Those who failed a-level(s) what did you do?

Hey,
I understand you probably feel quite hopeless right now. The situation you’re currently in doesn’t sound great. Though I’m not in this situation, I think my best advice is to sign up for resits. If you want to do Mpharm taking resits at exam centres or at private sixth forms will give you additional time to digest the subject. As I’m doing wjec I’m not sure how strict or what time resits occur for you but it’s practically a requirement at this point.
I’m not sure if your exam board has anything for medical considerations, doubt it’ll be big but maybe just contact them and see if they take that? It won’t do much (at most maybe give you a few more marks) but maybe it’ll be worth it? Just don’t give up because of these grades. Remember, you can retake all these things and at the end of the day, as long as you get the result you want even if it’s after retakes you’ll still get into the firm.
I hope you’re feeling okay though. For now don’t think too much about the exams and just plan for the future.

If it makes any difference, I completely FAILED my A Levels (quite literally, my only A Level was a D in Biology (failed maths and chem I.e 2 Us)).
I entered the Foundation course route (one random search showed Manchester will accept straight Cs on their Foundation Year inclusive course) for Biomedical Science and came out with a 2.1 before getting a job in a hospital and then went back 5 years later to get my MSc in the course (graduated with Merit). Ironically my specialism is in clinical biochemistry despite failing chemistry and barely passing bio…
Depending on how your results go, I would call clearing if it’s not what you want (as I did) as clearing places go fast and see if it an available option for you. Yes it will mean an additional year at uni (and in many cases is actually advantageous as it shows you the ropes of how the university works in a less stressful environment i.e shows you how to actually write academically and how the university work submission means functions (very helpful to myself)). It also allows you to learn about any new potential areas in the city which I took great advantage of as well as join societies to meet people.
Wishing you the best of luck and I hope things go well your end!

Hey!
I am in the same position as you, I take the exact same a levels and also have MPharm offers aligned up. I know how you’re feeling, to sit these exams when you know in your soul you could’ve done so much better has been the worst experience. My exams have gone terrible too, I fumbled at the end of y12 and picked myself back up in y13 only to return back to my old habits. It’s hard when dealing with health issues whether it’s physical or mental and I want you to know you’re not alone. My current plan is if things don’t go well I might look into foundation year courses that allow me to join the course after a year, obviously they have requirements so if I don’t meet those I think i’d plan to resit. I was hoping for AAC and then genuinely just resit that C (chemistry) but being realistic I have a feeling I’ll be leaving with CCC and it hurts my soul. I also have a mother who’s constantly saying that resits are hopeless for me but end of the day it’s your life and the money to take those resits is money you earned and the future is YOURS. So, Go for it. Take that year to fix mistakes and work hard and smash it. Failing is human and it’s okay to take a bit longer than others to get where we want to.

I was open to doing a bio-med degree (foundation included since idm that extra one year, it just means an extra one year of me preparing to understand everything in class from year 1) but idk any career options with a biomed degree, i'd rather just do mpharm since well, the jobs either be a pharmacist or work in a pharmaceutical company (which I really want to do).
But thank you, it definitely makes me feel better knowing that there are options still available for me TT
May I ask what job you did in the hospital with a bio-med degree?

My mum kept saying I’ll probably get 3 Ds instead of 2 Cs, which made me feel worse. But today she asked about my plans and resits, and it actually made me feel supported so resits isn't bad. I know that it'll be a draining year of having to hear my mum nag to me ab taking the tiniest break knowing I failed my a lvls, aunties gossiping ab how i went from a smart student to a bum and seeing my friends enjoy uni while im at home studying, but the fact tht next yr i can start mpharm at somewhere much better than where i am currently considering sounds so nice.
There are some unis out there tht do mpharm foundation year and accept 3Cs as their minimum:
My plan is to work as hard as I can for these exams, and then maybe just take tht L on results day and retry if necessary - just never thought that this would be me.

the aunties gossiping makes me feel like u might be south asian like me
lol im in the same place as u i think ill end up in biomed and then have to do GEM because i lowkey went from the 'gifted intelligent' kid to the dumb anxiety ridden troubled child
also aqa this year is being so annoying
i really hope eveything works out for u
x

I am southasian loool!
I don't want to do biomed/biochem tbf since I mean yeah ill end up in uni but for what reason - as another member pointed out it's quite saturated so the job opportunities are not abundant.
I'd rather suffer another year, get better grades and go into mpharm lol 😭
But i tots get you on tht gifted to stupid thing, same with mee.

I do A-level Bio, Chem, and Psych, and was aiming for MPharm. Thought Psych or Bio would mess me up, but now I think I’ll get a C and B/C. Revised last-minute and thought Chem would be fine too, but I fully flopped Paper 1 and doubt I’ll recover for Paper 2.
My firm wants CCD–CDD, but I’m likely looking at CDE. Called their clearing line and they said they won’t take me with an E in Chem – the guy was lowkey rude about it too (Kingston, do better).
I used to be good at Chem, but after being diagnosed with a chronic condition last Oct, I started falling off — hospital appointments and bad time management just made it worse. No excuses, I had time, just didn’t use it right.
Today’s been rough — cried all day and feel lost. Looked into other healthcare options (not nursing/midwifery) but no idea what’s realistic with CDE in London. My mum’s open to resits but also keeps saying I’ll get Ds, which doesn’t help. Found sixth forms that take private resit students and plan to work over summer to afford it.
I know I can do well if I prep properly — it’s always been lack of practice, not understanding. I don’t want to resit, but the idea of getting into MPharm next year knowing I earned it sounds worth it.
Anyone been in a similar situation? What did you do?
TL;DR: Was aiming for MPharm but probably getting CDE after flopping Chem. Firm won’t take me with an E. Used to do well before chronic illness hit. Considering resits, found sixth forms, plan to work to fund it. Don’t want to resit but might have to. Advice welcome.

So the course im applying for is foundation, thus a requirement of CDD. Idk if i get in for contextual since i think they look at where you live + skls you went to rather than health + financial conditions (which is stupid).
Ik my a lvl grades dont define me (i think) but as sum1 who always got high grades, to get such low results on one subject which will ruin my chances of getting into uni is just devastating.
Idm resitting tho so insha allah everything goes well for me next year if not this year.
I will definitely ensure to call up clearing + talk to the course leader (how do i do this?) On results day and hope to get my point across

lol same I'm here after aqa a level chem paper 2 😭

If it makes any difference, I completely FAILED my A Levels (quite literally, my only A Level was a D in Biology (failed maths and chem I.e 2 Us)).
I entered the Foundation course route (one random search showed Manchester will accept straight Cs on their Foundation Year inclusive course) for Biomedical Science and came out with a 2.1 before getting a job in a hospital and then went back 5 years later to get my MSc in the course (graduated with Merit). Ironically my specialism is in clinical biochemistry despite failing chemistry and barely passing bio…
Depending on how your results go, I would call clearing if it’s not what you want (as I did) as clearing places go fast and see if it an available option for you. Yes it will mean an additional year at uni (and in many cases is actually advantageous as it shows you the ropes of how the university works in a less stressful environment i.e shows you how to actually write academically and how the university work submission means functions (very helpful to myself)). It also allows you to learn about any new potential areas in the city which I took great advantage of as well as join societies to meet people.
Wishing you the best of luck and I hope things go well your end!

Hi, i was just wanting to ask, if applied for biomed this year and my firm asks for BBC, and insurance asks for CDD, i feel confident in my psych and bio grades to get a B in psych or atleast a C in bio, in chem however my chemistry grade has never been more than an E and these exams have gone awful so i doubt it has changed, is it still possible do you think to find a place in biomed that will take me even if its on a foundation year as this is the one course i really want to do and i do not wish to resit my alevels due to the stress it has been. Do you think it would still be possible to make it onto a biomed course as i know they are very popular course

I can’t see why you couldn’t apply for a foundation year or possibly even a course without foundation, however, look at the course requirements first and plan around applying based on those (assuming possibly some flexibility with your course I.e they allow, from what you stated, a BCE requirement (based on what you said, wishing you the best for higher marks though!)).
I just want to say, if you want to work in a hospital setting as a biomedical scientist, you need a IBMS accredited degree. Without an IBMS degree, you will find it difficult (impossible without top up modules) as the requirements for the job is an IBMS accredited degree.
Best of luck!

I do A-level Bio, Chem, and Psych, and was aiming for MPharm. Thought Psych or Bio would mess me up, but now I think I’ll get a C and B/C. Revised last-minute and thought Chem would be fine too, but I fully flopped Paper 1 and doubt I’ll recover for Paper 2.
My firm wants CCD–CDD, but I’m likely looking at CDE. Called their clearing line and they said they won’t take me with an E in Chem – the guy was lowkey rude about it too (Kingston, do better).
I used to be good at Chem, but after being diagnosed with a chronic condition last Oct, I started falling off — hospital appointments and bad time management just made it worse. No excuses, I had time, just didn’t use it right.
Today’s been rough — cried all day and feel lost. Looked into other healthcare options (not nursing/midwifery) but no idea what’s realistic with CDE in London. My mum’s open to resits but also keeps saying I’ll get Ds, which doesn’t help. Found sixth forms that take private resit students and plan to work over summer to afford it.
I know I can do well if I prep properly — it’s always been lack of practice, not understanding. I don’t want to resit, but the idea of getting into MPharm next year knowing I earned it sounds worth it.
Anyone been in a similar situation? What did you do?
TL;DR: Was aiming for MPharm but probably getting CDE after flopping Chem. Firm won’t take me with an E. Used to do well before chronic illness hit. Considering resits, found sixth forms, plan to work to fund it. Don’t want to resit but might have to. Advice welcome.