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Is it too late to perform well in my AS Level exams?

This may be a rant but I feel my situation needs quite a bit of background explaining so please bear with me! <3 (sorry for posting this twice I just really want visibility and answers.)

I started Year 12 back in September 2024. I think I did quite well in GCSEs, of which I did 10 subjects and got grades between 9-7s in 7/10 of those subjects and the other 3 were 6s. I was pretty proud of myself, but I think 2024 was a highly competitive year to get into grammar schools, because even though my grades were tons better than some people I see at my current grammar school, I first didn't get accepted into it. I was accepted into a non-grammar which I was very heartbroken about for weeks before I finally adapted and adjusted and started liking the school. Naturally, people move schools if they get an offer from the one they want, and I got an offer from my current grammar school.

Except I didn't want to attend it anymore. Sure, the students performed tons better, got higher grades and better chances of being accepted into better universities there, but I just really got attached to my non-grammar school even though I hadn't been there long. I had a gut feeling telling me I wouldn't perform well in the grammar school. And I was right. Like I had thought, the teachers here are awful for me. I think it's their teaching style, but I can't understand anything. I take A-Level Biology, Mathematics and Physics. We have 2 teachers for each, and I think it's only biology that I truly understand when I sit in class and listen to my teachers. Maths is alright... I don't understand some topics the teachers explain because they explain it really badly, but I understand others. Physics has to be the worst. One teacher teaches as if he expects us to know the stuff he's teaching already, speed runs through everything (I understand we need to run through the syllabus but I can't keep up), teaches like we're in university... there's no notes on his board to copy down, just a bunch of complicated 3D moving diagrams and whatnot and him speaking and gesturing that I don't have a clue about.

What's worse is my parents basically forced me to attend the grammar school but they objectively think grammar schools are better. They pressured and gas lighted and guilt tripped me into enrolling in the school and emotionally blackmailing me. It was awful. I remember i didn't have dinner and cried in my bed for hours till I fell asleep. They kept saying things like 'we're only trying to look out for your future', 'we only want the best for you', 'you said before you wanted to go to this school, I don't understand why you're always changing your mind'. My dad even said something along the lines of (but excluding swear words) if I wanted to go **** up my future and not listen to him, I could. He was sick of arguing with me. My relationship with my parents has been severely deteroating over the past months, like... really badly.

I've recently found that I've probably fallen back into depression, with a lot of negative and harmful thoughts every night. I have no motivation left. Sure, I go to an objectively 'good' school, I have easily made friends and have lots of people to talk to, I like them, but it's so difficult. My secondary school didn't have a sixth form and it was non-grammar and it's so difficult to keep up with the grammar school kids. I've seen everyone, they're all so gifted and wonderous at all these crazy things, acing every test and doing ridiculous extracurriculars and being the perfect students ever. I can't do that. I don't know what's happened to me, but I've always been a procrastinator. Recently, it's gotten so much worse. Even up till now, May, I haven't ever actually sat down to genuinely revise.

I just procrastinate and procrastinate the entire day, and then when I force myself into my desk chair at night, I just get overwhelmed and cry for over 2 hours non stop and fall back into the dark of place of a pretty *****y life. Even though my parents show me a lot of love and affection, I've always felt like they only really appreciate me when I'm excelling in academics, but I've been getting consistent Ds and Es in all three subjects with no signs of improving since September. I can't imagine what'll happen if I fail the upcoming AS exams. It'll probably make everything so much worse. I'm always tired, always sad when in private, I'm eating less now, I'm having dangerous thoughts and in the midst of it somehow I have to get As minimum in just over a month.

I do know I have to blame myself for the things that've led me up to this point at least a little bit, and I feel like I could've tried harder to push myelf out of my procrastinating habits and get to work earlier months ago, but everytime I sat down, I would realise how I basically didn't know anything from any of my subjects since I didn't consolidate the little I understoof from class in my frees after and forgot everything. physics is especially a pain in the ass, I understand none of the concepts and I swear one of my teachers may believe I'm special needs at this point 😭 because of how bad I am in class. At one point, I even got a U and got a phone call home. That went down just as bad as everything else, and then my mum heavily guilt tripped me into getting a tutor now (as if there's any time left to fix my situation) since I've never found tuitons work for me so now I'm stuck with a tutor I don't want and doesn't even help me and that action by mum just ticked off another checkbox of my absolutely diminished mental health.

This turned more into a rant, I'm sorry, I meant to give a little background but overexplained but thanks if you did read all of it. I'm just wondering if it's even possible for me raise my grades? Ds/Es to As predicted grades and real grades of exams sounds ridiculous. I don't think it's possible but I haven't really been anything but negative and depressed mindset wise for months. It's like I've fallen into one of the darkest places of my life at the worst times possible, and I just really want to get the exams over with and get the grades that my parents want so maybe we won't argue anymore every day for a little while and they'll finally be proud of me. I know little to nothing of the content in every subject, but I'd say my weakest in physics and strongest is Mmaths. I even chose all the subjects I've liked, but I couldn't sit down and revise. It's like all my heavy thoughts came rushing back and tears wuld just pour like a faucet because I felt so overwhelmed. I really wish I did something the past few months, is there anything I can do to improve?

My first and only physics mock exam is ~ 7 weeks away, my first maths mock is a little over 6 weeks away, the second maths mock is ~ 7 weeks away and my only biology mock exam is a little over 6 weeks away. I sit them all in June, only 4 days. Any way I can revise or save my grades (and hopefully myself) from becoming a complete failure? I just really want to get accepted into the universities I apply into, even though it's not the preferred route for my future.

Thank you for bearing with my sob story by the way, I didn't mean to rant here, and I appreciate that you have spared time to answer or at least read my question! <3
(edited 1 month ago)

Reply 1

I don’t know if this helps but my physics teachers are just as bad and my maths teachers/ bio arent always the best at explaining things. I’m in a sort of similar mess but due to different reasons. Watching Vids to summarise topics (eg Waves, disease) helps me more then flicking through the textbook. For maths its just practise, do as many Qs as possible and eventually somthing end up clicking. Use markschemes as hints if you are really stuck. Otherwise my plan is to reteach myself the key concepts then do as many Pastpapers as possible

Good luck !!

Reply 2

Original post by BookWorm578
I don’t know if this helps but my physics teachers are just as bad and my maths teachers/ bio arent always the best at explaining things. I’m in a sort of similar mess but due to different reasons. Watching Vids to summarise topics (eg Waves, disease) helps me more then flicking through the textbook. For maths its just practise, do as many Qs as possible and eventually somthing end up clicking. Use markschemes as hints if you are really stuck. Otherwise my plan is to reteach myself the key concepts then do as many Pastpapers as possible
Good luck !!

Thank you so much!! At least I'm not the only one, it feels like everyone around me is ready and I'm not.😭😭

Reply 3

Original post by Moonakitty
Thank you so much!! At least I'm not the only one, it feels like everyone around me is ready and I'm not.**
How you are feeling is perfectly normal after GCSE’s, starting your A levels is not easy and often it takes a while for it all to click. So sorry that you have the additional pressure of having changed schools which cannot have helped you. My son is also struggling particularly his Maths A level and it has made him a bit stressed/ disheartened/ de motivated. He also tried a tutor which we then stopped as he hated it. It is a shame your teachers are not helpful but it might be worth speaking to them and just be honest that you are struggling. Maths doing past papers and checking you tube videos to help you out does help according to one of my sons. We are all different and life is so pressurised these days but you must try to stay calm and not panic and try to talk to your parents about how you feel. You are definitely not alone in how you feel and it has been even harder for you being at a competitive grammar school. I hope you can be honest with your parents and they listen and take your concerns seriously. Just try your best by taking it one step at the time focussing what subject you are ok at (Maths) I would want my child to tell me if they were feeling how you are feeling. You are so young- its not easy !
Could you re start year 12 there or at the other school ?
If you tell your parents how sad you feel I hope they support you. As I said, it’s not easy so don’t be hard on yourself.

Reply 4

Original post by Moonakitty
This may be a rant but I feel my situation needs quite a bit of background explaining so please bear with me! <3 (sorry for posting this twice I just really want visibility and answers.)
I started Year 12 back in September 2024. I think I did quite well in GCSEs, of which I did 10 subjects and got grades between 9-7s in 7/10 of those subjects and the other 3 were 6s. I was pretty proud of myself, but I think 2024 was a highly competitive year to get into grammar schools, because even though my grades were tons better than some people I see at my current grammar school, I first didn't get accepted into it. I was accepted into a non-grammar which I was very heartbroken about for weeks before I finally adapted and adjusted and started liking the school. Naturally, people move schools if they get an offer from the one they want, and I got an offer from my current grammar school.
Except I didn't want to attend it anymore. Sure, the students performed tons better, got higher grades and better chances of being accepted into better universities there, but I just really got attached to my non-grammar school even though I hadn't been there long. I had a gut feeling telling me I wouldn't perform well in the grammar school. And I was right. Like I had thought, the teachers here are awful for me. I think it's their teaching style, but I can't understand anything. I take A-Level Biology, Mathematics and Physics. We have 2 teachers for each, and I think it's only biology that I truly understand when I sit in class and listen to my teachers. Maths is alright... I don't understand some topics the teachers explain because they explain it really badly, but I understand others. Physics has to be the worst. One teacher teaches as if he expects us to know the stuff he's teaching already, speed runs through everything (I understand we need to run through the syllabus but I can't keep up), teaches like we're in university... there's no notes on his board to copy down, just a bunch of complicated 3D moving diagrams and whatnot and him speaking and gesturing that I don't have a clue about.
What's worse is my parents basically forced me to attend the grammar school but they objectively think grammar schools are better. They pressured and gas lighted and guilt tripped me into enrolling in the school and emotionally blackmailing me. It was awful. I remember i didn't have dinner and cried in my bed for hours till I fell asleep. They kept saying things like 'we're only trying to look out for your future', 'we only want the best for you', 'you said before you wanted to go to this school, I don't understand why you're always changing your mind'. My dad even said something along the lines of (but excluding swear words) if I wanted to go **** up my future and not listen to him, I could. He was sick of arguing with me. My relationship with my parents has been severely deteroating over the past months, like... really badly.
I've recently found that I've probably fallen back into depression, with a lot of negative and harmful thoughts every night. I have no motivation left. Sure, I go to an objectively 'good' school, I have easily made friends and have lots of people to talk to, I like them, but it's so difficult. My secondary school didn't have a sixth form and it was non-grammar and it's so difficult to keep up with the grammar school kids. I've seen everyone, they're all so gifted and wonderous at all these crazy things, acing every test and doing ridiculous extracurriculars and being the perfect students ever. I can't do that. I don't know what's happened to me, but I've always been a procrastinator. Recently, it's gotten so much worse. Even up till now, May, I haven't ever actually sat down to genuinely revise.
I just procrastinate and procrastinate the entire day, and then when I force myself into my desk chair at night, I just get overwhelmed and cry for over 2 hours non stop and fall back into the dark of place of a pretty *****y life. Even though my parents show me a lot of love and affection, I've always felt like they only really appreciate me when I'm excelling in academics, but I've been getting consistent Ds and Es in all three subjects with no signs of improving since September. I can't imagine what'll happen if I fail the upcoming AS exams. It'll probably make everything so much worse. I'm always tired, always sad when in private, I'm eating less now, I'm having dangerous thoughts and in the midst of it somehow I have to get As minimum in just over a month.
I do know I have to blame myself for the things that've led me up to this point at least a little bit, and I feel like I could've tried harder to push myelf out of my procrastinating habits and get to work earlier months ago, but everytime I sat down, I would realise how I basically didn't know anything from any of my subjects since I didn't consolidate the little I understoof from class in my frees after and forgot everything. physics is especially a pain in the ass, I understand none of the concepts and I swear one of my teachers may believe I'm special needs at this point 😭 because of how bad I am in class. At one point, I even got a U and got a phone call home. That went down just as bad as everything else, and then my mum heavily guilt tripped me into getting a tutor now (as if there's any time left to fix my situation) since I've never found tuitons work for me so now I'm stuck with a tutor I don't want and doesn't even help me and that action by mum just ticked off another checkbox of my absolutely diminished mental health.
This turned more into a rant, I'm sorry, I meant to give a little background but overexplained but thanks if you did read all of it. I'm just wondering if it's even possible for me raise my grades? Ds/Es to As predicted grades and real grades of exams sounds ridiculous. I don't think it's possible but I haven't really been anything but negative and depressed mindset wise for months. It's like I've fallen into one of the darkest places of my life at the worst times possible, and I just really want to get the exams over with and get the grades that my parents want so maybe we won't argue anymore every day for a little while and they'll finally be proud of me. I know little to nothing of the content in every subject, but I'd say my weakest in physics and strongest is Mmaths. I even chose all the subjects I've liked, but I couldn't sit down and revise. It's like all my heavy thoughts came rushing back and tears wuld just pour like a faucet because I felt so overwhelmed. I really wish I did something the past few months, is there anything I can do to improve?
My first and only physics mock exam is ~ 7 weeks away, my first maths mock is a little over 6 weeks away, the second maths mock is ~ 7 weeks away and my only biology mock exam is a little over 6 weeks away. I sit them all in June, only 4 days. Any way I can revise or save my grades (and hopefully myself) from becoming a complete failure? I just really want to get accepted into the universities I apply into, even though it's not the preferred route for my future.
Thank you for bearing with my sob story by the way, I didn't mean to rant here, and I appreciate that you have spared time to answer or at least read my question! <3

you are definitely not alone in this, I started my finals today, my best subject is a level pure math 1 and I'm confidently getting a U, I gotta cram whatever possible for my bio test tomorrow and I cant seem to get started, mind u, I have resat my exams twice and I keep procrastinating for too long but somehow I'm hopeful I will get A/A*s overall, my first exams I got DDUU and my second I got all Us.
i will for sure get A/A*s
i would say watch videos, try to make ur own notes, check with ur friends if they are passing then ask to do study group with them, uplearn, savemyexams mathgenie pmt madasmath drfrost bro there are so many websites to help, many youtube videos to use, different textbooks,

when you sit for your exam maybetry looking at all the questions first then do the easy first and just keep moving up and down stuff u didnt get at question 1 might come to u when in question 10 etc
(edited 2 weeks ago)

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