What should I do (embarrassing award ceremony)?

[lindaandrews]

So, I got a B in a certain A-level subject (which I’m embarrassed about since I was predicted higher than that). However, there were only two people in my class and the other got a lower grade. This means I have been awarded the attainment prize and have to go to the awarding ceremony to get it.

The thing is my teachers know that I underperformed and that I’m so embarrassed by it and I feel like I don’t deserve it because even though a B may be a good grade, it isn’t what I was expecting.

Its too late to tell the school I won’t be going so what should I do since it will be so embarrassing to get that award infront of everyone when they know that I myself don’t believe I deserve it.

Smile. Say thank you. Forget it.

I assume you have now left the school?
So you are under no obligation to go.
Just don't bother.

Remember all that you attained during the two years of study as well! The exam was 6 hrs out of two years!

Why is it too late and why do you have to go to the ceremony? You have choices, you’re not obliged to attend, so excuse yourself politely.

Just don't go. They'll read your name out in your absence

If you've got your A levels, you're a grownup now - you don't have to go to any school events ever again.
Just send a note saying you won't be able to attend. You don't have to give any explanation.

Go, say thank you and enjoy the moment. It's a bit spoilt not to want to go because you 'only got a B.

But if you really think it's insulting then don't bother. It really doesn't matter.

This! You worked hard and were clearly a good student. A B is nothing to be ashamed of. Go and hold your head high.

B is pretty decent, so congratulations. If you are anything like my dc though, you put yourself under enormous pressure last year and are disappointed. Be proud of what you've achieved, but remember you aren't at school anymore, so school can't dictate!
Remember also to be mindful of the student who didn't get such a high grade; if you go along on a downer because you "just" got an B, then you'll ll make the lower grade kid feel crap.

Was it a difficult subject? I'm guessing that because there were only two of you studying it. I came top in my Latin class of four students by being the only one to scrape through A Level with forty-something percent, and I was pleased. These things are relative. Either go to the award and accept with a wry smile, or send your apologies. Life is bigger than this and so are you.

You are, and I say this kindly, completely over-estimating the kind of headspace we, as teachers, give prize giving.

They ask for names. we have a million other jobs to do. We give names and give it no further thought. Go, or say you’re not going, they genuinely won’t mind either way.

Honestly OP you are so overthinking your A level grades. I really think you should accept your grades, Move on, get on with life.
Go or don't go to the ceremony, but use your headspace to move on, not dwell on that you should have got, or wasting a year redoing y13.

Perhaps see the award as a recognition of your work for the whole course, and the fact that you've learned and done well enough to have achieved the standard of an A, even if you didn't get it on the actual exam. The exam isn't the only measure of learning or ability or achievement, and if you were predicted an A, then they obviously thought you had done well in the course as a whole, which is something to be proud of, despite the disappointment with the specific exam result.

You're being too harsh on yourself. You as well as you as you could have done, given the exam paper in front of you, so be proud of your achievement, and smile.