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AIBU?

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Original poster

To have issues about my A level grades from 25 years ago...

316 replies

Beckidewinter · 24/08/2020 22:45

This is a non-problem: tiniest violin territory, really, and I'm only posting out of curiosity to see if anyone has advice or can empathise. I have never confessed this to anyone...

I took my A levels 25 years ago and was totally and utterly devastated when I got BBB rather than the AAA I was predicted. I wept for two weeks. The consequences were nil. My parents were delighted (they were/are of the 'whatever makes you happy, darling' school of parenting), I was accepted into my first choice of University, did well and now have an MSc and PhD. Why then do I feel a sense of failure and, yes, embarrassment at this time of year, every year when the press are full of stories of success. Why on earth would it bother me and make me feel a bit sad and queasy in 2020? It's silly, irrational and more than a bit pathetic.

Most tragically (and secretly) of all, I find myself comparing my marks to those of famous people for solace "well, David Miliband got 3 Bs and he seems pretty bright..."

To be clear, like many people in their 40s, I have experienced real loss and grief and other painful life stuff, so you'd think I would have acquired perspective or wisdom or something, but alas, no and this just keeps biting for some reason ...Does anyone relate or care to psycho-analyse, or is it a loud chorus of YABVU?

OP posts:
TomPinch · 26/08/2020 23:31

Nb. I got BBC plus and AS-level E. They got me into my first choice university (RG) so I'm happy.

Didn't do much with the degree though.

ChampagneCharley · 26/08/2020 23:45

I got a E and 2 N's in the mid 90's. Did an HND instead of a degree, had an amazing time. Got a degree in Law the in my 20's through distance learning but didn't do anything with it (became pregnant 🙄). Also cried a lot about my A level failure at the time, but in the end it didn't matter. Life isn't all about the grades you get when you're in your teens.

sansou · 26/08/2020 23:46

BBBC in 1990 for A levels which was enough for a law degree at what is now a RG university. Another one who had to take General Studies as a compulsory 4th A level! Requirement was BBB back then. Can’t find history of A Level grades for the last 30 yrs to assess the rate of grade inflation year by year.

I managed a 2:1 but literally, less than a handful of people was awarded a first in my year compared to 29% nowadays.

DoveOfPiss · 26/08/2020 23:47

I got 8 O levels, 3 CSEs, 2 RSA levels and an A/O level between 1983 and 1985 then joined a YTS scheme after the first year of A levels. I really only went to 6th form to get my maths O level. 10 years later I did a HNC while working full-time then various different courses over the next 10 years including a BTEC certificate in further education teaching.
4 years ago as a single parent to 4 young children I did an access course equivalent to 3 A levels and I've just passed the final assessment of my degree so will get the classification for that in a couple of weeks, should be a 2:1

It's never too late! Grin

But... I can't get rid of the feeling that I should have or could have done better. I know that my best now isn't the same best as it was 20 or 30 years ago, purely because of what else is going on in my life, but it's still that feeling of not being quite as good as your own expectations I think. Dunno.

OhTheRoses · 27/08/2020 00:16

sansou I don't mean to be unkind but if less than a handful of people was awarded a first a 2:1 from a Russell Group University is utterly meaningless.

LittleLemonTree · 27/08/2020 05:42

OMG, me too! 30 years ago, I was predicted AAA and got AAC and the C kills me!

fedupslummymummy · 27/08/2020 07:44

I totally get you! I was predicted AABC in my A Levels. My parents went through a terrible divorce during my second A Level year and I struggled with my studies and I got BCCD. In those days (early 90s) you could get unconditional offers to university and as long as I got EEE I was in to my first choice institution. I got an excellent degree. The only time I ever got asked about my A Level grades was when I was interviewed by a very snooty colonel for a job at the MoD. He said....”hmmm Slummy, great degree, shame about the A Levels. What happened?” So I told him. I didn’t get the job!!!!

CardsforKittens · 27/08/2020 08:40

I’ve never been good at exams, I just can’t focus and always do worse than my essays would suggest. My O level and A level results were disappointing to my parents and teachers back in the 1980s. But I got a 2.1 in my degree (partly because my dissertation was really good) so I don’t really think about O levels and A levels much.

However, I’m slightly disturbed to hear that some employers want to know those results. I haven’t seen my certificates in years; I’ve moved house 10 times since I left school and couldn’t produce them if a prospective employer thought they’d be relevant. A transcript of my degree results has always been sufficient in my experience so far.

Ilikeviognier · 27/08/2020 09:08

I did my A levels in the mid/late 90s. Was forced to do general studies for some reason even though my university choice didn’t recognise it Hmm

Anyway I got AAAD ( The D was general studies so I didn’t care that much!).

I do wonder how the grades today compare to then- there were no As levels, No A star grade, it was just coursework and big exams at the end of the two years.

pollymere · 27/08/2020 10:20

The school refused to appeal over our history grades after they taught us the wrong syllabus. There was also a screw up over our science grades. It still narks me that the school didn't care.

HainaultViaNewburyPark · 27/08/2020 10:21

When did general studies stop being an A-level that everyone took?

Lowprofilename · 27/08/2020 10:44

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ for privacy reasons.

Localocal · 27/08/2020 12:00

Teenagers are so sensitive, and these exams put so much pressure on them. I think the memory of the pain you suffered will always hurt - we should not put kids in the position of being so damaged by exams.

Japa · 27/08/2020 16:58

You are not being unreasonable.
I can totally relate to what you have said. It may be silly but the feeling stays with you ...

SabrinaThwaite · 27/08/2020 17:48

@OhTheRoses

sansou I don't mean to be unkind but if less than a handful of people was awarded a first a 2:1 from a Russell Group University is utterly meaningless.
Nobody on my course got a First. There were about three 2:1s and the other twenty or so awards were split between 2:2s and Thirds. I don’t think anyone had got a First on that course for years. You had to do something pretty exceptional, e.g. get a paper out of your final year project.

So my that case, a 2:1 was pretty damn good.

isabellerossignol · 27/08/2020 17:56

@HainaultViaNewburyPark

When did general studies stop being an A-level that everyone took?
I took my A levels in the mid 90s and I've never heard of general studies. What does it cover?
NewKittyMeow · 27/08/2020 18:02

I got three As and a B for my A levels 24 years ago and it still pisses me off occasionally! Like you, OP, I got into my first choice university, now have an MA with Distinction and a PhD, and a good career. I married with a lovely son, we have a nice four bedroom house in the south east, we’re happy but it still rankles at times because I know I could have done better if I’d taken it more seriously! Oh well.

NewKittyMeow · 27/08/2020 18:07

@OhTheRoses

sansou I don't mean to be unkind but if less than a handful of people was awarded a first a 2:1 from a Russell Group University is utterly meaningless.
If that’s you not meaning to be unkind, I’d hate to see your posts when you’re trying.
Lovely1a2b3c · 27/08/2020 18:08

I understand OP. I had teachers saying that there was no way that I would get less than 3As after some great GCSEs but a serious event in our family; combined with battling my own health condition meant I didn't achieve that. However unlike you I also fell ill during my degree course (at a world top 10 uni) and despite getting the highest marks in my year for 1st, 2nd year and some A grades in 3rd year; I had to drop out.

Unfortunately my self-worth has been tied up with my academic achievements since I was 16 so I feel terrible!

GreyGardens88 · 27/08/2020 18:13

Crikey I would have delighted with those results, I also did much worse than my predicted grades. I did great in my GCSE's but I was bullied, depressed and distracted all through 6th Form. I still managed to go to uni, not that the degree really did much for me but still got a 2:1 . I do what a PP does on my CV I just put 11 GCSE's, 3 A-Levels, no one's ever asked for the grades, I did the exams 14 years ago and have much more relevant experience.

GreyGardens88 · 27/08/2020 18:14

@NewKittyMeow

I got three As and a B for my A levels 24 years ago and it still pisses me off occasionally! Like you, OP, I got into my first choice university, now have an MA with Distinction and a PhD, and a good career. I married with a lovely son, we have a nice four bedroom house in the south east, we’re happy but it still rankles at times because I know I could have done better if I’d taken it more seriously! Oh well.
Terrible stealth boasting there Hmm
OublietteBravo · 27/08/2020 18:28

@isabellerossignol

General studies consisted of 2 papers, and each paper had 5(?) sections which were a mixture of essays and multiple choice questions.

There was definitely a maths section and a modern language section (multiple choice I think). Maybe a science essay? I’m struggling to remember (I sat A-levels in 1994). Pretty much everyone did general studies as a 4th A-level back then.

OublietteBravo · 27/08/2020 18:30

(Or everyone in North Yorkshire - I cant comment on other parts of the country. Although most of the state school educated people I met at university had also done general studies. Private schools seemed not to bother with it).

claireb707 · 27/08/2020 18:36

@OublietteBravo

(Or everyone in North Yorkshire - I cant comment on other parts of the country. Although most of the state school educated people I met at university had also done general studies. Private schools seemed not to bother with it).
Did my a levels in 97 and we did general studies. My brother was 2 years later and I think did it too.
claireb707 · 27/08/2020 18:37

Damn it meant to add we were north west / Merseyside

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