should I resit year 12? + urgent advice needed
I’m a year 12 student, currently doing alevels in : maths, physics, computer science + chemistry. My GCSE grades are 8777777665, with the 5 in eng lit and the 6s in computing & Spanish. I got my mock exam grades back, and I’ve been predicted A* ( computing ) and UUU for the other 3 subjects 😭. I feel like I can push myself up to atleast predicteds of A*DDD because of past evidence to suggest I can get that. Is it worth me pushing through Y14? Or should I just redo Y12?
I wanted to originally apply to Cambridge but I’m worried that spending 3 years in sixthform may affect me negatively, and I don’t really want to redo Y12 if I can’t atleast apply to Cambridge / Imperial? Can someone advise me on what I should do?
I wanted to originally apply to Cambridge but I’m worried that spending 3 years in sixthform may affect me negatively, and I don’t really want to redo Y12 if I can’t atleast apply to Cambridge / Imperial? Can someone advise me on what I should do?
Reply 1
do you have extenuating circumstances? no offence but if it takes you 3 years for you to do the work most cambridge/imperial applicants can do in 2 yrs in their sleep then it might not be the best uni for you? My friend is at Cambridge and the pace is intense - she is on it 24:7. 3 U's s pretty impressive if theres no extenuating circumstances btw lol
Reply 2
Original post
by Jgtrdw1do you have extenuating circumstances? no offence but if it takes you 3 years for you to do the work most cambridge/imperial applicants can do in 2 yrs in their sleep then it might not be the best uni for you? My friend is at Cambridge and the pace is intense - she is on it 24:7. 3 U's s pretty impressive if theres no extenuating circumstances btw lol
I’ve been ill for nearly the entirety of this year, with my attendance at 74%. I have doctors notes etc explaining my illnesses too
Reply 3
Original post
by AnonymousI’m a year 12 student, currently doing alevels in : maths, physics, computer science + chemistry. My GCSE grades are 8777777665, with the 5 in eng lit and the 6s in computing & Spanish. I got my mock exam grades back, and I’ve been predicted A* ( computing ) and UUU for the other 3 subjects 😭. I feel like I can push myself up to atleast predicteds of A*DDD because of past evidence to suggest I can get that. Is it worth me pushing through Y14? Or should I just redo Y12?
I wanted to originally apply to Cambridge but I’m worried that spending 3 years in sixthform may affect me negatively, and I don’t really want to redo Y12 if I can’t atleast apply to Cambridge / Imperial? Can someone advise me on what I should do?
I wanted to originally apply to Cambridge but I’m worried that spending 3 years in sixthform may affect me negatively, and I don’t really want to redo Y12 if I can’t atleast apply to Cambridge / Imperial? Can someone advise me on what I should do?
Please be aware that Cambridge students will have predicted grades of higher than A*DDD and Cambridge will make an offer based on your predicted grades. Not only are you up against people in the UK, but also people around the world as Cambridge holds a top world ranking.
If you want Cambridge, I would strongly suggest retaking year 12 because you will most likely not receive offers when your predicted 3 D’s.
I have known of students with predicted grades of C’s and D’s that wanted to apply to Oxbridge but still couldn’t get in and were advised not apply by teachers due to this.
If you have personal circumstances, there may be a chance however competition to fierce.
Kind regards, Jenifer (Kingston rep)
Reply 4
Honestly, just finish off year sixth form, grind for a levels in year 13 and then take a gap year and re-apply, honestly, I got an E in year 12 end of mocks, grinded through summer and got a B at the start of year 13 and I am planning to hopefully get an A
Reply 5
Original post
by Kingston JeniferHi there!
Please be aware that Cambridge students will have predicted grades of higher than A*DDD and Cambridge will make an offer based on your predicted grades. Not only are you up against people in the UK, but also people around the world as Cambridge holds a top world ranking.
If you want Cambridge, I would strongly suggest retaking year 12 because you will most likely not receive offers when your predicted 3 D’s.
I have known of students with predicted grades of C’s and D’s that wanted to apply to Oxbridge but still couldn’t get in and were advised not apply by teachers due to this.
If you have personal circumstances, there may be a chance however competition to fierce.
Kind regards, Jenifer (Kingston rep)
Please be aware that Cambridge students will have predicted grades of higher than A*DDD and Cambridge will make an offer based on your predicted grades. Not only are you up against people in the UK, but also people around the world as Cambridge holds a top world ranking.
If you want Cambridge, I would strongly suggest retaking year 12 because you will most likely not receive offers when your predicted 3 D’s.
I have known of students with predicted grades of C’s and D’s that wanted to apply to Oxbridge but still couldn’t get in and were advised not apply by teachers due to this.
If you have personal circumstances, there may be a chance however competition to fierce.
Kind regards, Jenifer (Kingston rep)
Will my application be viewed as lesser because I spent 3 years in 6form? This is what I’m most worried about
Reply 6
Original post
by AnonymousWill my application be viewed as lesser because I spent 3 years in 6form? This is what I’m most worried about
I have a friend who did a 3 year sixth form, and still got into surrey. There are many people who retake/ do 3 years and still get into their desired uni. I would not worry! I would suggest however messaging someone from admissions at Cambridge to clear up any doubt, so you hear it from them.
Original post
by AnonymousI’ve been ill for nearly the entirety of this year, with my attendance at 74%. I have doctors notes etc explaining my illnesses too
If you've had serious illness as the reason for retaking Year 12, then they may be more understanding. I would advise emailing your preferred college(s)' admissions departments and asking if they would still consider you if you took three years due to serious illness.
Another consideration is other universities. Many other universities are less strict with the 'two-year' requirement and if you resat Year 12, you may be able to get much better grades and increase your chances for those.
Reply 8
Hi sorry to hear that you haven’t been well….studying is hard enough without that.
The main thing that stood out to me is I wondered why you are continuing to do 4 A levels?
I understand that four A levels can look good but not if your grades are suffering. For example if your minimum uni grade requirement is AAA for the course you want and you are achieving AABB, it’s not worth the risk even then. Look at the grades you need for the courses you are interested in…. all universities will give only three grades required, not four.
Also physics, Maths and Chemistry are all really challenging A levels, hard to do well in as a three, let alone with another 4th subject. Often students choose two of the harder A levels like Maths/English and a science and then a third slightly less challenging A level such as Sociology/geography, in order to maximise their chances of getting the highest grades they can. Even in Cambridge applications you see this sort of combination, depending on the course being applied for.
The other question to consider is are your studies going to be affected to any degree by your health in the next academic year. If so, this is a very strong case to consider resitting Year 12.
Think about how much work you have put in to the subjects that you got Us in, is it realistic that you can turn this around in 1 year? It may be, as you are doing so well to have achieved predicted A* in Comp Science. However you obviously want a good set of A level grades and it is better to have this over three years than a lower set of grades done in two years that limits you from applying for what you are most interested in.
The main thing that stood out to me is I wondered why you are continuing to do 4 A levels?
I understand that four A levels can look good but not if your grades are suffering. For example if your minimum uni grade requirement is AAA for the course you want and you are achieving AABB, it’s not worth the risk even then. Look at the grades you need for the courses you are interested in…. all universities will give only three grades required, not four.
Also physics, Maths and Chemistry are all really challenging A levels, hard to do well in as a three, let alone with another 4th subject. Often students choose two of the harder A levels like Maths/English and a science and then a third slightly less challenging A level such as Sociology/geography, in order to maximise their chances of getting the highest grades they can. Even in Cambridge applications you see this sort of combination, depending on the course being applied for.
The other question to consider is are your studies going to be affected to any degree by your health in the next academic year. If so, this is a very strong case to consider resitting Year 12.
Think about how much work you have put in to the subjects that you got Us in, is it realistic that you can turn this around in 1 year? It may be, as you are doing so well to have achieved predicted A* in Comp Science. However you obviously want a good set of A level grades and it is better to have this over three years than a lower set of grades done in two years that limits you from applying for what you are most interested in.
Reply 9
I wouldn't totally give up on your dream to go cambridge - you have year 13 to get those A-A*s (which for competitive subjects is wat students tend to get), just reapply after yr 13.
But, seeing as ur getting 3Ds for chem, physics and maths, i dont see it being the smartest thing to continue with 4 subjects.
Keep comp sci since ur rly good at it, keep maths and then either of chem or physics (be aware, chem and physics gets significantly harder in yr 13 and you need to be revising every day for 1 hr at leastt, if ur constantly sick you might not be able to do that).
But, seeing as ur getting 3Ds for chem, physics and maths, i dont see it being the smartest thing to continue with 4 subjects.
Keep comp sci since ur rly good at it, keep maths and then either of chem or physics (be aware, chem and physics gets significantly harder in yr 13 and you need to be revising every day for 1 hr at leastt, if ur constantly sick you might not be able to do that).
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