A-Level results, please allay my fears.

[DrPeppersPhD]

Hello there, I just finished my A-Levels and I'm really nervous thinking about my results.
I have an unconditional offer to a pretty good uni that I really like, so I'm not so much worried I won't get into uni, but I still want to do really well. Partially because I'm a bit of a perfectionist, partially because my subjects seem relatively soft and partially because I don't want to let my teachers down, as I had a pretty rough time in 6th form and they gave me a lot of support so I want to prove I was worth the trouble. When I say any of this to pretty much anyone though, I get "You've got an unconditional AND you're a genius", which just makes me feel worse.
I've performed well over my time there, with a couple of slip ups over the 2 years, but I'm not sure how my exams went. Am I ok to feel nervous, and can you help to calm me down/cheer me up about the whole thing?

Of course you're allowed to feel nervous. I'm sure everyone is trying to be supportive, but I totally get that comments like "you're a genius" put pressure on you. It's such a shame that it's such a long wait to get the results - it kind of ruins the Summer for you. Chances are you WILL be fine - but you won't get those weeks of worrying back. It may or may not help, but when you feel yourself worrying, you could try repeating to yourself my favourite line from a film - Bridge of Spies. One of the main characters is in very big trouble, but when Tom Hanks' character asks "aren't you worried?", his reply is "would it help?" Easier said than done, but sometimes when I'm anxious, it really helps to keep repeating that to myself. There's a very busy thread in Further Education called something like "Class of 2018 nervously waiting" - it's mainly Mums, but I'm sure you'd be made welcome if you fancied a bit of support whilst you wait. Good luck!

Hiya, thank you for that line, it does make me feel a little better, also just knowing that I'm ok to feel nervous even when my position is, at least compared to my friends', pretty safe

My DD was like you. She always did well in her exams and I would remind her of this when she got stressed waiting for results. I remember her saying: ‘but what if I do badly the one time when it actually matters, for my A level results?’ Well she did do well, so you just have to hold your nerve as you will probably have done the same.

My philosophy is - there's nothing you can do now, however you feel they went. You've got (from when you finished) 7 or 8 weeks to relax, do some fun things, earn a bit of money, see your friends, not see school friends if that is what you prefer, learn a new skill, get a qualification, just do whatever you want. However much you think about them and worry, isn't going to change the results.
I know it is easier to say 'don't worry' than do it, if you are a worrying type, but you need to purposefully find something to distract yourself.

It's totally normal to be nervous about the results. Most dcs your age feel like this.
I think the comments about having an unconditional offer and being a genius aren't particularly helpful though. A generation ago, unconditional offers were really rare and this may possibly have given people this idea. However recently they have become more common. So I think I would recommend giving a little laugh and saying something like "it's very nice of you to say that, but unconditional offers are more common these days and it doesn't make me a genius" and see if that reality check makes you feel a bit better.

My dd says that she felt extra pressure because she was expected to do well. She didn't want to disappoint people. So you aren't alone.

Even if you don't get the grades you hope for, you'll still have done better than many people aspire to. And like you say everyone has off days. Be proud of yourself.

My DS is crapping his pants too! It is really, really normal to feel anxious. It sounds like you have worked hard and that is what really matters. You did the work and you gave it your best shot. That is all you can ask of yourself. You are clearly worthy of your place at university, otherwise they wouldn't have made you an unconditional offer. So, relax now for the next 3 weeks and try to enjoy each day as it comes.

Fingers crossed that you get what you want on 16th August.

@DrPeppersPHD I could have written this word for word two years ago! Unconditional offer, thought I'd screwed up a few of the exams, the pressure from everyone to prove myself and repay them for the support they'd given me.

But now... I wouldn't have worried one bit! You're going to get into uni, and that's the main thing. You will learn so, so much there and grow so much as a person and an academic. In even one year you will hopefully be so much more confident in your abilities, and so much more able to move on from difficulties and not dwell on not being perfect. At least at my uni, it's definitely absolutely fine to not be perfect, they just want you to do your best and always be learning. Your A Level grades won't matter half as much as all the amazing things you'll get out of going to uni. Try your hardest to stay calm, and plan something nice for the day afterwards. Your nervousness is completely valid, but it'll help you feel better if you can think of some logical counterarguments to it.

Dear OP, I've attached the Dunning-Kruger graph.

You're in that bottom section, where you've got enough experience to realise that you don't know everything, and you understood the questions enough to realise that you can't have got 100%.

Remember, though, that you're 'competing' (for grades assigned according to a normalised distribution) against a cohort of people, many of whom will be on that peak of confidence, not realising what they don't know.

Your uncertainty is usually a good sign.

But you can't change anything now. Put your worry away and save it for when it can be useful (easier said than done!)

Thank you guys for the support! I honestly thought I was a bit nuts for a while, I think having nothing to do but dwell on it makes things worse.
I'm getting back into reading since my to read pile is shoulder height at this point, and my friend and I are racing each other to re read the Harry Potter series because we are utter nerds and the loser gets the drinks in on results day, so that's keeping me occupied :-)