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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

DD wants to repeat year 13 despite accepting an unconditional uni offer

43 replies

BigSandyBalls2015 · 22/04/2019 12:40

Ultimately it’s her decision, I get that, but would still appreciate views.

DD has accepted an unconditional offer. I was concerned that this may encourage her to work less at 6th form but it seems to have had the opposite effect. She’s on course to do well in two A level subjects but is struggling with a third.

I don’t think it matters that much as it’s nit the subject she’s stydying at uni but she’s concerned what potential employers will think when they see the results on her CV.

I’ve offered to pay for a tutor, she doesn’t want this. I’m worried it’s a case of cold feet, leaving the security of her school and taking this big next step. She disagrees.

Thoughts please.

OP posts:

ButterMyBiscuit · 22/04/2019 12:43

It depends what she wants to do, but most employers won't be bothered by a-levels, in my experience. I've just sifted a few different recruitment campaigns, and I can't recall checking a-level results for any.

Prequelle · 22/04/2019 12:47

Once she has a degree noone really cares about a levels do they? I know it's never been an issue for me. She's probably understandably overly focused on them but cant see them in the grander scheme of things. I think she would be daft to cause a delay over this.

CastleCrasher · 22/04/2019 12:48

If she completes a degree employers won't look at her a levels

Disfordarkchocolate · 22/04/2019 12:48

I think it depends on what she does with the rest of her time? Is she planning to work and save some money, useful voluntary work?

PurpleDaisies · 22/04/2019 12:49

If she’s not ready for uni, she’s better taking a gap year and working/volunteering/studying first. What are her friends doing next?

Skittlesss · 22/04/2019 12:49

Wouldn’t repeating yr 13 look worse on her CV than having two good A levels and one not so good?

PurpleDaisies · 22/04/2019 12:50

Wouldn’t repeating yr 13 look worse on her CV than having two good A levels and one not so good?

I’m not sure employers pay any attention to that sort of thing.

borntobequiet · 22/04/2019 12:53

Check if there are funding issues before deciding anything.

Disfordarkchocolate · 22/04/2019 12:55

A fair few people end up with an extra year doing A-levels when they realise they picked one they didn't like and started a new one in year two, no one notice on a CV or be bothered.

Frazzled2207 · 22/04/2019 12:59

Agree you need to check if she can actually repeat year 13. Most schools/colleges won't be keen unless she did badly and even then it might not be their call to accept her or not.

I'm a recruiter- A levels are important to get into uni but once she's got a degree as long as they are reasonable overall it won't matter.

yellowellies · 22/04/2019 13:00

My DS1 swapped one of his A levels, so was in 6th Form for 3 years- the last year only doing one subject so he also worked a lot, and worked on his hobbies that connect with his degree course. I think it really benefited him having that bit extra time before going away to uni. Now he’s there he seems to be managing his money/work and time really well

Frazzled2207 · 22/04/2019 13:00

Ps she def shouldn't make a rash decision.
I was convinced I'd done really badly in one of mine and would get a D at best but did get a B.

Dvg · 22/04/2019 13:00

There are better options than to repeat A Levels :S ... Plus really employers don't care about A Levels that much, a degree would go further or a gap year would as well.

TheInvestigator · 22/04/2019 13:01

Our exam system is different from the English one but, if she is expecting a bad result from the subject then can't she just drop that subject and just end up with 2 good results?

ThanksItHasPockets · 22/04/2019 13:10

Is it definitely an option? It isn’t usually in state schools due to issues around funding.

NunoGoncalves · 22/04/2019 13:19

Very few employers care about A levels if you have a degree. Once I had a degree I didn't even put my A level results on my CV.

Holidayshopping · 22/04/2019 13:20

Will she lose the unconditional offer?

Fortheloveofscience · 22/04/2019 13:24

When I interview for graduate positions I do look at A level results as well as degree when people are otherwise well-matched.

However, I’d generally prefer to see a dropped grade in a non-vital subject than retakes (unless it’s made clear that only one subject was re-taken, in which case I don’t really care one way or another).

ColdTattyWaitingForSummer · 22/04/2019 13:25

Could it be that deep down she’s just not feeling ready to go to uni? My son got two offers (conditional, but grades he’s likely to make) but he’s turning them down, and going to do a HNC and reapply next year. It’s slightly different because we’re in Scotland and he’s at college, but it’s a thought.

GreyBasket · 22/04/2019 13:27

I think it's too late to drop out now as she's been entered for whatever a levels she is supposed to be doing.

Also, a third year wouldn't necessarily be funded.

Original poster

BigSandyBalls2015 · 22/04/2019 13:27

Thanks all. Good point about funding and whether she’ll actually be allowed to stay, it is a state school.

She’ll lose the unconditional offer as can’t defer unconditionals so would have to reapply for next year.

I’ve asked her to speak to head of 6th form and the teacher of the subject she’s struggling with before making any decisions. She needs to decide though as student finance closes end of May I think.

OP posts:

OneDayillSleep · 22/04/2019 13:29

It really does depend on what she is planning to do? A lot of graduate schemes require a certain amount of a-level points, so even if it isn’t the subject she wants to do at degree level it will have an impact on whether she can eventually get a job.

user1471426142 · 22/04/2019 13:31

It depends what she is studying and what she wants to do next but I think it’s a mistake to assume a-levels don’t matter for graduate recruitment. I do look at a-levels and sometimes even GCSEs. That is because I need something to filter as all my applicants are from top unis, have great extracircular activities etc. On that basis, I think unconditionals could be a bad thing for students if they relax too much re grades. Some schemes have minimum a-level requirements as well as degree requirements.

That said, it seems rather premature to be talking about retaking when she hasn’t even sat the exam. She just needs to focus as much as she can on her exams now and make any future decisions once she’s got her results. I can’t imagine retaking a year is going to make a huge amount of difference.

GreyBasket · 22/04/2019 13:33

If she doesn't sit the exams she has been entered for, it counts as failing them.

I can't think that the school will be happy about that as it'll affect their league table results. You may get biased answers because of that from the school.

It may also count as failing them from a UCAS perspective too.

returnofthecat · 22/04/2019 13:36

The sort of graduate employers who care about A-level results (and despite what the above posters say, some do!) generally ignore re-sits and look at the first grade unless there were significant extenuating circumstances like an extended illness or bereavement. I see where your DD is coming from, but I don't think resitting is the answer.

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