probably going to fail my a levels (bio and chem) what should I do

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could you do a foundation year?

Reply 2

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Original post by mo05

I will probably get a D in both and I want to go into dentistry so will have to resit. anyone know if it's possible to resit privately and how to do the whole process?

you might surprise yourself and do better?

Reply 3

OP

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Original post by DaydreamingTeen

could you do a foundation year?

yes I would need tp get a B in at least one of them and the other a C

Reply 4

OP

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Original post by DaydreamingTeen

you might surprise yourself and do better?

there's no way for bio I don't even know the content

Reply 5

McGinger

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You may have to start being more honest with yourself about why you have 'messed up' A levels.

If this is 'too hard' or you lacked motivation to put in the hours, then a degree in Dentistry is probably not achievable - this is what I mean about being honest with yourself. Yes, 'a dream' that now disappears is disappointing but there are other ways to work in the area of dentistry, or even other areas of healthcare.

Dental Hygiene and Therapy - https://www.port.ac.uk/study/courses/undergraduate/bsc-hons-dental-hygiene-and-dental-therapy
Dental Nursing - https://www.port.ac.uk/study/courses/undergraduate/certhe-dental-nursing

NHS roles - https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/explore-roles
NHS apprenticeships - https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/career-planning/study-and-training/nhs-apprenticeships

Reply 6

OP

12

Original post by McGinger

You may have to start being more honest with yourself about why you have 'messed up' A levels.

If this is 'too hard' or you lacked motivation to put in the hours, then a degree in Dentistry is probably not achievable - this is what I mean about being honest with yourself. Yes, 'a dream' that now disappears is disappointing but there are other ways to work in the area of dentistry, or even other areas of healthcare.

Dental Hygiene and Therapy - https://www.port.ac.uk/study/courses/undergraduate/bsc-hons-dental-hygiene-and-dental-therapy
Dental Nursing - https://www.port.ac.uk/study/courses/undergraduate/certhe-dental-nursing

NHS roles - https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/explore-roles
NHS apprenticeships - https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/career-planning/study-and-training/nhs-apprenticeships

I messed up because of the responsibilities I have in my family and my college provided no support in helping me achieve my goals so no it's not because I lacked motivation.

Reply 7

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Original post by McGinger

You may have to start being more honest with yourself about why you have 'messed up' A levels.

If this is 'too hard' or you lacked motivation to put in the hours, then a degree in Dentistry is probably not achievable - this is what I mean about being honest with yourself. Yes, 'a dream' that now disappears is disappointing but there are other ways to work in the area of dentistry, or even other areas of healthcare.

Dental Hygiene and Therapy - https://www.port.ac.uk/study/courses/undergraduate/bsc-hons-dental-hygiene-and-dental-therapy
Dental Nursing - https://www.port.ac.uk/study/courses/undergraduate/certhe-dental-nursing

NHS roles - https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/explore-roles
NHS apprenticeships - https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/career-planning/study-and-training/nhs-apprenticeships

this advice is pretty useful.

Reply 8

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Original post by mo05

I messed up because of the responsibilities I have in my family and my college provided no support in helping me achieve my goals so no it's not because I lacked motivation.

@McGinger wasn’t trying to put you down, there was an IF in their questions about motivation and difficulty.
However, if your family responsibilities still exist next year and you don’t have a support network to help you, the probability of being to cope with a dentistry course remain slim. You may be able to get mitigating circumstances or a contextual offer if you are a primary caregiver but you would still require reasonable grades.
In what way would you have liked your college to provide additional help? If it’s with study support etc I’m sure people on here could point you in the right direction or provide help themselves if your own teachers are not forthcoming with it.

(edited 2 years ago)

Reply 9

Muttley79

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Original post by mo05

I will probably get a D in both and I want to go into dentistry so will have to resit. anyone know if it's possible to resit privately and how to do the whole process?

These aren't fails ...

Reply 10

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Original post by Muttley79

These aren't fails ...

No they’re not, but they’re not good enough realistically for dentistry either. I’d try and see if there were grounds for a contextual offer or mitigating circumstances and see if there is a possibility of a foundation course.

(edited 2 years ago)

Reply 11

OP

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Original post by Euapp

@McGinger wasn’t trying to put you down, there was an IF in their questions about motivation and difficulty.
However, if your family responsibilities still exist next year and you don’t have a support network to help you, the probability of being to cope with a dentistry course remain slim. You may be able to get mitigating circumstances or a contextual offer if you are a primary caregiver but you would still require reasonable grades.
In what way would you have liked your college to provide additional help? If it’s with study support etc I’m sure people on here could point you in the right direction or provide help themselves if your own teachers are not forthcoming with it.

thank you for the clarification but I never said he/she was trying to put me down I understand where they came from. all I want to know is how to resit my alevels and family issues are mostly sorted now. yep for dentistry I have an offer for ABB but I know I can get an A in psych bit for bio and chem its just not looking good. in terms of college I go to a very underperforming college in year 13 we only had substitute teachers so was not taught any of the content in detail and have been self teaching everything.

Reply 12

OP

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Original post by Muttley79

These aren't fails ...

unfortunately for dentistry they are basically fails bc you need at least B's.

Reply 13

21

Original post by mo05

thank you for the clarification but I never said he/she was trying to put me down I understand where they came from. all I want to know is how to resit my alevels and family issues are mostly sorted now. yep for dentistry I have an offer for ABB but I know I can get an A in psych bit for bio and chem its just not looking good. in terms of college I go to a very underperforming college in year 13 we only had substitute teachers so was not taught any of the content in detail and have been self teaching everything.

It is possible to resit privately but doing the practical endorsements will be costly(up to £1500 / subject and probably a couple of hundred for each of the other papers.
Is there no way that you could work independently but retake if necessary ( it might not be) with your current college?

Reply 14

username6039954

2

Hi! Im in year 13 currently sitting my A level Exams just like you and I advise that you hold your head up high as you might do better than you think :smile:

I do not do science based subjects but my best advice is honestly for you to have a fresh start and maybe consider retaking at another sixth form/college if everything doesn’t go to plan. Let them know about your situation and the reason why you weren’t able to perform to the best of your ability. In some cases they might allow you to fast track and do it in one year. Even though you’ll be a year or 2 behind it shouldn’t ruin the university experience because many people are in the same position i.e gap years and other personal reasons. Keep in mind that this advice is coming from someone who has a sibling that had to restart due to personal reasons so this is just a suggestion.

Reply 15

OP

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Original post by Euapp

It is possible to resit privately but doing the practical endorsements will be costly(up to £1500 / subject and probably a couple of hundred for each of the other papers.
Is there no way that you could work independently but retake if necessary ( it might not be) with your current college?

I see. resitting with my current college is a very good suggestion but I believe that I would need to have a high attendance and tbh my attendance has been really bad but I guess next week I can go talk to my tutor and perhaps she can direct me on what to do.

Reply 16

OP

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Original post by nuradin_m

Hi! Im in year 13 currently sitting my A level Exams just like you and I advise that you hold your head up high as you might do better than you think :smile:

I do not do science based subjects but my best advice is honestly for you to have a fresh start and maybe consider retaking at another sixth form/college if everything doesn’t go to plan. Let them know about your situation and the reason why you weren’t able to perform to the best of your ability. In some cases they might allow you to fast track and do it in one year. Even though you’ll be a year or 2 behind it shouldn’t ruin the university experience because many people are in the same position i.e gap years and other personal reasons. Keep in mind that this advice is coming from someone who has a sibling that had to restart due to personal reasons so this is just a suggestion.

thank you I will try to see if there are any other sixth forms/colleges not too far away because the only college near me is the one I go to. I completely agree about being a year or 2 behind would not ruin the uni experience. proud of your sister fr!

Reply 17

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Original post by mo05

I see. resitting with my current college is a very good suggestion but I believe that I would need to have a high attendance and tbh my attendance has been really bad but I guess next week I can go talk to my tutor and perhaps she can direct me on what to do.

If you got offered a place for dentistry then you must be a good student in normal circumstances and if your domestic situation has been complicated this year I would hope that your tutor would be understanding and would provide the support that you need to be able to resit at your college. But don’t give up on this year. Give it your best and you might surprise yourself. ( also I’m not sure with dentistry but other similar content degrees at some unis only consider retakes if the first grades were above a certain level)
Wishing you the best of luck.

(edited 2 years ago)

Reply 18

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Original post by mo05

thank you for the clarification but I never said he/she was trying to put me down I understand where they came from. all I want to know is how to resit my alevels and family issues are mostly sorted now. yep for dentistry I have an offer for ABB but I know I can get an A in psych bit for bio and chem its just not looking good. in terms of college I go to a very underperforming college in year 13 we only had substitute teachers so was not taught any of the content in detail and have been self teaching everything.

have you tried for any "widening participation programmes"?
Loads of unis do this, and some can reduce your grades.
A gap year maybe good?

Reply 19