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I never really proceeded it until now

I sat my Alevels last summer and I performed horribly. I did maths, chemistry, further maths and physics and I got 2 Es and 2Us in that order. The day I got my results I was neither sad nor worried, I was numb. I guess you could say I was shocked. I didn't go to a school to study. I was a private candidate and I taught myself at home. Well obviously I did a bad job of it and that's why we are here now. I kind of dealt with this as though it had happened to someone else and not me. I refused to let myself think about it. Anyway this is basically me admitting to myself that I failed my Alevels and it was at no one else's fault but me.
Original post by Daada
I sat my Alevels last summer and I performed horribly. I did maths, chemistry, further maths and physics and I got 2 Es and 2Us in that order. The day I got my results I was neither sad nor worried, I was numb. I guess you could say I was shocked. I didn't go to a school to study. I was a private candidate and I taught myself at home. Well obviously I did a bad job of it and that's why we are here now. I kind of dealt with this as though it had happened to someone else and not me. I refused to let myself think about it. Anyway this is basically me admitting to myself that I failed my Alevels and it was at no one else's fault but me.

Well accepting that it's your responsibility is a good start.

Should I presume that you intend to resit? If so, I would provide you with resources that could help.
Reply 2
Original post by MindMax2000
Well accepting that it's your responsibility is a good start.

Should I presume that you intend to resit? If so, I would provide you with resources that could help.

Yes, I intend to resit.
That would be lovely thank you so much.
Reply 3
Accept the fact that you failed and use it to fuel you for your resits. Never give up!!!!
Original post by Daada
Yes, I intend to resit.
That would be lovely thank you so much.

The resources that I used for my A Level Maths include:

CGP exam practice and revision guides - pick the ones appropriate for your exam board; and no I am not recommending them because I like them - it's because they're the only brand that I know of that offer them for A Levels

Bicen Maths - great resources although the focus is on EdExcel Maths and Further Maths (https://www.youtube.com/@BicenMaths)

ExamSolutions - equally good resource for Maths and Further Maths but mostly for EdExcel (https://www.examsolutions.net/, https://www.youtube.com/user/examsolutions)

TLMaths - great for both Maths and Further Maths and for both EdExcel and AQA (https://www.youtube.com/c/tlmaths, https://sites.google.com/view/tlmaths/home)

Past papers - lots of them mostly from your exam board, but do look into others if you have done all of those for your own

As you typically don't have that much time within a revision period, I tend not to overload myself with a lot of resources and try to maximise my use and focus on a handful of them. The above is adequate in my opinion, but there are other resources out there.

I think I did something like 20 past papers before I sat my maths exams. For each paper, I did them under timed conditions and I reviewed the marks scheme to correct my answers before attempting the same questions again and repeat the process until I got something like 90% of the marks for the question. I would then refer to revision guides for questions where my mind went blank.
The aim for me was to target my weakest areas as that's where there are the most scope for me to improve my scores. Solely focusing on your strengths make little sense in this case, especially where you don't get much scope for more marks.

I haven't done physics or chemistry yet, but my approach to the exams would be similar to the above.

See the following for further advice:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=--gViX-erOs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l3ctFrUX9iM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1wbz3CST8Vg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4FVnvLMJ848
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CeAaACKEiHo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3dJqheOpRDE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ixf8RJp8H1s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EiBurJvIBMc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mrnUDXvfMCM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EjEHGgvCViQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pM0_0E3sV-8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYNLnPYEaWU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PrOhXvAQS6s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=65xy8QuGH7k
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PXZyVHOMhyA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uj4nwYHXAAs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VqAX4Ui_9lE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-8_n2zWGN5I
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=010HGihy0eM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysE-Zlcb8dM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VH1CvE3WVcQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MwdqxBh8mJU

You can likewise find similar videos for physics and chemistry.

Whilst I don't claim to be an expert at studying, the reasons for low grades can be down to any or a combination of the following:

Ineffective study strategy/approach

Not focusing on weak areas

Pure cramming and not understanding the material

Not practicing implementing the material or use the material under exam conditions

Not understanding the marking criteria

Poor exam practice/strategy

Not using study groups where many of the participants have stronger study skills and background in particular areas than you do

Not understanding the material - usually the least relevant reason

I don't know enough about your background to comment on what the actual reasons are. However, if any of the above ring a bell, then it's ideal if you do some self reflection before continuing your studies.
If you want to try a new approach, you would want to experiment on it for at most a week. If you only have about 9 months or so, I would stick to an approach that would suit you personally the most and one that you can get the most out of.
Reply 5
Original post by Daada
I sat my Alevels last summer and I performed horribly. I did maths, chemistry, further maths and physics and I got 2 Es and 2Us in that order. The day I got my results I was neither sad nor worried, I was numb. I guess you could say I was shocked. I didn't go to a school to study. I was a private candidate and I taught myself at home. Well obviously I did a bad job of it and that's why we are here now. I kind of dealt with this as though it had happened to someone else and not me. I refused to let myself think about it. Anyway this is basically me admitting to myself that I failed my Alevels and it was at no one else's fault but me.

You didn't fail all of them. You passed Maths and Chemistry.
Reply 6
Original post by MindMax2000
The resources that I used for my A Level Maths include:

CGP exam practice and revision guides - pick the ones appropriate for your exam board; and no I am not recommending them because I like them - it's because they're the only brand that I know of that offer them for A Levels

Bicen Maths - great resources although the focus is on EdExcel Maths and Further Maths (https://www.youtube.com/@BicenMaths)

ExamSolutions - equally good resource for Maths and Further Maths but mostly for EdExcel (https://www.examsolutions.net/, https://www.youtube.com/user/examsolutions)

TLMaths - great for both Maths and Further Maths and for both EdExcel and AQA (https://www.youtube.com/c/tlmaths, https://sites.google.com/view/tlmaths/home)

Past papers - lots of them mostly from your exam board, but do look into others if you have done all of those for your own

As you typically don't have that much time within a revision period, I tend not to overload myself with a lot of resources and try to maximise my use and focus on a handful of them. The above is adequate in my opinion, but there are other resources out there.

I think I did something like 20 past papers before I sat my maths exams. For each paper, I did them under timed conditions and I reviewed the marks scheme to correct my answers before attempting the same questions again and repeat the process until I got something like 90% of the marks for the question. I would then refer to revision guides for questions where my mind went blank.
The aim for me was to target my weakest areas as that's where there are the most scope for me to improve my scores. Solely focusing on your strengths make little sense in this case, especially where you don't get much scope for more marks.

I haven't done physics or chemistry yet, but my approach to the exams would be similar to the above.

See the following for further advice:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=--gViX-erOs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l3ctFrUX9iM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1wbz3CST8Vg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4FVnvLMJ848
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CeAaACKEiHo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3dJqheOpRDE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ixf8RJp8H1s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EiBurJvIBMc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mrnUDXvfMCM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EjEHGgvCViQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pM0_0E3sV-8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYNLnPYEaWU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PrOhXvAQS6s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=65xy8QuGH7k
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PXZyVHOMhyA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uj4nwYHXAAs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VqAX4Ui_9lE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-8_n2zWGN5I
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=010HGihy0eM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysE-Zlcb8dM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VH1CvE3WVcQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MwdqxBh8mJU

You can likewise find similar videos for physics and chemistry.

Whilst I don't claim to be an expert at studying, the reasons for low grades can be down to any or a combination of the following:

Ineffective study strategy/approach

Not focusing on weak areas

Pure cramming and not understanding the material

Not practicing implementing the material or use the material under exam conditions

Not understanding the marking criteria

Poor exam practice/strategy

Not using study groups where many of the participants have stronger study skills and background in particular areas than you do

Not understanding the material - usually the least relevant reason

I don't know enough about your background to comment on what the actual reasons are. However, if any of the above ring a bell, then it's ideal if you do some self reflection before continuing your studies.
If you want to try a new approach, you would want to experiment on it for at most a week. If you only have about 9 months or so, I would stick to an approach that would suit you personally the most and one that you can get the most out of.

I cannot express my gratitude enough! Thank you sincerely for dedicating your time to compile this for me. The reasons behind my low grades were undoubtedly a blend of neglecting weak areas and insufficient comprehension of the material. I refrained from using study groups in the past, and I currently have no plans to join one as all my friends have started uni. Being outside of a traditional school setting, I lack a group for collaborative revision.
Do you reckon that it is important to be part of a study group?
(edited 3 months ago)
Original post by Daada
I cannot express my gratitude enough! Thank you sincerely for dedicating your time to compile this for me. The reasons behind my low grades were undoubtedly a blend of neglecting weak areas and insufficient comprehension of the material. I refrained from using study groups in the past, and I currently have no plans to join one as all my friends have started uni. Being outside of a traditional school setting, I lack a group for collaborative revision.
Do you reckon that it is important to be part of a study group?

Not necessarily, but it would definitely help. I have been part of study groups before, and the resources and ideas that we bounce off each other I thought have definitely helped me improve.
Personally, I would rather have a tutor/teacher/lecturer to bounce ideas off from, but a study group is more dynamic.

Can't you stay on for another year at your college?

Having said that. it doesn't hurt to stay in contact with your friends (highly recommended for reasons other than studying). Also, if your friends have done the same subjects as you, it's a good idea to get pointers from them from time to time.

When I did my A Level Maths privately, I mostly did it by myself and I sought a lot of feedback from my tutor. So no, it's not necessary to be in a study group.
Reply 8
Original post by MindMax2000
Not necessarily, but it would definitely help. I have been part of study groups before, and the resources and ideas that we bounce off each other I thought have definitely helped me improve.
Personally, I would rather have a tutor/teacher/lecturer to bounce ideas off from, but a study group is more dynamic.

Can't you stay on for another year at your college?

Having said that. it doesn't hurt to stay in contact with your friends (highly recommended for reasons other than studying). Also, if your friends have done the same subjects as you, it's a good idea to get pointers from them from time to time.

When I did my A Level Maths privately, I mostly did it by myself and I sought a lot of feedback from my tutor. So no, it's not necessary to be in a study group.

No, I can't. It's going to cost a lot considering that I have to pay for my exams too.
Reply 9
Original post by MindMax2000
Not necessarily, but it would definitely help. I have been part of study groups before, and the resources and ideas that we bounce off each other I thought have definitely helped me improve.
Personally, I would rather have a tutor/teacher/lecturer to bounce ideas off from, but a study group is more dynamic.

Can't you stay on for another year at your college?

Having said that. it doesn't hurt to stay in contact with your friends (highly recommended for reasons other than studying). Also, if your friends have done the same subjects as you, it's a good idea to get pointers from them from time to time.

When I did my A Level Maths privately, I mostly did it by myself and I sought a lot of feedback from my tutor. So no, it's not necessary to be in a study group.

I am in this mess because I thought I could do it all alone. I didn't have a dedicated tutor to help me throughout. I only hired a tutor a month or so before my exams and I thought it would be suffice but I was wrong.

Now that you've mentioned the importance, I am going to be a lot more serious about getting one.
Original post by Daada
I am in this mess because I thought I could do it all alone. I didn't have a dedicated tutor to help me throughout. I only hired a tutor a month or so before my exams and I thought it would be suffice but I was wrong.

Now that you've mentioned the importance, I am going to be a lot more serious about getting one.

How about this?
If you take online A Level courses, you should have a tutor for your subjects for about £400-900 per 2 years/24 months. That should be significantly less than what you would be charged for freelance tutors (unless you want freelance tutors).
You can usually find the online A Level courses through online colleges - you would need to search for these, and I would ideally pick the courses that align with your chosen exam boards e.g. EdExcel, OCR, AQA.

You shouldn't need to redo your practicals for your sciences if you have already passed them, so you can just pay for the course fees and the exams.

I can't help much with the exam fees since they're set by the exam boards. If you want to save on money, I would avoid picking online courses that includes booking for your exams. However, that would also mean that you would have to go through the trouble of finding exam centres for your exams.
Reply 11
Original post by MindMax2000
How about this?
If you take online A Level courses, you should have a tutor for your subjects for about £400-900 per 2 years/24 months. That should be significantly less than what you would be charged for freelance tutors (unless you want freelance tutors).
You can usually find the online A Level courses through online colleges - you would need to search for these, and I would ideally pick the courses that align with your chosen exam boards e.g. EdExcel, OCR, AQA.

You shouldn't need to redo your practicals for your sciences if you have already passed them, so you can just pay for the course fees and the exams.

I can't help much with the exam fees since they're set by the exam boards. If you want to save on money, I would avoid picking online courses that includes booking for your exams. However, that would also mean that you would have to go through the trouble of finding exam centres for your exams.

Thank you so much
Is there any specific online college that you can recommend?

That won't be too much of a hassle I suppose as I'll just use the exam centre i used previously.
Each A Level at online colleges can follow specific exam boards. The one I used for my A Level Maths (AQA) was Oxbridge Home Learning, but the course cost £895 I think.

I haven't decided on the courses and exam boards for the others yet - I was supposed to do further maths with AQA but Oxbridge follows EdExcel and the ones that do offer it for AQA don't do mechanics.

I would check with the exam centre that you used previously, unless you found the centre as a private candidate. If it's your previous college that you did your A Levels at, then you should note that not all colleges would accept alumni as private candidates - should you wish to take further exams with them then you would need to check.
Reply 13
Original post by MindMax2000
Each A Level at online colleges can follow specific exam boards. The one I used for my A Level Maths (AQA) was Oxbridge Home Learning, but the course cost £895 I think.

I haven't decided on the courses and exam boards for the others yet - I was supposed to do further maths with AQA but Oxbridge follows EdExcel and the ones that do offer it for AQA don't do mechanics.

I would check with the exam centre that you used previously, unless you found the centre as a private candidate. If it's your previous college that you did your A Levels at, then you should note that not all colleges would accept alumni as private candidates - should you wish to take further exams with them then you would need to check.

Thank you
I found the Centre as a private candidate so I will be able to register with then again

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