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Higher education

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Original poster

Unexpected A level results, not sure about way forward

96 replies

Itisadifficulttime · 19/08/2023 10:36

A bit of advice please. DD has always been exceptionally bright through primary and secondary school. She had As across the board in GCSEs.

DD was predicted A* in all her A level subjects. She got DDCC. She lost her firm and insurance choices for software engineering.

We went to clearing and got computer science with foundation year.

But my family think it's better she resit the exams, that she will have those grades on her CV for life and it will affect her obtaining a job in the future.

My questions...

Would the A level results affect her getting a job on graduation? I thought getting her Computer Science with foundation year (with the opportunity to do software in year 2/3) was a really good option.

If she is too resit, how do we go about it? Her school would not let her resit there. Does she go back to school and attend classes everyday or just register with a college and go there to sit the exams next year?

OP posts:
ClimbingThroughTheWindow · 19/08/2023 11:17

Does the computer science degree allow her to move forward into whatever she wants to do afterwards? If yes, I’d take the degree course and move on. There’s no guarantee that she’ll do better if she resits and with the mess that is results this year, who knows where things will be next year. Also, mentally, I think it’s best to move forward and I think that is going to uni.

Can she speak to a careers advisor?

tribpot · 19/08/2023 11:18

I would say for a career in software engineering (assuming that's what she wants to do) the A level grades will be far less important than getting good industry experience as part of a degree (or even instead of a degree, but for a good grounding in architecture and so on she should pursue a degree).

How similar is the course to what she wanted to study? Do the university offer software engineering, could she potentially transfer later on? Would she look at apprenticeships so she can get some real experience?

Most importantly, is this what she wants to do? Like really wants, rather than clutching at straws? It could be either. If she wanted to resit at least some of the A levels (certainly not all 4) would she say so?

ArcticSkewer · 19/08/2023 11:19

If she is not good at 'all or nothing' exams and that's why she failed so catastrophically then I would keep moving forward - degree then maybe postgrad.
If there's another reason for her A level grades that wouldn't happen again then maybe a resit, but only if it's going to get her where she wants to be but can't otherwise get to.

ArcticSkewer · 19/08/2023 11:20

btw you say the results are unexpected ... did she really not realise she had done so badly?

caringcarer · 19/08/2023 11:39

My DD got a really poor grade in one subject as was gutted. She got a C but was predicted an A. She still got accepted on her first choice because she did better than predicted on her other 2 subjects. She was still upset about one subject though. She went off to Uni but asked her school if she could just go in to resit the one exam following summer. They agreed and we paid for her exam entry fee. She got an A*. Could your DD go off on the uni course, then once she's completed her first year resit next summer?

Mrsttcno1 · 19/08/2023 11:43

If there is a way she can re-sit the last year somewhere and re take the exams next year I would advise she does that, because contrary to what others may say A Levels do still matter once you have a degree. I graduated in 2020 (law degree) and have still been asked for my A Levels when applying for jobs, and my best friend was at uni at the same time (doing primary education), she got CDD in A Levels, only got in through clearing to a uni she didn’t choose and still hasn’t managed to find a teaching position, the feedback she is given is that whenever it comes down to 2 candidates with the same degree, both the same level, performing the same in interview, the A Levels are then looked at and she always falls short.

but as an aside, it would be worth checking that her first choice uni would accept resits, some uni’s don’t.

Also maybe worth her having a think about whether university is even the right move for her, A Levels are difficult but University degrees (at least in my experience) are a LOT harder and it’s an expensive mistake to make to take out student loans only to never obtain a degree/obtain a third class etc

seratoninmoonbeams · 19/08/2023 11:43

Moredarkchocolateplease · 19/08/2023 10:51

I'm an exams officer.

Hopefully your DD has requested free copies of her papers and her teachers are looking at them to see how far she was from grade boundaries, pending a priority review of results?

My sister did this with my niece and two of the grades were increased by one level 😮

Windinmyhair · 19/08/2023 11:47

if she can achieve the higher grades and therefore the better uni course, I'd get her to resit (which is essentially the same as the foundation year) and then try for a better uni course. Even if she gets the same type of course without the foundation year, she will be no worse off.

icanbewhatiwant · 19/08/2023 11:48

Some universities don't accept re sits, so do check that first. If you apply for a job and you have a degree, do they really ask for A level grades too? I can see that they might ask English and maths gcse grade. But not sure they'd ask actual grade at A level. Perhaps they might do for law and similar jobs. I think I'd be encouraging the foundation year option. It will be an extra year either way.

ASoapImpressionOfHisWifeWhichHeAte · 19/08/2023 11:48

IVFfirsttimer91 · 19/08/2023 10:43

A levels aren’t really of consequence after university to be honest. If she’s happy with the course she is on then I would leave it :)

This. Just go to uni and do the course she's got on to.

But with grades that wildly different from what she was predicted I would be asking the school some very serious questions/asking for a remark if she was borderline in any of them (am a teacher, would expect a parent to do this too).

Lucyintheskywithadiamond · 19/08/2023 11:49

I would recommend the foundation course rather than resitting A levels. A few of DC friends resat A levels and they found it very hard in the sense of seeing their friends heading off to uni a whilst they returned to the 6th form. The degree will be what matters on her CV.

ThereIsOnlyOne · 19/08/2023 11:50

What have the school said? a) about the surprise results and b) suggested she do about it?

RockGirl · 19/08/2023 11:50

anonforthis87 · 19/08/2023 11:16

I am in consulting and A-level grades or local equivalent or considered for hiring unfortunately, especially at junior level. Even after a PhD I was asked for my school transcript. I don't agree with this but it is what it is!

CS is not like this though because of the plethora of jobs available. Work experience is more important. A placement year makes a big difference.

YoDood · 19/08/2023 11:51

I am involved in graduate recruitment for lawyers and we absolutely look at A levels. Grades like those would unfortunately block her path to a legal career with a larger firm and I suspect other professions.

Alicenwonderland · 19/08/2023 11:52

There is a really good Facebook group called what I wish I knew about university. It's a really great place to ask all Uni related questions, lots of really knowledgeable members and a very active group. This seems sadly incredibly common with this years results, there are reasons for the drop, it goes way over my head but it has to do with curves and Covid! There are many others in the exact same situation. If you're on Facebook I'd highly recommend joining this group, it's been very helpful for me and my DS who is at Uni.

Travelban · 19/08/2023 11:52

Both DH and I are in IT and have been to umpteen interviews over a long career and I cam honestly say neither of us have ever been asked about a levels or even degree classification. Ever!

Might be the big 4 ask for them or law but there are thousands of other global.companies operating in the UK , no need to work for a big4.

cestlavielife · 19/08/2023 11:53

Take the clearing place and move on
F8cus on doing well and no one will care what her A level results were in 4 yrs time

cestlavielife · 19/08/2023 11:54

YoDood · 19/08/2023 11:51

I am involved in graduate recruitment for lawyers and we absolutely look at A levels. Grades like those would unfortunately block her path to a legal career with a larger firm and I suspect other professions.

She s going into software engineering ....

flotsomandjetsome · 19/08/2023 11:58

DN has just started his placement year at uni - which is effectively a normal job on a fixed 12 month contract.

I clearly cannot vouch for all companies, but he said nowhere on the application did they ask for his A level grades. All they wanted were his marks for his first two years of his uni course.

I'm not saying this is usual, but I do think as soon as you are into the next level of education, the previous levels become somewhat irrelevant.

PhotoDad · 19/08/2023 12:01

From previous threads, it mainly seems to be law/finance/consulting that care about A-levels. With tech stuff, experience and aptitude tests seem to be far more important.

StoatofDisarray · 19/08/2023 12:04

I'd get her to resit so she can get into the best possible place. It doesn't matter what A levels you got once you get into a good uni.

NooNoo2 · 19/08/2023 12:07

Look at degree apprenticeships - IBM, capgemini etc…degree whilst working? Great option. They have brilliant programmes and great success stories

cestlavielife · 19/08/2023 12:10

What does,she want?? move on move up move forward

Or "waste" a year resitting , for what purpose?
Ignore family
It s what she wants you need to support

JocelynBurnell · 19/08/2023 12:14

PhotoDad · 19/08/2023 12:01

From previous threads, it mainly seems to be law/finance/consulting that care about A-levels. With tech stuff, experience and aptitude tests seem to be far more important.

I agree.

ladyvivienne · 19/08/2023 12:14

I would be furious with school/college for a start off. How can you predict an A* and then get those grades? I don't think the GCSES are relevant to be honest, most kids get grade A's these days - 25%+ in a lot of subjects.

Move on. No one has ever ever asked me my A Level grades - I've always just put 3 A levels in x x x on my CV. No one cares once you've got your degree and beyond.