Year 12 - 2025/2026: Support Thread 2

[QueenMabby]

A new thread for us to keep chatting on!

Thank you, that’s really helpful, I hadn’t realised you could submit to meet the Cambridge deadline with less and then add them on later

I haven’t been through the process yet, from what I have seen so far it depends on the university and course, if it is oversubscribed then they will reject some who have the predicted grades. DS and I were looking at the courses he is interested in on the UCAS site, they have some good info on there on the most common and range of grades held by accepted students, and the offer rate. Eg for what he wants, Bristol is 40% and the most common grades are 3 A even though it lists the offer as AAA. But at Sheffield the offer rate is 95% and most common 3As with the same listed entry requirements as Bristol.

@Eccle80 that is really helpful! I didn't know you could find that info on UCAS. I'm going to go and have a snoop now!!! Thanks!

@Onvacation no problem, hope it helps! I thought it was useful. What is she wanting to study?

@Eccle80 she is thinking about PPE. That website is really useful for balancing aspiration and insurance options.

Yes the UCAS info is fabulous now. This info wasn’t available a couple of years ago. It’s very interesting to compare similar ranked universities and see if they accepted lower grades previously. Despite being historical date and no guarantees same will happen ago it’s still super useful!
Some one asked re rejections despite grades meeting requirements. - DD1 didn’t get Economics at LSE despite A*AA prediction a few years ago but when you now look on UCAS it’s something like 7% of applicants receive offers and the most common grades are lots of A stars! I think if she’d known that she’d have left that one off!
Re not choosing 5 straight away is fine for all courses not just medicine. DD2 put 4 down initially (December) as one of her choices said that they ‘may’ (rather than would) reduce grade offer for core maths. So she left the 5th empty incase they didn’t offer a grade reduction - then she’d have to find another back-up before end of Jan deadline. They did so that 5th space remained empty.

Ds2's wisdom teeth are hurting. My closest friends dd's are too.

@Oblomov25 how is DS and your friends DD ?

I had a report for DS1 and even more flummoxed than I was before.. working at grades of AABU … just how does that work - with A in maths and U in Further Maths .. don’t know whether to say well done or what the hell is going on 😂

Maybe the U is because they haven’t started the FM spec yet? Worth an enquiry to school I reckon.

dd got hers. All As. Apparently no-one she knows got more than that but grades were (allegedly) Astar to E. Dd got 99% in maths and i’m wondering what world the school is operating in where 99% isn’t an Astar!

Ha ha @QueenMabby 99% not an Astar 🙄 what nonsense! well done to your DD.
@waitingquietly yes, have they started the FM yet? Did he miss the exam? Sounds very strange! What gas DS said?

I am still only stressed about the driving test and the boyfriend and now work experience this summer!
Predictions are good at A star, A star, A Maths, B FM, A in the fifth which will be taken as AS in May I think. Maybe I need to start stressing about that and uni. Just still can’t face it! DD no longer wants to be an engineer nor do econ, we are now at law. Not sure for how long! I mean we started with Music and conservatoire in Year 10… maybe we will end in pre-med at this point! Or film studies. All bets on.

@NotDonna sadly he was definitely in the FM test … he says he understands in class and can do the work in class but not at home or in exams … very strange … i think he is frozen with panic and ‘I can’t do it itis

Should have said there is parents evening soon so I’ve book the FM teacher first ! ..🤦🏻‍♀️

Yes defo make a beeline for the FM teacher. I’m a bit suprised they’ve not raised this with you before now if he’s been a U for a while. At our school it’d have been flagged in the reports as cause for concern and I’m pretty sure I’d have had a call. Do they take AS levels or just end of years?

@waitingquietly - I think DDs school just predicted one grade lower in FM. They only just finished the standard maths syllabus so that is what they do at this stage. Also they predict based on how the kid performs vis a vis others in the year and historical data in their own school. The real mock predictions this summer will hopefully be more accurate for us. For FM, they seem to have chosen the modules which the school thinks best support Physics/Econ/Engineering and Compsci. As DD currently doesn’t want to do any of those there is really no point in her doing FM anymore but she wants to still, at this stage. If it all gets too much next year I will insist she drops it.

@waitingquietly - I think DDs school just predicted one grade lower in FM. They only just finished the standard maths syllabus so that is what they do at this stage. Also they predict based on how the kid performs vis a vis others in the year and historical data in their own school. The real mock predictions this summer will hopefully be more accurate for us. For FM, they seem to have chosen the modules which the school thinks best support Physics/Econ/Engineering and Compsci. As DD currently doesn’t want to do any of those there is really no point in her doing FM anymore but she wants to still, at this stage. If it all gets too much next year I will insist she drops it.

DS started getting U in FM tests - he ended up with a C at A-level in FM - an A in maths. Past papers helped massively with his condifence.

DD2 had odd FM U test - think it was topic mechanics which she hates as dislikes phyics thanks to secondary school. Teacher when we spoke said she seemed fine in class and with HW so was surpised at test results and suggested more past papers.

DH has a maths and phycis degree so he can sit down and try and help - though they don't always take advanage early enough and he struggles to rememember and explain a few things. Worst case for her she goes down to 3 A-levels - as in wales she will sit AS exams soon.

No current predictions here - though I know DD messed up her last history essay (and the teacher has lost the one before which is frustrating) which will I'm sure affect the end of term grades. She's got one week to go until the end of term, and predictably she'll be in orchestra for most of it so that's another load of lessons missed.

On the plus side, she took a flute diploma and grade 8 last week so that's two things out of the way, and she now has therefore has letters after her name. How long does it take before the thrill of being addressed as 'DD2 (ARSM)' subsides do you think?

@QueenMabby that's insane re 99% - I suspect the school just doesn't like A star predictions in year 12. How does she do it?!

DD’s A-level prediction determining exams are at the end of April, so very close! She is currently hoping for very strong predictions to match her high aspirations which include applying to a couple of Ivy League universities. Admissions rates to those are incredibly low, but if the predicted grades and the SAT scores fall into place we will pay for her to give them a go! It is a lot of hoping she gets the predictions she is aiming for for the next couple of months 🤦‍♀️

Ummmm. Pass! No idea!
dd has her end of year exams in the week before the May half term. She thinks those won’t have Astar options either which makes me wonder how the staff decide which children get Astar UCAS predictions. Dd is wanting to apply to Cambridge so will need them!
In chem she had a 20% difference on her two papers. 97% in paper 1 (this is usual for dd) and 77% in paper 2. Totally random! Her teacher was quite shocked! Dd non-plussed.
dd has applied to be a prefect for next year so fingers crossed there.

We already had a long scary email explaining it all, deadlines for UCAS draft statements, how predictions work etc etc I have printed it off on yellow paper and stuck it on the fridge! DD is a frequent fryer as regards the fridge so hopefully it will sink in by osmosis.
In bold, it is clearly stated that no amount of parental questioning will alter UCAS predictions…And a big warning that if you want US uni start thinking about it now and doing research and drafts. Then also a warning to attend lectures and all sorts so you have something to actually write on your statement. I reckon watching online stuff is completely fine.

Online stuff absolutely fine along with podcasts and magazines/books from the library. Doesn’t need to cost anything.
dd is entering a couple of (science) essay competitions. She’s applied for a work experience programme but not heard back on it yet.
At DD’s school if you’re not happy with your UCAS grades then you have to notify the school and then sit further assessments in September. No negotiations allowed!

@Araminta1003 Fridge frequent flyer!! Made me giggle. But 5 A levels???! I’m impressed she has chance to tear away from the books and get anywhere near the kitchen. Is she taking all 5 at AS? Dropping 5th but continuing with 4? 5 is such a lot to be juggling. I think DDs 4 is enough and pleased she drops to 3 after ASs. But it does sound like your DD is very capable.

@achangeofnameisasgoodasarest Well done to the ARSM - very cool having letters after your name esp at age 16/17!

Can’t believe they break up for Easter on Friday! This term has flown. No holidays for us as DD3 wants to study for her AS levels - fair. She’s also managed to get onto a two day online work experience thing for law over Easter so it’s a good job we aren’t away. She’s done a couple of ‘law insight’ online things but this seems more of a workshop type thing which was a bit more competitive from what I understand. Albeit online. She has also applied for some more weekend / summer jobs - that must be around 30 now. Plus a prefect application but so has the whole year by the sound of it and given she’s new I’m not sure of her chances but we’ll see. 🤞🏼
I do fancy a holiday! I need some sun and my webbed feet to return to normal.

@NotDonna - DD is only doing 5 A levels in Year 12, if you are doing FM, is the norm in DD’s Sixth Form. They are all doing it and will take one as AS and then drop it. The other kids (those not doing FM) are still doing 4 A levels plus an EPQ so will then drop to 3 after their AS in May/June and their EPQ is already done by April of year 12. It is a competitive grammar school. DD is more average in her school. Some of them are scarily bright inventing machines and top in the international Maths etc. They do full interviews to become prefects and head of societies. It is interesting but I can now understand why so many of them do end up at Imperial/LSE or Oxford or Cambridge.
It is just a very high standard both on entry and once there and I reckon some of those London comprehensives with top Oxbridge rates must be much the same.
DD is capable in theory but does not have that kind of focus (or yet). She is a musical creative child primarily and very sociable. Some of her friends who have top GCSE grades, top extracurriculars (county sports/national youth orchestra type thing) are just scarily driven and put together, know exactly what they are aiming for and seem to manage about 35 hours of stuff in a normal day. DD is not like that. She kind of floats along with it all.
We are going on holiday to stay with family, hoping some revision happens somehow. Cousins are similar age and also have exams.

We’re getting a week away at Easter. No AS exams for us thank goodness although dd will need to start revision for her May exams. It’ll be our first holiday away without ds who is heading back to uni early for some sports stuff. Only a city break but somewhere a bit warmer and I can’t wait!