Help- how do you retake AQA Computer Science Alevel?

[Gr3yStar]

Hi
My son was predicted A at Alevel with an A at GCSE and further evidence of him being a gifted coder outside of school. Unfortunately he was very unwell during his Alevels following a life changing event . He got a B in the course work but was not in a good place during the exams and got a D. Think he literally just showed up. He is happily in a much better place now and planning his future starting with retaking his Alevels. Computer Science which he wants seems to be the tricky one to sort.He’d like to redo it in a year. How?

I agree but it would be hard to decide who can or cant retake and someone would have to pay for it.

It is possible to have one additional year. We have a number of students who do a year 14, for various reasons.

I know OP said AQA. You just said “CS is unlikely to be available to private candidates.” You didn’t say AQA CS. I was pointing out CS as a subject is available to private candidates via other boards.

Yes I’ve seen it before too. It’s just not widely publicised.

It used to be quite common for colleges to offer resit years.

We're an 11-18 school.

We don't make a big song and dance about it, but some students every year either restart y12 or stay another year after y13. Sometimes, we drive that; sometimes, they do.

A current y13 has just decided to do an additional year to spread the exam load.

That’s great it’s an option. My dc sixth form offers it too.

Where I work we only offer 2 year potions.

Yes but I think you’re only allowed 1 extra year. He’s had that. He was out of school ill bed bound for a year after GCSEs. Then started his Alevels when still ill. Did them in 2 years but probably shouldn’t have. Wasn’t ready or well enough to retake last year.

Access is a viable option or contact unis for advice. They will be helpful.

I think it's because most students would just go on to do a foundation course. Really resits are aimed at GCSE, maths and English while the do another course at college.

I think your best bet is to contact the exam board.

But another look at possible foundation course, I'm surprised he can't find one.

The safeguarding is an excuse college are using.
Do they offer any adult provision like Access courses?

I realise that you trying hard to find a way for your ds to achieve what he wants.

What I would suggest is looking at all the options available then assess each one. Think long term. Which option is available? Which option is best chance of success?

The options I’d suggest are:
contacting uni admissions see what they suggest.
Access courses (Maths, apply for funding via loan)
Foundation /year 0 eg the one at Durham uni in Economics
External candidate entry for A level switching out computer science for an alternative subject.

Then you can compare all
of these options.

Thankyou so much.

The Durham foundations are for PP kids . When you look at the criteria for most good foundations they are with for foreign students or PP( over coming financial hardship or postcode). I didn’t believe him until I started looking too.

In our area the Access( think it’s business) isn’t that great and he’s worried he won’t be able to get in anywhere good ( considering the student debt he’ll end up with he feels it needs to be worth it) even if he could take one having got some Alevels.

But yes when you break it down like that it does seem as if thoroughly going through these 3 options is what we need to do.

It just feels Alevel retakes should be a bit easier to sort. That said compared to what he has been through it’s nothing and we should be grateful he is in a place he wants to do retakes. 😊

over 21 is a criteria:

Mature studentsTo meet this criteria you will need to be 21 years of age or over at the start of your Foundation course.

Ask them directly.

https://www.durham.ac.uk/departments/centres/academic-development/study/foundation/eligibility/

My DD did the access and topped it up with sitting an a level as a private candidate.

State funding for education only funds if you haven't already got the qualification. So there is an extra year available at level 3/ a levels but most people use it to redo year 12 or year 13.

Actual retakes are usually either study at home and enter for exam only or go somewhere like MPW which costs an arm and a leg.

When we were looking at it, my DD did a shorter hours course to get her back into studying. She found that very tiring in its own right and it helped her be ready for the access course.

Obviously I don't know how recovered your son is but it's worth thinking about getting him back into education gradually as if you have been out of it for some time due to illness it can be demanding.

Oh wow we didn’t realise, that might open up some options.

That’s really helpful to know, thankyou.

As just mentioned an Access to business plus A le el maths as a private candidate.

Ask the unis your son is interested which options is their preferred option.

My advice to students is always check the info out for yourself.

Well he rang AQA and they don’t allow CS retakes under any circumstances and his old college don’t allow ex students to use it as an exam centre.

At least he knows on that score. He’s currently going through all the other options.

Ok least he knows for sure now.

He says there aren’t actually many foundation courses , many are for PP type students or at unis he’s not sure he’d want to pay all the money for or not in the subjects he’s interested in.

Ok there are LOADS of degrees with FY that are not for PP students. He could also consider doing a foundation year somewhere close to home while he continues to recover, then uses the FY as the entry qual to a more elite degree elsewhere.

Contact his old school / college and ask if he can do the resit with them.

If he has already taken the exam once he should be OK just working through the text book Bob Reeves text book is the one I would recommend. He has also written some work books.

Old college have said they don’t do any resits for anything. And AQA said they don’t do resits for C/S so going to have to switch to CAIE but says syllabus looks similar. Will look into Bob Reeves.

Bob Reeves is the AQA book, I don't know if he has done books for other exam boards.

He might have to sit the exam as a private candidate then.

Sorry posted too soon.

You could look in to any home educators groups, they have the same problem with finding a place to sit exams.

There really aren’t loads of degrees with foundation years in what he wants to do at unis he is aspiring to that he fits the criteria for. I’m guessing that’s why the Durham one has 10 applicants per place. But yes doing a foundation year and switching could be another option if unis he is aspiring to would take that. The whole point of him wanting to do retakes though was to attain what he should have got so he has a bigger choice as regards unis and courses. He is driving this.