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Further education

You'll find discussions about A Levels and universities on our Further Education forum.

Original poster

Should DD re-take A levels or take up Uni place?

61 replies

yesbutnobut · 16/08/2018 09:07

I'd be grateful for thoughts/advice. DD's A level results today (A*, B, C) are below her predicted grades but she's been lucky enough to be accepted onto her insurance university course.

Question I have is how important it is to have good A levels on your CV? So, should she re-take her A levels to hopefully improve her grades (obviously not guaranteed) or just move on and go to university? I'm thinking that for some jobs or careers it's important to have A levels above a certain grade - if she wanted to, say, apply to one of the Big 4 accountancy firms. Or, do people think that once you get your degree, that is more important than your A levels?

OP posts:
Original poster
yesbutnobut · 16/08/2018 10:56

Thanks all. I guess I do worry about being judged on her A levels at some stage - particularly the C. But since she's happy with the insurance choice of uni, she's decided to go with that.

OP posts:
QuinionsRainbow · 16/08/2018 11:21

Is there any harm done in calling her first choice uni and seing if they can re-consider her on her actual grades rather than her predicted ones? One of our DCs did that, and got lucky!

starryeyed19 · 16/08/2018 11:24

I don't write my A-levels on my CV. They were SHIT but I got into a degree course so that's now my starting point when it comes to qualifications. They don't need to know every single exam result once you have the degree. You'll have needed a certain level to get onto the course in the first place

MrsRubyMonday · 16/08/2018 11:24

I've never been asked for my A-level results, and they were worse than your daughter's despite being predicted As (had some medical issues). Had an unconditional offer for my first choice so went, hasn't caused any problems.

I would say go. As others said, if she later finds its holding her back she could always do an evening course in the one A-level whilst working to bring the grade up.

starryeyed19 · 16/08/2018 11:25

Also, A*, B and C are good grades!

inquiquotiokixul · 16/08/2018 11:34

Those are decent A level results - was the degree subject the A* grade, the B or the C? What were the grades for the firm offer? If the offer was ABB for the firm she might still get accepted if she speaks to the admissions tutor in person (they may require her to take an additional module or do some extra self-study in September if the C grade was a subject directly relevant to the course). Admissions tutors are human beings. It's OK to talk to them. Many would much rather have a place filled by someone who has been committed to that course at that university for months rather than having to recruit a replacement from among those who are using the clearing process to get a better offer.

I wouldn't advise retakes with those grades - any improvement can only be fairly marginal. retakes make sense if you got a bunch of D grades due to but have A grade potential and know what to do differently second time around.

If she can't get the 1st choice place to give her a chance and doesn't like the insurance place she can always shop around in clearing and see what looks more appealing.

beeefcake · 16/08/2018 11:37

I got ABBC and have got in fine.

Went to Reading University.

What does she want to do OP?

shallichangemyname · 16/08/2018 11:39

This year's A level students are from a low birth rate year. It's worth seeing if first choice will take her anyway.
I was the recruitment partner in a London law firm for a few years. I had to choose candidates for interview and reduce a large pile of applications to a small one. Often there is so little between candidates that you do end up looking at things like A level results, which university, which degree etc. I found it hard myself to get a training contract. Whilst I had a 2.1 from a very good university, my degree choice was looked down upon and I also didn't have fantastic A level results. The way to get around any issue like this is to get work experience and impress, or to take advantage of your parents' contacts. Any candidate who fell into these categories had their application marked with a star and I had to have a good reason to put them in the no pile.

Original poster
yesbutnobut · 16/08/2018 13:40

Thanks again for the responses. DD needed AAA to get into her chosen science course at Durham. She got A in English, B in biology and C in chemistry. So the A was in a subject unrelated to her degree course. She isn't keen on calling Durham even though she's got nothing to lose - she just thinks her grades are so far off what Durham wanted, and they can fill the course with applicants who met the requirements. They don't have any places in clearing.

Is it worth persevering to try to get her to call Durham, or should she be happy with her insurance (Warwick)? Btw I didn't mean to suggest A*, B and C aren't good grades - it's just that they weren't the grades she needed.

OP posts:
LIZS · 16/08/2018 13:44

Agree nothing to lose by calling but Warwick is still a great option. The sooner she calls the quicker she can move on.

shutlingsloe · 16/08/2018 13:47

I got ABBC and have got on fine.

Went to Reading University.

@beefcake. Me too!!!

shutlingsloe · 16/08/2018 13:47

Blush sorry about random bold o...

Freezingheart · 16/08/2018 13:50

A lot of employers now look through a level results and focus more on skills - like leadership, teamwork etc. This includes the big four. If she didn’t get the results she wanted then I’d ask why - is it because she didn’t work hard enough? Did work but didn’t answer correctly? Resitting you may not get the results you want. Personally I’d do the degree.

Waterdropsdown · 16/08/2018 13:51

I’m an accountant with a 2.1 from a very good university (didn’t do a levels as Scottish) but my highest weren’t great (not quite sure how I ended up on my course at my uni).
Anyway when applying for trainee ship I didn’t even get past the CV stage and allowed to sit the online tests for any of the big 4. My uni course friends all did and most got big 4 jobs. I had better work experience, in first XI sports teams etc only thing was my school exams. It was 15 years ago so might have changed.
Now I have a very good job (qualified with a smaller CA firm) in FTSE 100 company and wouldn’t even put my school results on a CV but at that entry level school results are very important. It’s a tough decision but maybe she will just have to be prepared to do loads of job applications when the time comes (that’s what I did while all
My friends filled out 4) and might have to start in a less “glamourous” company.

Zoflorabore · 16/08/2018 13:51

17th August 1996- my A level results day.

Can still hear my dad singing that stupid song "E's are good, E's are good, they're Ebeneezer good" still hate that song to this day.

As you can probably guess from above, my A level results were terrible. I was predicted so much higher but due to a mixture of things I didn't try very hard.
Went to the first uni that would take me and left after 5 months. Got into loads of debt and it followed me for years.

I wish I had re sat to get my first choice.

I think your dd's results are very good. Ultimately she will do well in her future.

sashh · 16/08/2018 13:51

Worth a call.

What is showing on her UCAS application?

Aurea · 16/08/2018 13:53

@aethelthryth

Sorry OP for hi-jacking this thread.....

May I ask how you view Edinburgh or Glasgow Law graduates for recruitment purposes? My son (Scottish) has to decide between the two courses and may wish to work for a big city Law firm in London if he has the opportunity.

Many thanks.

WhirlyGigWhirlyGig · 16/08/2018 14:10

We've had this couple nversation this morning. My dd has decided against resits but on advice is going to ask for a remark on one paper. She didn't get her first choice but is waiting to hear back from another that emailed her this morning, if they offer she's going to take the place and get the paper remarked so that if it is increased to an A then it could help in the future.

alefor12 · 16/08/2018 14:16

A* B C is a good result

At uni ( a good one too) lots of my friends had Bs and C grades and many got 2:1s

Move on with life, If say she got a first at uni or 2:1 nobody will look twice at a levels. Even with a 2:2 and lower a level grades I know people who have got very good jobs straight out of uni. With the competition these days, personality is really important

mistermagpie · 16/08/2018 14:30

Those are good grades so I hope she's not to down. What is it she wants to do as a job? You mentioned the big 4 accountancy firms, but if it was a sciences degree at Durham then I presume she doesn't want to be an accountant?

mistermagpie · 16/08/2018 14:31

*too not to

PilarTernera · 16/08/2018 14:31

Should she be happy with her insurance (Warwick)?

Sounds like she is happy with her insurance and has decided to go there. It's not up to you, at this stage in her life it is her choice. She is the one who will go there and do the work. Our role as parents is to support them.

A*, B, C are good grades. Warwick is an excellent world-class university. Be proud of her achievements!

mistermagpie · 16/08/2018 14:33

FWIW I got her grades with another B thrown in, but I did very 'light' subjects (drama and performing arts!) and got a 2:1 in economics and a distinction in my masters. Nobody ever asks about my A level results and mine were in kind of silly subjects too (no offence). She sounds like she's got her head screwed on and will do well at Warwick.

Moonflower12 · 16/08/2018 14:49

Warwick is a very good uni and only 35 minutes from Birmingham on the train for an excellent night out!

< misses point of thread>

BagelGoesWalking · 16/08/2018 15:31

Don't know anything about Durham, other than their extremely high entry grades but Warwick was 2nd on DD's list. (She just preferred some of the modules/course structure at Southampton) Warwick Campus is fantastic and a great option. Very good reputation etc.

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