A2 Results day support

Agree that if the result seems a real anomaly and outside of the results achieved and predicted through the year, get a photocopy of the script (at AS - so teacher can look to see how marks have been awarded and if mean....can then ask for a remark.....if not mean, useful for learning how to improve)
Just be aware that remarks can result in marks and grades falling as well as rising and the remarked result is what will count. Therefore, often useful for those on the boundary of a higher grade and more dangerous for those on the boundary of the grade below.
Sometimes there are clear anomalies....the person due to get A* who gets an E on a paper and felt it went really well. A quick remark is definitely worth it and can happen quickly if you pay the premium price. There are LOADS of errors in marking unfortunately....pages missed out, adding up errors and simply rogue markers who are inconsistent in how they mark or too mean (people don't complain about the overly generous, strangely) so it can be worth it.
Candidates themselves who are realistic about their own abilities and chances often know if their marks are wildly out of kilter with what they should have got. However, there are also weaker candidates who think they are far better than they are and don't seem to recognise that what they achieve is actually broadly in line with what they have achieved through the year and probably deserve.
If in doubt for AS, get a copy of script before asking for a remark. The urgency is not there as it is for A2 and you don't risk a down grade as with an immediate remark.
Oh and if getting the script, be sure to tick the box for a PHOTOCOPY....if you ask for the original, it clearly can't then be remarked.

Hello again. I am sorry if I offended anyone.
I was suggesting that people with EEE at AS should CONSIDER if continuing to A2 is the right thing. I do believe that there is no merit in taking A Levels or a degree course, just for the sake of having taken them. They need to have value and lead somewhere, otherwise the time might have been spent more productively. It is always good to know what A levels of different grades, or degrees of different subjects and from different institutions will and won't allow you to do......if you are happy with the doors the choices will open or close,that is fine. It is embarking on those courses without knowing the likely impact that seems to be the problem to me.
It is a highly competitive world and sometimes low A levels or a poorly regarded degree do not provide any real help in terms of getting a job and entering the world of work at a younger age, might be better.
At the end of the day, every family needs to make that judgement for themselves.....I was simply saying that it is good to consider IF it is right to continue to the next stage, rather than assuming it is ALWAYS the right thing to do.
I hope that all of the kids referred to on this thread find the right options for them and that what they choose to do, opens up future doors for them.

Cardi, I'm furious for you about Coventry. They've known results since The weekend, and have plenty of time to make a decision. We'd made most of ours by end of Sunday. I just don't like the idea of keeping students hanging like that.

Cardiff is a brilliant place to live, and I hope your daughter will be really happy there.

Hm cardibach... if she's asked to withdraw then they should just release her. Unless their team doing the UCAS data entry are completely overwhelmed, but even then they should just say so. (Of course she may be talking to someone who doesn't know what's going on.)

It's a bit rubbish if they're holding onto her while also in clearing. We're only holding onto (very very few) people while we wait to see if we lose people in adjustment, which would make more space on the course for them, and if they're already firm with us so have their insurance offer to go to. And when I say 'we' I actually mean central admissions, because I gave all my recommendations of who I wanted to accept on Monday.

There's a lot of faffing as well, with universities 'higher up' the stream decideding who they want which affects the insurance offer courses, which affects who they want etc etc. It's a shame tutors can't just phone each other and sort it all out directly!

Cardi - what was the actual offer made in comparison to her results? This could be the sticky point in relation to confirming/declining. In defense of Coventry, my DS made it his firm and all confirming/accommodation etc has been plain sailing. I have heard that a Durham are particularly bad for keeping people hanging if they are near misses

Mollie - we have a similar problem. DD is doing sciences and has had bad results for AS chemistry. She had A in GCSE and needs an A next year. She found the exams hard and didn't expect to do well, but her marks in Chemistry were D, U and then A for practical. I don't know if it's her lack of ability of if the exams or marking were extra hard this year.

Congratulations to your dd on getting a place at Cardiff Met Cardibach. This system is completely new to me. My son, though he has been told through UCAS that he is going to be offered a place, hasn't yet heard from the uni in question. Apparently he needs to be given a number or something? Is this significant? eg we can't get on to student finance without it, or can it wait? I really don't know for sure. I'm glad we aren't involved with Coventry though, they sound particular difficult.

I thought it was a bit harsh, too, ChocolateWombat. There is a lot of snobbery about both A level results and degree types out there, much of it unnecessary.
Sorry if I sounded like a was sniping at virelai - I didn't mean to, hadn't seen any stuff about AS and the title was about A2. I was just confused. Apologies.

Looks like DD will be going to Cardiff Met now with a complete change of degree. Coventry dragging their feet about releasing her now - won't confirm or deny a place, won't release her. A complaint has been made...

ChocolateWombat your comment about it not being worth doing a degree which requires EEE is a little harsh considering there are many students (my son included) out there doing just that.

The thing that has struck me about reading all these threads is that from the anecdotal evidence from ds, many of his friends have got into their firm or insurance choices with grades a fair bit lower than their original offers. RG unis for popular courses, too. Doesn't make sense to me.

Apparently there is a marked demographic dip in 18 and 19 year olds this year plus 30,000 additional full-time university places on offer, which will explain some of it.

Mollie, check your dd's individual chemistry modules and find out why exactly she got a U. It might be something she can re-take.

Mollie
Many schools won't allow students to continue to A2 unless they have a C at AS in that subject. Allowing students to continue to A2 (which is harder than AS) with only EEE sounds like it I setting pupils up to fail. I am a firm believer in being realistic about what the likely outcomes are from different starting points and whether it is worth continuing to the next stage in light of that. Doing A levels,to achieve EEE is not great. Doing a degree course which requires EEE is not great. A levels and degrees at such levels have very limited value and it might be better to do something else, if this is the likely outcome.

What you do next depends on the school and yourself. If she had aspirations to go to a RG Uni or course with high grades, then she needs to re think, as her grades don't suggest she will get the predictions or necessary grades. If she is prepared to go to a lower tier place, then scrapping chemistry and continuing with the other 3 is an option. Totally taking the year again is another option, but most people dont see a significant improvement when they do that.

Sounds like the 6th form will keep her as she meets the minimum requirement. She probably needs to re think chemistry and stick with the other 3. Gaining CCC at the end of A2 would be possible from that starting point, or possibly slightly higher, depending on the schools success rate with re takes.

mollie your dd has got higher than EEE so staying on in the 6th form shouldn't be a problem should it?

Might you consider a remark? ds2 had a module in his A2 go from a U to 6 points short of an A a couple of years back. His overall grade was affected although thankfully his uni offered him the place anyway (which he later turned down to trade up)

Remarks in science may not move as much as more subjective subjects but it may still be something worth considering

What's wrong with a shared bathroom? Standard in my day. Dare I say that she sounds a bit precious if her own bathroom is a deal breaker?

Ds received halls accommodation confirmation yesterday - he applied a few weeks back, even though I wasn't hopeful at the time he would even be going to his first choice.
But it does make sense to freeze new applications to ensure fairness to all clearing applicants.

The thing that has struck me about reading all these threads is that from the anecdotal evidence from ds, many of his friends have got into their firm or insurance choices with grades a fair bit lower than their original offers. RG unis for popular courses, too. Doesn't make sense to me.

Hi. My daughter failed her AS level in chemistry and not quite sure what options she now has. She got an A in GCSE chemistry and was predicted a B in her As level. She got a U. she is terribly disappointed as you can imagine.As are we (not in her, but for her). She put in so much hard work. She has always loved chemistry, and we cant understand what went wrong, but we now need to correct this. To stay on in sixth form she needed to get EEE, but she got CDDU. Any help please

Shared bathroom really will not be the end of the world. Personally, I would say go for a shared bathroom to save money.
To me it seems one of the reasons for such student debt, is what seems too high expectations of the standard of living of students. Living in rather crowded accommodation, where the heating can only be on for 2 hours a day due to cost, was all part of the experience. I know things move on, but really, is sharing a bathroom a big deal?

All our flats had shared bathrooms, never a problem, even when we had three girls and one lad.

DD peed off today- got her first choice Loughborough place yesterday which she is thrilled about- went online at the a alloted time this morning to book her halls place and the site crashed so that by the time she finally managed to connect all the places at her preferred halls had gone and she has to take what she is given. Hoping she is not given a room with shared bathrooms...

We are not all A2 parents, and some of us are lurking here gratefully observing your experiences so as to prepare ourselves for the ordeal in the future .
My DS is going GCSEs, so we parents were not expecting to hear results this week.
Surprise 1 - he did some igcses and the results came out this week - found out only when he called us to tell us.
Surprise 2 - we did not know he was doing an AS Maths module, until he just came in to tell me his result. (Apparently he forgot to look yesterday )

You're not all A2 parents, though, cardibach. MsAverage's son has been doing AS (plus Maths A2) and there was a lot of discussion upthread about whether his AS grades ruled out Oxbridge and what weight was given to AS grades vs. other factors. So an Oxford tutor coming onto the thread to give insight on that is wholly relevant and not deserving of your face.

The way your DD is being treated is just wrong, but it's not virelai' s fault.

Thanks needmoresleep.

Cardibach I hope you have good news today.

My son has been offered a place at his 2nd choice with the addition of a foundation year. I suppose it is that, or spend a year re-taking but this is less injurous to his pride so he is going for it.

And I underestimated the uni re accommodation last night. Although there is no guarantee of a place in halls, they have actually frozen the accommodation page of their website until tomorrow to allow all students coming through clearing an equal chance of a place. Which is fair, at least.

Thanks Needmoresleep. I could do with borrowing your nickname today - I didn't sleep well again last night.
She's just come in from her night out so back to work!

Cardi and Dumble, best wishes for today. I hope it does not go on too long and your DC get the places they want.