A-level Resit Query
My A-level results day was today and safe to say, I'm extremely disappointed. I'm wanting to resit, however issue is, my school says they will predict me 1 grade higher than my achieved grade. This is an issue for me as it means that I cannot apply to the universities I want to apply to as I wouldn't meet the entry requirement. I know I should probably set my goals lower, however, I really don't want to go to any other university.
I've looked into other options, however, I'm still at a lost. Re-sitting your A-levels seems really expensive and I cannot afford to have private tuition that will allow me to have new predicted grades.
In addition, my mum wants me to actually go to a school to redo my year, however, I find that embarassing and all the good sixth forms are oversubscribed.
Could anyone give me advice on how I navigate through this?
For reference, I want to read law at the following institutions:
Durham University
University College London
London School of Economics and Political Science
King's College London
University of Manchester
University of Sheffield
University of Bristol
Possibly Oxford (though highly unlikely given the state I'm in)
Warwick University
I qualify for contextual offer at most of these universities. Are these universities accepting of resit applicants since law is an incredibly competitive field?
I've looked into other options, however, I'm still at a lost. Re-sitting your A-levels seems really expensive and I cannot afford to have private tuition that will allow me to have new predicted grades.
In addition, my mum wants me to actually go to a school to redo my year, however, I find that embarassing and all the good sixth forms are oversubscribed.
Could anyone give me advice on how I navigate through this?
For reference, I want to read law at the following institutions:
Durham University
University College London
London School of Economics and Political Science
King's College London
University of Manchester
University of Sheffield
University of Bristol
Possibly Oxford (though highly unlikely given the state I'm in)
Warwick University
I qualify for contextual offer at most of these universities. Are these universities accepting of resit applicants since law is an incredibly competitive field?
Reply 1
Original post by small-time-progr
My A-level results day was today and safe to say, I'm extremely disappointed. I'm wanting to resit, however issue is, my school says they will predict me 1 grade higher than my achieved grade. This is an issue for me as it means that I cannot apply to the universities I want to apply to as I wouldn't meet the entry requirement. I know I should probably set my goals lower, however, I really don't want to go to any other university.
I've looked into other options, however, I'm still at a lost. Re-sitting your A-levels seems really expensive and I cannot afford to have private tuition that will allow me to have new predicted grades.
In addition, my mum wants me to actually go to a school to redo my year, however, I find that embarassing and all the good sixth forms are oversubscribed.
Could anyone give me advice on how I navigate through this?
For reference, I want to read law at the following institutions:
Durham University
University College London
London School of Economics and Political Science
King's College London
University of Manchester
University of Sheffield
University of Bristol
Possibly Oxford (though highly unlikely given the state I'm in)
Warwick University
I qualify for contextual offer at most of these universities. Are these universities accepting of resit applicants since law is an incredibly competitive field?
I've looked into other options, however, I'm still at a lost. Re-sitting your A-levels seems really expensive and I cannot afford to have private tuition that will allow me to have new predicted grades.
In addition, my mum wants me to actually go to a school to redo my year, however, I find that embarassing and all the good sixth forms are oversubscribed.
Could anyone give me advice on how I navigate through this?
For reference, I want to read law at the following institutions:
Durham University
University College London
London School of Economics and Political Science
King's College London
University of Manchester
University of Sheffield
University of Bristol
Possibly Oxford (though highly unlikely given the state I'm in)
Warwick University
I qualify for contextual offer at most of these universities. Are these universities accepting of resit applicants since law is an incredibly competitive field?
Hi, first off sorry results day didn’t go as expected (mine didn’t either back in the day).
I am going to talk very pragmatically and aim to talk through best options.
Aside from Oxford/Cam University applications aren’t due until mid-January 2025. If you resit at school could you ask to delay predictions until say November/December? Go in & say I “...know my current display doesn’t provide confidence in higher grades, however I know im capable of more & im taking on a new attitude this year. I would like to demonstrate why you can put your confidence in me higher predictions...”
The next thing is you have to get over being embarrassed. Law is going to be competitive, getting into university is the start of several competitive steps. You can probably achieve a lot but your grit & motivation has to exceed your aspirations not allow your aspirations to be held at arms length because you are embarrassed to go to a certain 6-form.
Use this moment as a catalyst, make fundamental changes. Achieving your goals happens through long term focus & work.
As for law you may also need to undertake the LNAT and you will have to research which universities consider resits (not all do).
Reply 2
Original post by mnot
Hi, first off sorry results day didn’t go as expected (mine didn’t either back in the day).
I am going to talk very pragmatically and aim to talk through best options.
Aside from Oxford/Cam University applications aren’t due until mid-January 2025. If you resit at school could you ask to delay predictions until say November/December? Go in & say I “...know my current display doesn’t provide confidence in higher grades, however I know im capable of more & im taking on a new attitude this year. I would like to demonstrate why you can put your confidence in me higher predictions...”
The next thing is you have to get over being embarrassed. Law is going to be competitive, getting into university is the start of several competitive steps. You can probably achieve a lot but your grit & motivation has to exceed your aspirations not allow your aspirations to be held at arms length because you are embarrassed to go to a certain 6-form.
Use this moment as a catalyst, make fundamental changes. Achieving your goals happens through long term focus & work.
As for law you may also need to undertake the LNAT and you will have to research which universities consider resits (not all do).
I am going to talk very pragmatically and aim to talk through best options.
Aside from Oxford/Cam University applications aren’t due until mid-January 2025. If you resit at school could you ask to delay predictions until say November/December? Go in & say I “...know my current display doesn’t provide confidence in higher grades, however I know im capable of more & im taking on a new attitude this year. I would like to demonstrate why you can put your confidence in me higher predictions...”
The next thing is you have to get over being embarrassed. Law is going to be competitive, getting into university is the start of several competitive steps. You can probably achieve a lot but your grit & motivation has to exceed your aspirations not allow your aspirations to be held at arms length because you are embarrassed to go to a certain 6-form.
Use this moment as a catalyst, make fundamental changes. Achieving your goals happens through long term focus & work.
As for law you may also need to undertake the LNAT and you will have to research which universities consider resits (not all do).
Thank you, I really needed that!
I don't know if that will work though as I've emailed school about my concern however they said we are just 'acting as a centre' and 'we will never predict higher than one grade above the achieved grade.' They said they could organise a good supporting statement if they believe I can achieve higher but thats about it. I don't particularly have high hopes that the supporting statement is going to get me far if I'm trying to apply to top law schools.
As for sixth form, I don't think sixth form are accepting retaking one year applicants and I can't retake 2 years at a sixth form due to my age by then.
How did you navigate through this hurdle?
Reply 3
Original post by small-time-progr
Thank you, I really needed that!
I don't know if that will work though as I've emailed school about my concern however they said we are just 'acting as a centre' and 'we will never predict higher than one grade above the achieved grade.' They said they could organise a good supporting statement if they believe I can achieve higher but thats about it. I don't particularly have high hopes that the supporting statement is going to get me far if I'm trying to apply to top law schools.
As for sixth form, I don't think sixth form are accepting retaking one year applicants and I can't retake 2 years at a sixth form due to my age by then.
How did you navigate through this hurdle?
I don't know if that will work though as I've emailed school about my concern however they said we are just 'acting as a centre' and 'we will never predict higher than one grade above the achieved grade.' They said they could organise a good supporting statement if they believe I can achieve higher but thats about it. I don't particularly have high hopes that the supporting statement is going to get me far if I'm trying to apply to top law schools.
As for sixth form, I don't think sixth form are accepting retaking one year applicants and I can't retake 2 years at a sixth form due to my age by then.
How did you navigate through this hurdle?
Do you have a good relationship with your tutor/head of 6-form, these conversations are better face to face - id be tempted to try and do that this way? The A sincere attitude & honesty can go along way.
If you are unable to sort this, then you could resit as a private candidate & I think you nominate a credible reference who does the predictions, I guess potentially try and find a tutor you meet with occasionally who could provide the predictions (tbh im not sure, this is just my intuition. It’s been a long time since i was in school)
—
@04MR17 do you have any wisdom or know anyone who does?
Not a huge amount extra to add barring mnot's solid advice
My gut instinct would be to say take Oxford/Cambridge off your list - make this more achievable.
Second I would have at least 1 university you apply to with lower entry requirements to give you a bit of a safety net
I have asked around in our private area if someone can give a bit of information about the UCAS application process for private candidates
My gut instinct would be to say take Oxford/Cambridge off your list - make this more achievable.
Second I would have at least 1 university you apply to with lower entry requirements to give you a bit of a safety net
I have asked around in our private area if someone can give a bit of information about the UCAS application process for private candidates
(edited 10 months ago)
Reply 5
Original post by mnot
Do you have a good relationship with your tutor/head of 6-form, these conversations are better face to face - id be tempted to try and do that this way? The A sincere attitude & honesty can go along way.
If you are unable to sort this, then you could resit as a private candidate & I think you nominate a credible reference who does the predictions, I guess potentially try and find a tutor you meet with occasionally who could provide the predictions (tbh im not sure, this is just my intuition. It’s been a long time since i was in school)
—
@04MR17 do you have any wisdom or know anyone who does?
If you are unable to sort this, then you could resit as a private candidate & I think you nominate a credible reference who does the predictions, I guess potentially try and find a tutor you meet with occasionally who could provide the predictions (tbh im not sure, this is just my intuition. It’s been a long time since i was in school)
—
@04MR17 do you have any wisdom or know anyone who does?
I'm not particularly close with any of my teachers, tutors or sixth form staff. I have a meeting with them on Monday, however, I doubt it's going to be of much use as on results day, they said they can only act as a centre. I'm afraid this year, lots of people did not meet their offer in my school.
I'm thinking about going down the pathway as a private candidate but I'm not sure how much that will cost. Could you elaborate on the tutor part? Would I need to find a tutor for all 3 of my subjects?
Thanks for taking time out of your day to help me!I'm just quite stressed as these results are really unexpected to both my teachers and myself.
Reply 6
Original post by 04MR17
Not a huge amount extra to add barring mnot's solid advice
My gut instinct would be to say take Oxford/Cambridge off your list - make this more achievable.
Second I would have at least 1 university you apply to with lower entry requirements to give you a bit of a safety net
I have asked around in our private area if someone can give a bit of information about the UCAS application process for private candidates
My gut instinct would be to say take Oxford/Cambridge off your list - make this more achievable.
Second I would have at least 1 university you apply to with lower entry requirements to give you a bit of a safety net
I have asked around in our private area if someone can give a bit of information about the UCAS application process for private candidates
Hi, that would be greatly appreciated! I just don't really know what to search/who to ask about resits!
Reply 7
Original post by small-time-progr
I'm not particularly close with any of my teachers, tutors or sixth form staff. I have a meeting with them on Monday, however, I doubt it's going to be of much use as on results day, they said they can only act as a centre. I'm afraid this year, lots of people did not meet their offer in my school.
I'm thinking about going down the pathway as a private candidate but I'm not sure how much that will cost. Could you elaborate on the tutor part? Would I need to find a tutor for all 3 of my subjects?
Thanks for taking time out of your day to help me!I'm just quite stressed as these results are really unexpected to both my teachers and myself.
I'm thinking about going down the pathway as a private candidate but I'm not sure how much that will cost. Could you elaborate on the tutor part? Would I need to find a tutor for all 3 of my subjects?
Thanks for taking time out of your day to help me!I'm just quite stressed as these results are really unexpected to both my teachers and myself.
You’ll be best off doing the research yourself, perhaps at the end of your conversation with the school you could ask them.
But broadly speaking I think you pay to privately sit exams, privately prepare & then you nominate an appropriate referee i.e. a tutor for UCAS and they give you references & can choose to supply predictions. I suspect you could find a tutor who would do the reference who would then coordinate with your other tutors to provide predictions.
But again im not that knowledgeable this more my intuition so you’ll have to do independent research on this.
Reply 8
Original post by small-time-progr
I'm not particularly close with any of my teachers, tutors or sixth form staff. I have a meeting with them on Monday, however, I doubt it's going to be of much use as on results day, they said they can only act as a centre. I'm afraid this year, lots of people did not meet their offer in my school.
I'm thinking about going down the pathway as a private candidate but I'm not sure how much that will cost. Could you elaborate on the tutor part? Would I need to find a tutor for all 3 of my subjects?
Thanks for taking time out of your day to help me!I'm just quite stressed as these results are really unexpected to both my teachers and myself.
I'm thinking about going down the pathway as a private candidate but I'm not sure how much that will cost. Could you elaborate on the tutor part? Would I need to find a tutor for all 3 of my subjects?
Thanks for taking time out of your day to help me!I'm just quite stressed as these results are really unexpected to both my teachers and myself.
have you had any luck
Original post by small-time-progr
Hi, that would be greatly appreciated! I just don't really know what to search/who to ask about resits!
Basic options in order of best to worst:
- get previous college/school to provide a reference if possible with predicted grades or “the predicted grades entered are those provided to us by the applicant as their target grades”
- get a previous teacher from school/college to provide a reference (with predictions as above)
- get private centre to provide a reference and predictions. This will normally involve additional cost and in my experience they’re not great at writing a suitable reference.
- hire a private tutor specifically to provide a reference and predictions. Has an additional cost and least trusted by universities.
- get a non academic reference from an employer
Reply 10
Original post by proddy.tv
have you had any luck
Unfortunately they haven't been very helpful, haha. My school doesn't usually deal with resits so they don't have much knowledge on this.
Reply 11
Original post by 04MR17
Basic options in order of best to worst:
- get previous college/school to provide a reference if possible with predicted grades or “the predicted grades entered are those provided to us by the applicant as their target grades”
- get a previous teacher from school/college to provide a reference (with predictions as above)
- get private centre to provide a reference and predictions. This will normally involve additional cost and in my experience they’re not great at writing a suitable reference.
- hire a private tutor specifically to provide a reference and predictions. Has an additional cost and least trusted by universities.
- get a non academic reference from an employer
- get previous college/school to provide a reference if possible with predicted grades or “the predicted grades entered are those provided to us by the applicant as their target grades”
- get a previous teacher from school/college to provide a reference (with predictions as above)
- get private centre to provide a reference and predictions. This will normally involve additional cost and in my experience they’re not great at writing a suitable reference.
- hire a private tutor specifically to provide a reference and predictions. Has an additional cost and least trusted by universities.
- get a non academic reference from an employer
Sorry for the late response! I've been swamped with sorting everything out.
I was thinking about hiring a private tutor to give me my predicted grades, however, I'm not sure how that works. Would that require me to specifically reach out to tutors that can offer me my predicted grade or can it just be anyone that I hire? Would you also say it's worth it even though it's least trusted by universities as if i go down that path, at least my tutors can provide me with the predicted grades I need to apply.
I am also considering to perhaps sit mocks at a private centre in order to get my predicted grades I need. Would you say universities prefer this solution more than the private tutor pathway? What sort of things would they even write in my reference as I would have thought they needed to know me first. Could I not sit my mocks at a private test centre but have my school write a reference or is that not how it works?
I don't think there's any other option for me. I spoke with my Head of Year and she said that even if I come into school and sit the mocks, it still wouldn't affect the fact that they can only predict one above your achieved grade, however, they can write my mock results into my reference.
Would you say universities really consider references? I trust that my teachers can write a compelling reference for me, however, I'm not sure if universities will really care about my reference as my achieved grades are so poor.
Thanks for your feedback!
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