2015 Yr 12 support thread

Dunlurking A remark is worthwhile on borderline papers. Sometimes even on others. One of DS1's Physics A2 papers was a low A and it went up to a high A* after remark.
Resits of any module used be allowed subject to the school agreeing (and the student paying the fee). Unsure what happens next year in view of the new A level system.
It does also mean studying AS alongside A2 and the extra exam loading, bearing in mind that A2 is already a step up from AS.

I am wary of persuading teachers to inflate a prediction. DC can often take this as a given and accept offers beyond reach, only to blame the school for making a wrong prediction. This happened to a friend of DS last year and he missed firm and insurance.

DD is still debating whether to retake two modules to bring two of her B's up to A's
but I'm tempted to suggest that she concentrates on the subjects she's definitely taking to A2

one of her friends got E U U : stress city in that house - predictions had been B's and C's

I'm trying to get my head round a strategy to discuss with ds when he finally has a chance to ring instead of texting. So if I've understood it needsmoresleep/others in the know, ds could get a remark of some Maths papers and/or resit some next summer?

What is this about tutors being able to predict a grade 1 higher than acheived jellybean? Is that generally accepted in schools, especially if planning resits? You are all being very helpful because I can see that ds could possibly inch his way up to the needed A/prediction of an A in Maths doing it this way. Is there a limit on the number of papers he can have remarked/resit?

B, C, D here - not a surprise as he struggled at the beginning of the year and did not step up his effort until it was too late. Still massively disappointing and the reality of not having the chance of getting into a decent uni is hitting home. I'm not sure where we go from here - he will have to completely re-think his options.

AAB here, very well done to DD!

So, if DD gor a B in French, composed of an A in unit 1 and and a b in the oral exam, could she resit just the oral?

Elevader - DD was aiming for 90% average in her top 3 subjects, but I think it's course/college/uni specific, so depends what your DC want to do.

Bit of a mixed bag here. Zazas Ds has similar with History - good A in one paper, borderline D in another , for which all mocks have been A , equating to C overall. He types his answers , school wondering if some sheets went astray so requesting copies. Even I if he has to resit that paper next summer he thinks it preferable to continuing the subject he wants to drop!

Thanks, he is going to resit AS modules alongside A2s so we're feeling more positive. The one grade above is (I now know) the predicted grades his tutor is allowed to put on ucas form which means he's unlikely to even get an offer from his first choice uni. But I've checked their website and they are in clearing so if he does better than predicted there's still a chance.

Congrats to all those with the results they were 'hoping' and commiserations to those who didn't... Mixed bag here - DD got results she hoped for in her two favourite subjects (History/Maths), what she expected in her 'to drop' subject and an unexpected terrible mark in her Economics paper. One paper was a high B and the other a very low D - a complete anomaly and the school have asked for her paper to look at to see if it warrants a remark. She did Economics at GCSE (A*) and has did really well with her her exams this year. The B paper was the one that she thought she had messed up a question so was pleased with that but the D was one that she thought went really well and she came out buzzing how it was exactly as she hoped. Completely mystified to what went wrong...

At least tears have dried up and the wails of 'no university will ever accept me' have stopped - her Headteacher was particularly lovely and gave her some perspective on it all which help!

TOUGHASOLDBOOTS - a resit helps with your A2 grade as your AS grade goes towards you final A level and therefore a better result give you a better chance of the grade you are aiming for.

Yes it sounds like we are in the same place tranquility ???? mums the word and all that. Hope the remark works out

Thanks, FartyTette. It's been a massive shock and we're still thinking about what to do next. I guess the remark is the main thing at this stage and then we'll take it from there.

Well done to your DD :)

Tranquility, we had this last year - A in one paper, U in the other. School had never seen anything like it, but DD had realised that she had messed up massively...she got CCDD at AS overall, and was distraught (predictions were As and Bs).

She decided to retake 4 papers across all the subjects, and quite frankly has worked her butt off this year. Of course you can no longer do resits in January, so she decided not to apply to uni, as she was determined to get her grades up, but was realistic enough to realise that the school wouldn't predict her what she might need to get where she wanted to go. She's planned her gap year sensibly, and it will be a good experience for her.

Resits went well; A2s were a mixed bag...but she is delighted today, as she got ABC. She insisted on going in alone to pick them up; she was so nervous! I think that the poor AS results were a real wake up call - she now realises that she didn't do nearly enough work for them. I remember that it was so hard for her last year; all her friends seemed to have done really well. She shut herself away for a couple of days after the results and wouldn't contact anyone. It felt as if she had a mountain to climb, but it can be done, with some hard grafting. She's now in a good position really think carefully when selecting unis - she also has some activities planned to support her chosen degree subject, so should be in a strong position. All in all a gap year was the right decision.

So - nil desperandum to any mumsnetters who have distraught DCs today!

What UMS is needed for Oxbridge?

at 6.32 this morning I heard squeaking from DDs room.
luckily it was happy squeaking as she logged on to get her results.

Congratulations to those who had good news this morning, and heartfelt commiserations to those who didn't.

We had a difficult morning here as DD has had an unexpectedly painful mark in her favourite subject. She got an A for one paper and a U in the other. School are astounded and are sending it for a remark. She only started there for sixth form so it was great to see how supportive they were. Other results were good, though, so all is not lost!

I had a very odd penny-dropping moment when the lovely girl who was consoling my DD when I went in to see what was wrong said she'd cleaned 2 bathrooms as a displacement activity this morning Northernlurker. Given what you've written above about the "almost unbelievably bad mark" I think our DDs must be friends!

There is quite a changeabout from those who did well at GCSE to thoise that did well at AS, in DSs school anyhow.(The local rag put everyone's results up on their website so easy to compare).

Jellybean, we are in the same situation. DS was predicted BBB and has CDD.

We were expecting this. He has done nothing all year.

He will just have to resist a lot of his AS level papers in June alongside his A2s.

All the grades are still open to them.

jellybean not true, there are a couple of success stories on the Y13 thread.

bernadettematthews fantastic news

Well done to all those DC who got good news. And commiserations to all DC who didn't.

Very disappointed dd here.. She is about to contact teachers etc tofind out what to do. Feel for her.

4 As for dd. HUGE relief :)

Congratulations and commiserations in equal measure to all. These are hard exams and a big jump from GCSE. As painful as today can be it doesn't define who they are or who they will become.

jellybean - first thing to do is look at the marks for individual papers. He can resit units next year. It may also be one of the papers is very low in which case think about a remark. Dd has a friend who got an almost unbelievably bad mark on one paper and school are recalling the paper and getting a remark. Essay subject so well worth it I think.

CDD was predicted Bs.... What now? He says that there is no chance of moving up more than 1 grade at A2 no matter how hard you work... Is this true? If it us it puts his 1st choice uni out of reach

MrsU, all January modules were abolished after 2012. Re takes are now still possible but have to be a whole year later rather than 5 months.
(DS1'a cohort were the last bunch to do January modules).