally I did not do any retakes until this year which was my third year at A -level. I went through a lot of things at home and also giving up later in the year also contributed to my grades. Apart from that I have no excuse to explain why I did bad in some modules, because I did excellently in others.
For some people it takes time to discover what revision style is best for them. I did not know how to revise properly because I always achieved my grades from remembering what was taught in class. This year I started very early making sure I understood the content of the work, taping my revisions, making posters and reiterating what I was reading. Retaking does not mean my grades are not as valid as those who did well the first time.
Me personally I did not do any retakes until this year which was my third year at A -level. I went through a lot of things at home and also giving up later in the year also contributed to my grades. Apart from that I have no excuse to explain why I did bad in some modules, because I did excellently in others.
For some people it takes time to discover what revision style is best for them. I did not know how to revise properly because I always achieved my grades from remembering what was taught in class. This year I started very early making sure I understood the content of the work, taping my revisions, making posters and reiterating what I was reading. Retaking does not mean my grades are not as valid as those who did well the first time.
Easy as ABC
A friend and I discussed this today, and it's left me feeling pretty confused about how I feel about the whole situation. Before I go on, please don't take offence to anything written, and try to look at the situation as a general issue within sixth form education, rather than personal feelings towards certain groups.
Most of us work very hard for AS grades. We get stressed, revise an awful lot and then suffer a terrible wait inbetween exams and results day. Some people, however, do not work during year 12 and arrogantly think they will either do well anyway, or hope to drag themselves up to a respectable mark with resits etc.
On results day, people who are disappointed fall into one of two camps: those who did revise and cannot understand why they did badly (this could be because of poor teaching or an exam board cock-up, for example), and the people who didn't work and now complain that they don't have good grades as AS. I have complete sympathy with the former (indeed, it has happened to me in the past), but none for the latter.
With UCAS applications looming, many start to worry (understandably). Most choose to resit a number of modules. Then they start to plot how to limit the damage to their chances of uni entry. This forum details the lengths some will go: not declare AS exams, decline grades, put grades as 'pending', etc. Some of these tactics are allowed by UCAS, others are somewhat more shady.
Very few people with poor grades choose to be 100% honest - and brave - and continue into year 13 without resits and aim to ace their A2 exams.
Am I alone in feeling slightly p**sed off, when I have worked really hard during the year and am lucky enough to be entering year 13 with great grades and UMS marks without the need for any resits, whilst others hide the true picture of their AS exams from admissions tutors.
Doubtless these people have ability, but they haven't put the work in during the past year. Yet these people could be taking uni places from those who have worked hard in year 12.
To me, it just seems slightly unfair that real effort (and therefore success) at AS level is sometimes cheapened by those 'playing the system' when it comes to UCAS.
Please don't kill me!
Most of us work very hard for AS grades. We get stressed, revise an awful lot and then suffer a terrible wait inbetween exams and results day. Some people, however, do not work during year 12 and arrogantly think they will either do well anyway, or hope to drag themselves up to a respectable mark with resits etc.
On results day, people who are disappointed fall into one of two camps: those who did revise and cannot understand why they did badly (this could be because of poor teaching or an exam board cock-up, for example), and the people who didn't work and now complain that they don't have good grades as AS. I have complete sympathy with the former (indeed, it has happened to me in the past), but none for the latter.
With UCAS applications looming, many start to worry (understandably). Most choose to resit a number of modules. Then they start to plot how to limit the damage to their chances of uni entry. This forum details the lengths some will go: not declare AS exams, decline grades, put grades as 'pending', etc. Some of these tactics are allowed by UCAS, others are somewhat more shady.
Very few people with poor grades choose to be 100% honest - and brave - and continue into year 13 without resits and aim to ace their A2 exams.
Am I alone in feeling slightly p**sed off, when I have worked really hard during the year and am lucky enough to be entering year 13 with great grades and UMS marks without the need for any resits, whilst others hide the true picture of their AS exams from admissions tutors.
Doubtless these people have ability, but they haven't put the work in during the past year. Yet these people could be taking uni places from those who have worked hard in year 12.
To me, it just seems slightly unfair that real effort (and therefore success) at AS level is sometimes cheapened by those 'playing the system' when it comes to UCAS.
Please don't kill me!
Firstly, admission tutors aren't stupid. They do this for a living, and can spot a liar a mile away. Many universities, don't really have a specific policy regarding presenting retake grades. You must understand that for many these exams may be a sort of 'Mock.'
For example, at our school, we weren't given many past papers. Our teacher for biology was so bad that she could hardly speak English. It situations like these, it's normal many students do badly first time around. Many of our teachers were teaching A-levels for the first time to us, meaning that they had no idea what they were doing.
I completely agree with you. I didn't put my AS grades on my UCAS form, but that was only because it's my school's policy not to, not because I personally chose to decline them. That means, apart from the personal statement and reference, only GCSE grades and predicted A-level grades are available and I don't think either of these are enough. GCSEs should of course be considered, but A-levels, where students specialise in certain subjects and study them at a much higher level, are more important. Predicted grades are often inaccurate as a result of students sweet talking their teachers and the teachers agreeing because it will look good on them and the school if the students get into top universities. Personally I think declining grades should not be an option. As long as it is, students will obviously continue to abuse the system and students like yourself who work hard and do well in Year 12 will continue to miss out on the credit they deserve compared to those who mess up a bit and have to do resits.
yer but i got b,c,d,d at As level as you know kelly mate. The thing is if i put my c and dd grades on it wont look very good. Plus I worked my socks off and deserved higher but it was due to 1 module in each which has brought me down. I say 2nd chances should be given in terms of putting pending on ucas.
morgo
yer but i got b,c,d,d at As level as you know kelly mate. The thing is if i put my c and dd grades on it wont look very good. Plus I worked my socks off and deserved higher but it was due to 1 module in each which has brought me down. I say 2nd chances should be given in terms of putting pending on ucas.
That's the good thing about UCAS now asking for module grades though. Even if you were forced to declare your grades, unis could see that you have a better chance of improving your D if you got say CCD than someone else who got DDD.
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