I Failed My A Levels , Now what?

4

Hello so today I received my A level grades and I failed which made me feel very disappointed, heartbroken and depressed . My parents won’t let me retake as they believe it’s a waste of time and money . What should I do? I feel helpless

Reply 1

Lancaster Student Ambassador

Official Rep

18

Original post

by pinkmoonocean

Hello so today I received my A level grades and I failed which made me feel very disappointed, heartbroken and depressed . My parents won’t let me retake as they believe it’s a waste of time and money . What should I do? I feel helpless

Hi, I am really sorry you are feeling this way. Getting results you were not hoping for can be incredibly tough, and it is completely normal to feel upset right now. Please know that your grades do not define your worth or your future — there are still many routes forward.

If retaking is not something your parents will support, you still have options:

•

Look into Clearing – There may be universities with places available that have entry requirements lower than what you originally needed. Even if you did not meet your original offer, you could still start a degree this year in a subject you are interested in.

•

Consider alternative qualifications – Some colleges and online providers offer Access to Higher Education Diplomas or foundation years, which can lead to university without A level retakes.

•

Explore apprenticeships or work-based learning – Higher and degree apprenticeships let you earn while you learn, and many do not require high A level grades.

•

Take time to gain experience – Volunteering, internships, or entry-level work in an area you care about can help you build skills and decide your next step.

•

Work for a year to save for your own resits – This can give you time to reflect, build experience, and fund your studies independently if that feels right for you.

Just to give you some hope, my uncle failed his A levels but got an apprenticeship that allowed him to resit while working. He then went on to do an undergraduate degree, a master's degree, and worked his way up the company ladder into a senior role. Your path might look different from the one you imagined, but it can still lead to great things.
This moment feels huge now, but it will not define the rest of your life. Many people take unexpected routes to where they want to be. You still have time to figure out what works best for you and to reach your goals. You don't have to act immediately, make sure you look after yourself!

Ciara (Lancaster Student Ambassador)

Reply 2

StrawberryDreams

TSR Community Staff

20

Original post

by pinkmoonocean

Hello so today I received my A level grades and I failed which made me feel very disappointed, heartbroken and depressed . My parents won’t let me retake as they believe it’s a waste of time and money . What should I do? I feel helpless

I'm so sorry to hear your grade were not what you hoped :frown:

No matter what happens now, please don't let this define how you feel about yourself- this is just a part of your journey and not the whole story. You will find a way forward, promise. When you say you failed, do you mean the grades you got or that you didn't get into your choice of university?

Have you explored Clearing at all yet or are you set on a particular path? We can help you with figuring out a route through this :hugs:

Reply 3

flowersinmyhair

Volunteer Section Leader, Clearing and Applications Advisor

20

Original post

by pinkmoonocean

Hello so today I received my A level grades and I failed which made me feel very disappointed, heartbroken and depressed . My parents won’t let me retake as they believe it’s a waste of time and money . What should I do? I feel helpless

What are you hoping to do career wise?

Reply 4

UoNstudents

Official Rep

12

Original post

by pinkmoonocean

Hello so today I received my A level grades and I failed which made me feel very disappointed, heartbroken and depressed . My parents won’t let me retake as they believe it’s a waste of time and money . What should I do? I feel helpless

Hey, @pinkmoonocean

I’m so sorry you’re feeling like this, it’s completely normal to feel upset when things don’t go as planned. Even though you can’t retake your A-levels, there are still options:

1.

Clearing: Many universities accept students through Clearing, sometimes even for courses you hadn’t originally considered. You could explore courses related to Psychology or other interests.

2.

Alternative pathways: Some people start with a foundation year, or go into degree apprenticeships.

3.

Gap year: Taking a year to gain work experience, volunteering, or relevant courses can strengthen your application for next year.

Talking to a careers advisor, your teachers, or someone you trust can also help you figure out the best steps forward. Some schools can fund for resits/remarks, though it is not a guarantee, definitely discuss options with a teacher if this is available.

Aimee, Uon Rep #UoN

Reply 5

pinkmoonocean

OP

4

Original post

by StrawberryDreams

I'm so sorry to hear your grade were not what you hoped :frown:

No matter what happens now, please don't let this define how you feel about yourself- this is just a part of your journey and not the whole story. You will find a way forward, promise. When you say you failed, do you mean the grades you got or that you didn't get into your choice of university?
Have you explored Clearing at all yet or are you set on a particular path? We can help you with figuring out a route through this :hugs:

Hello , I failed as I got a U E and D and this is for AS and my parents said they’re not gonna let me retake the exams . What should I do?

Reply 6

StrawberryDreams

TSR Community Staff

20

Original post

by pinkmoonocean

Hello , I failed as I got a U E and D and this is for AS and my parents said they’re not gonna let me retake the exams . What should I do?

I’m so sorry to hear your parents won’t let you retake. Is there any reason why?

Also, as this is AS, you still have a year to turn things around. Is your school offering any extra tutoring or support for your A-Level year? I’d start to get a plan in place now for boosting your grades, finding out what went wrong this year and how you can tailor your revision to help you overcome this. What are you hoping to do after A-levels?

Reply 7

Swansea Students

Official Rep

13

Original post

by pinkmoonocean

Hello so today I received my A level grades and I failed which made me feel very disappointed, heartbroken and depressed . My parents won’t let me retake as they believe it’s a waste of time and money . What should I do? I feel helpless

Hi there,

I'm so sorry to hear that things did not go according to plan for you. This can be such a tough situation and it's completely understandable for you to feel disappointed. My best advice would be to take your time with your decision. As you are probably aware, you have many options. You can retake your A levels, take a BTEC course instead or just go straight into work. Alternatively, you could take a gap year to reassess and make sure you are certain on your decision.

It's not an easy decision and while advice from others is helpful, you ultimately need to follow your gut. Sometimes it takes time for you gut feeling to become clear, which is why gap years can be really helpful in the long run and can make sure you don't commit to something you're unsure and may regret. You have plenty of options. Try to work out where you ultimately want to be (Is it uni? Is it a job you need a degree for? Is it a job you could get through an apprenticeship?) and work out your path from there.

Try not to put too much pressure on yourself and make sure you make the decision that is right for you, not others.

Best of luck!

Imogen (Student Ambassador)

Reply 8

Muttley79

20

Original post

by pinkmoonocean

Hello , I failed as I got a U E and D and this is for AS and my parents said they’re not gonna let me retake the exams . What should I do?

D and E aren't fail grades! Are you studying linear or modular A levels?

(edited 2 months ago)

Reply 9

Moon12”

12

Original post

by pinkmoonocean

Hello so today I received my A level grades and I failed which made me feel very disappointed, heartbroken and depressed . My parents won’t let me retake as they believe it’s a waste of time and money . What should I do? I feel helpless

I RECOMMEND an access to he course

Reply 10

Kingston Jenifer

Official Rep

11

Original post

by pinkmoonocean

Hello so today I received my A level grades and I failed which made me feel very disappointed, heartbroken and depressed . My parents won’t let me retake as they believe it’s a waste of time and money . What should I do? I feel helpless

Hi there,

So I would suggest looking into clearing or degrees with foundation years. Clearing is still open and there are still spaces available.
Could you clarify more on your situation – what grades and what subjects? Did you apply to university this year? Why do your parents think it is a waste of money to retake?

Kind regards, Jenifer (Kingston rep)

I Failed My A Levels , Now what?

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