A1 results- please suggest what to do
Hi All,
I had 7As and 2Bs in my IGCSEs and opted for Maths, Chem, Bio in my A levels (in order to potentially pursue medicine).
Well I did study very hard but i guess I could not grab the concepts. I just got my A1 results and here they are
Bio C
Maths D
Chemistry E
This is totally not what I was hoping for and also creates a lot of problems for my university applications. I am not planning to study medicine now. I want to do some degree in Psychology, Social Sciences, Humanities etc. There is this university in Pakistan (LUMS) that would require a minimum of B,B, C grades for admission, Other than that I would consider universities in the US, Australia and UK (US being first priority). I do somehow want to get a BBB or BBC at least.
I discussed with my school- and there are few options.
Please note that I repeated a year of school in Year 9 when we moved to different country so I really don't want to waste another 1 year i.e. I want to start University in Fall 2025.
1. Drop Chemistry. Take Psychology or some other subject and cover this subject in 1 year privately (take online tution for express 1 year to cover 2 years syllabus. school would not let me sit for exams but private candidacy is an option). Re-sit Bio and Maths in October 2024 (edexcel) and hope to improve grades. Challenges: I am told Maths is only going to get tougher in year 2 and grade might be difficult to improve.
2. Drop chemistry and Maths. Take Psychology and Sociology/medial science and keep Bio (which I find easier out of 3 sciences). Drop Chem and Maths. do Sociology and psychology in 1 year privately and retake year 1 bio.
3. restart A level year 1 and change subjects. My friends have already started uni so I really do not want to go down that route.
please help me as I need to make a decision very fast and really need your help here. retake or change subjects. i am quite tense at the moment
Many thanks for this.
I had 7As and 2Bs in my IGCSEs and opted for Maths, Chem, Bio in my A levels (in order to potentially pursue medicine).
Well I did study very hard but i guess I could not grab the concepts. I just got my A1 results and here they are
Bio C
Maths D
Chemistry E
This is totally not what I was hoping for and also creates a lot of problems for my university applications. I am not planning to study medicine now. I want to do some degree in Psychology, Social Sciences, Humanities etc. There is this university in Pakistan (LUMS) that would require a minimum of B,B, C grades for admission, Other than that I would consider universities in the US, Australia and UK (US being first priority). I do somehow want to get a BBB or BBC at least.
I discussed with my school- and there are few options.
Please note that I repeated a year of school in Year 9 when we moved to different country so I really don't want to waste another 1 year i.e. I want to start University in Fall 2025.
1. Drop Chemistry. Take Psychology or some other subject and cover this subject in 1 year privately (take online tution for express 1 year to cover 2 years syllabus. school would not let me sit for exams but private candidacy is an option). Re-sit Bio and Maths in October 2024 (edexcel) and hope to improve grades. Challenges: I am told Maths is only going to get tougher in year 2 and grade might be difficult to improve.
2. Drop chemistry and Maths. Take Psychology and Sociology/medial science and keep Bio (which I find easier out of 3 sciences). Drop Chem and Maths. do Sociology and psychology in 1 year privately and retake year 1 bio.
3. restart A level year 1 and change subjects. My friends have already started uni so I really do not want to go down that route.
please help me as I need to make a decision very fast and really need your help here. retake or change subjects. i am quite tense at the moment
Many thanks for this.
Reply 1
Original post
by bsc1280Hi All,
I had 7As and 2Bs in my IGCSEs and opted for Maths, Chem, Bio in my A levels (in order to potentially pursue medicine).
Well I did study very hard but i guess I could not grab the concepts. I just got my A1 results and here they are
Bio C
Maths D
Chemistry E
This is totally not what I was hoping for and also creates a lot of problems for my university applications. I am not planning to study medicine now. I want to do some degree in Psychology, Social Sciences, Humanities etc. There is this university in Pakistan (LUMS) that would require a minimum of B,B, C grades for admission, Other than that I would consider universities in the US, Australia and UK (US being first priority). I do somehow want to get a BBB or BBC at least.
I discussed with my school- and there are few options.
Please note that I repeated a year of school in Year 9 when we moved to different country so I really don't want to waste another 1 year i.e. I want to start University in Fall 2025.
1. Drop Chemistry. Take Psychology or some other subject and cover this subject in 1 year privately (take online tution for express 1 year to cover 2 years syllabus. school would not let me sit for exams but private candidacy is an option). Re-sit Bio and Maths in October 2024 (edexcel) and hope to improve grades. Challenges: I am told Maths is only going to get tougher in year 2 and grade might be difficult to improve.
2. Drop chemistry and Maths. Take Psychology and Sociology/medial science and keep Bio (which I find easier out of 3 sciences). Drop Chem and Maths. do Sociology and psychology in 1 year privately and retake year 1 bio.
3. restart A level year 1 and change subjects. My friends have already started uni so I really do not want to go down that route.
please help me as I need to make a decision very fast and really need your help here. retake or change subjects. i am quite tense at the moment
Many thanks for this.
I had 7As and 2Bs in my IGCSEs and opted for Maths, Chem, Bio in my A levels (in order to potentially pursue medicine).
Well I did study very hard but i guess I could not grab the concepts. I just got my A1 results and here they are
Bio C
Maths D
Chemistry E
This is totally not what I was hoping for and also creates a lot of problems for my university applications. I am not planning to study medicine now. I want to do some degree in Psychology, Social Sciences, Humanities etc. There is this university in Pakistan (LUMS) that would require a minimum of B,B, C grades for admission, Other than that I would consider universities in the US, Australia and UK (US being first priority). I do somehow want to get a BBB or BBC at least.
I discussed with my school- and there are few options.
Please note that I repeated a year of school in Year 9 when we moved to different country so I really don't want to waste another 1 year i.e. I want to start University in Fall 2025.
1. Drop Chemistry. Take Psychology or some other subject and cover this subject in 1 year privately (take online tution for express 1 year to cover 2 years syllabus. school would not let me sit for exams but private candidacy is an option). Re-sit Bio and Maths in October 2024 (edexcel) and hope to improve grades. Challenges: I am told Maths is only going to get tougher in year 2 and grade might be difficult to improve.
2. Drop chemistry and Maths. Take Psychology and Sociology/medial science and keep Bio (which I find easier out of 3 sciences). Drop Chem and Maths. do Sociology and psychology in 1 year privately and retake year 1 bio.
3. restart A level year 1 and change subjects. My friends have already started uni so I really do not want to go down that route.
please help me as I need to make a decision very fast and really need your help here. retake or change subjects. i am quite tense at the moment
Many thanks for this.
Hi,
Firstly, I would not let these grades ruin your future prospects because there are always other opportunities so please don't worry. A levels are notoriously difficult, but you clearly have other options that you feel might be more beneficial to you?
I think the first option would be to stick with your subjects; if they are what you are enjoy, speak to your teachers about where you dropped marks (looking at the A1 paper if possible) and decide whether you think you could continue for another year, and try and improve the grades to BBB if that is what you are hoping for. Now it is definitely possible to improve grades in your second year, if you choose to work hard and have a good relationship with your teachers, feeling happy to speak to them when you don't understand, or need any extra help.
Another option, to swap some of your subjects, might be beneficial if you feel as though you could get better grades than the original subjects. Although it would be extremely full on trying to study 2 A levels in one year, as well as your final year of biology. Therefore you would have to be aware that studying is going to take priority for this year, and have to decide whether this is something that you could cope with; would there be a risk of burn out? Because you want to ensure that, although A levels will be taking priority, your mental wellbeing cannot take a backseat.
I would say that the most viable and sensible option would be to start again, picking the social science subjects that you mentioned, if this is what you feel you would enjoy and be successful at. I think studying full A levels yourself is going to be extremely difficult and might just put more pressure onto you, which could in turn lead to burn out. Ofcourse, I don't know how you personally would cope with this, because you might love studying and therefore feel as though you could fit it all in, so you do need to make your own decision on this. I know you said you didn't want to waste another year, but many students go to university a year or two behind, after resits or even just taking gap years, so I really wouldn't worry about this. I would say focusing on making the right decision for you now, would be more important than focusing on when you go to uni.
Please also speak further to your teachers and family, because they will know how difficult it would be to study your 2 new A levels in a year, and can advise you whether they think it would be possible, as they also know you and your academic abilities. Good luck in whatever you decide to do!
Hope this helps,
Katie (Lancaster University Student Ambassador)
Reply 2
bsc1280
OP
5
Original post
by Lancaster Student AmbassadorHi,
Firstly, I would not let these grades ruin your future prospects because there are always other opportunities so please don't worry. A levels are notoriously difficult, but you clearly have other options that you feel might be more beneficial to you?
I think the first option would be to stick with your subjects; if they are what you are enjoy, speak to your teachers about where you dropped marks (looking at the A1 paper if possible) and decide whether you think you could continue for another year, and try and improve the grades to BBB if that is what you are hoping for. Now it is definitely possible to improve grades in your second year, if you choose to work hard and have a good relationship with your teachers, feeling happy to speak to them when you don't understand, or need any extra help.
Another option, to swap some of your subjects, might be beneficial if you feel as though you could get better grades than the original subjects. Although it would be extremely full on trying to study 2 A levels in one year, as well as your final year of biology. Therefore you would have to be aware that studying is going to take priority for this year, and have to decide whether this is something that you could cope with; would there be a risk of burn out? Because you want to ensure that, although A levels will be taking priority, your mental wellbeing cannot take a backseat.
I would say that the most viable and sensible option would be to start again, picking the social science subjects that you mentioned, if this is what you feel you would enjoy and be successful at. I think studying full A levels yourself is going to be extremely difficult and might just put more pressure onto you, which could in turn lead to burn out. Ofcourse, I don't know how you personally would cope with this, because you might love studying and therefore feel as though you could fit it all in, so you do need to make your own decision on this. I know you said you didn't want to waste another year, but many students go to university a year or two behind, after resits or even just taking gap years, so I really wouldn't worry about this. I would say focusing on making the right decision for you now, would be more important than focusing on when you go to uni.
Please also speak further to your teachers and family, because they will know how difficult it would be to study your 2 new A levels in a year, and can advise you whether they think it would be possible, as they also know you and your academic abilities. Good luck in whatever you decide to do!
Hope this helps,
Katie (Lancaster University Student Ambassador)
Firstly, I would not let these grades ruin your future prospects because there are always other opportunities so please don't worry. A levels are notoriously difficult, but you clearly have other options that you feel might be more beneficial to you?
I think the first option would be to stick with your subjects; if they are what you are enjoy, speak to your teachers about where you dropped marks (looking at the A1 paper if possible) and decide whether you think you could continue for another year, and try and improve the grades to BBB if that is what you are hoping for. Now it is definitely possible to improve grades in your second year, if you choose to work hard and have a good relationship with your teachers, feeling happy to speak to them when you don't understand, or need any extra help.
Another option, to swap some of your subjects, might be beneficial if you feel as though you could get better grades than the original subjects. Although it would be extremely full on trying to study 2 A levels in one year, as well as your final year of biology. Therefore you would have to be aware that studying is going to take priority for this year, and have to decide whether this is something that you could cope with; would there be a risk of burn out? Because you want to ensure that, although A levels will be taking priority, your mental wellbeing cannot take a backseat.
I would say that the most viable and sensible option would be to start again, picking the social science subjects that you mentioned, if this is what you feel you would enjoy and be successful at. I think studying full A levels yourself is going to be extremely difficult and might just put more pressure onto you, which could in turn lead to burn out. Ofcourse, I don't know how you personally would cope with this, because you might love studying and therefore feel as though you could fit it all in, so you do need to make your own decision on this. I know you said you didn't want to waste another year, but many students go to university a year or two behind, after resits or even just taking gap years, so I really wouldn't worry about this. I would say focusing on making the right decision for you now, would be more important than focusing on when you go to uni.
Please also speak further to your teachers and family, because they will know how difficult it would be to study your 2 new A levels in a year, and can advise you whether they think it would be possible, as they also know you and your academic abilities. Good luck in whatever you decide to do!
Hope this helps,
Katie (Lancaster University Student Ambassador)
Many thanks for your detailed reply.
I do not have a particular liking or passion for the science subjects I was studying. I chose it in order to be able to study medicine and I have realized that I dont want to study medicine. so there is option to change. I just have to do it in more practical way in order to brighten by chancing of starting University next year if possible. Out of the three science, Biology is what I like more. it is in this order to prefernece (highest to lowest)- Biology, Maths, Chem. For all of these courses I got online tutions in a 1-1 setting over zoom. I do have mild adhd so that is something that might have lowered by grades too.
1.
I almost flunked chemistry so I need to drop that. I am thinking to change it to psychology, sociology or media studies. I liked Psychology in my IGCSE but i searched and looks like Edexcel IAL psychology is content heavy and might be difficult to do. whichever subject I will study, I will get online 1-1 tuitions on that to help me cover in 1 year if possible (obviously I still have to study it on my own as well to learn and memorize). In terms of being easier and less intensive, what is the order of the three courses I have shortlisted above- please help me here so I can make up my mind
2.
Now second option is to drop chem and maths both- and take 2 courses out of psychology, sociology or media studies. obvioulsy challenge would be to cover 2 subjects in 1 year and do bio along. again i am going to take online 1-1 tutions to help cover but actual learning would still be by me (which i need to consdier)
The end target is to be able to get actual grades of BBC or better by June 2025.
Then other option is to repeat A1 but I dont want to do that since I alrady repeated 1 year in year 9 and my friends arwe starting univesity this year. I dont want to be starting uni at 3 months to 20 years. Please help me decide on the above options or other options if any.
many thanks!
I am torn between the be
Reply 3
Original post
by bsc1280Hi All,
I had 7As and 2Bs in my IGCSEs and opted for Maths, Chem, Bio in my A levels (in order to potentially pursue medicine).
Well I did study very hard but i guess I could not grab the concepts. I just got my A1 results and here they are
Bio C
Maths D
Chemistry E
This is totally not what I was hoping for and also creates a lot of problems for my university applications. I am not planning to study medicine now. I want to do some degree in Psychology, Social Sciences, Humanities etc. There is this university in Pakistan (LUMS) that would require a minimum of B,B, C grades for admission, Other than that I would consider universities in the US, Australia and UK (US being first priority). I do somehow want to get a BBB or BBC at least.
I discussed with my school- and there are few options.
Please note that I repeated a year of school in Year 9 when we moved to different country so I really don't want to waste another 1 year i.e. I want to start University in Fall 2025.
1. Drop Chemistry. Take Psychology or some other subject and cover this subject in 1 year privately (take online tution for express 1 year to cover 2 years syllabus. school would not let me sit for exams but private candidacy is an option). Re-sit Bio and Maths in October 2024 (edexcel) and hope to improve grades. Challenges: I am told Maths is only going to get tougher in year 2 and grade might be difficult to improve.
2. Drop chemistry and Maths. Take Psychology and Sociology/medial science and keep Bio (which I find easier out of 3 sciences). Drop Chem and Maths. do Sociology and psychology in 1 year privately and retake year 1 bio.
3. restart A level year 1 and change subjects. My friends have already started uni so I really do not want to go down that route.
please help me as I need to make a decision very fast and really need your help here. retake or change subjects. i am quite tense at the moment
Many thanks for this.
I had 7As and 2Bs in my IGCSEs and opted for Maths, Chem, Bio in my A levels (in order to potentially pursue medicine).
Well I did study very hard but i guess I could not grab the concepts. I just got my A1 results and here they are
Bio C
Maths D
Chemistry E
This is totally not what I was hoping for and also creates a lot of problems for my university applications. I am not planning to study medicine now. I want to do some degree in Psychology, Social Sciences, Humanities etc. There is this university in Pakistan (LUMS) that would require a minimum of B,B, C grades for admission, Other than that I would consider universities in the US, Australia and UK (US being first priority). I do somehow want to get a BBB or BBC at least.
I discussed with my school- and there are few options.
Please note that I repeated a year of school in Year 9 when we moved to different country so I really don't want to waste another 1 year i.e. I want to start University in Fall 2025.
1. Drop Chemistry. Take Psychology or some other subject and cover this subject in 1 year privately (take online tution for express 1 year to cover 2 years syllabus. school would not let me sit for exams but private candidacy is an option). Re-sit Bio and Maths in October 2024 (edexcel) and hope to improve grades. Challenges: I am told Maths is only going to get tougher in year 2 and grade might be difficult to improve.
2. Drop chemistry and Maths. Take Psychology and Sociology/medial science and keep Bio (which I find easier out of 3 sciences). Drop Chem and Maths. do Sociology and psychology in 1 year privately and retake year 1 bio.
3. restart A level year 1 and change subjects. My friends have already started uni so I really do not want to go down that route.
please help me as I need to make a decision very fast and really need your help here. retake or change subjects. i am quite tense at the moment
Many thanks for this.
Hello! I can see why you may feel like dropping maths but I think with the right approach, method and mindset you can grow your grade from a D to a B. Here's a link to another conversation in which I posted some advice I feel may be suitable for you. Please do check it out and best of luck!
https://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=7514458&p=99822813&page=1#post99822813
Quick Reply
Related discussions
- Worried as hell results
- I got all As at National 5, Ask me anything!
- Low Ucat and Oxbridge
- Physics question help please
- I have to crash two subjects. I have some ideas but what is ideal for me?
- 2025-26 Higher Modern Studies Group discussion
- URGENT advanced higher maths or French
- Can you get into Oxford without straight As at National 5?
- I'm completing S6 and I'm bored.. come ask me questions or just chat!
- waiting on kcl law thread
- Official Economics Applicants Thread 2025
- Scotland Student - Oxford or Cambridge
- National 5
- 2025-26 Higher History discussion
- 2025-2026 school year gyg!!! (S4, I'm in Scotland)
- How many Sketchbook pages for a minimum of an A in A Level Art?
- I'm trying to get at least a C in maths!
- Spanish listening
- Do Nat 5 grades matter for medicine??
- 2025-26 Higher English discussion
Latest
Trending
Last reply 1 month ago
UCAT in 6 weeks..but my father wants me to learn ALL year 13 content!?!?!?Last reply 2 months ago
A Level+ Results Day 2025 Countdown thread - UCAS Hub is open #BeResultsProudLast reply 3 months ago
Further Maths Edexcel Grade Boundaries 2025 - CP1 CP2 FM1 FS1Last reply 3 months ago
LNAT Warning – Don’t Waste Your Time (or Money) on Arbitio!!!Last reply 3 months ago
Will I be predicted A*??? BIOLOGY plsss replyLast reply 3 months ago
How do I convince my teacher to let me take A-levelsArticles for you
How The Student Room is moderated
To keep The Student Room safe for everyone, we moderate posts that are added to the site.
