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Higher education

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Original poster

Disappointed with A levels. What are the options?

59 replies

lovemyboyz247 · 02/09/2024 10:27

If a teen got 3 D’s for his A levels and wants to retake just two of them, is it worth it?

I know the grades are not the best, but I strongly feel that there are other options to consider rather than retakes and of course there is no guarantee that the grades will go up and they will still have the one D for the subject they don’t retake.

Do others agree with me or am I missing something here?

OP posts:
Milsonophonia · 02/09/2024 13:09

They didn't get on with one of their teachers throughout their sixth form, struggled in that subject and then spent a lot of their own time trying to self teach themselves, this resulted in them not being able to give as much time to the other two subjects, plus a major family issue during the exam period caused them to totally lose it

So will they be able to motivate themselves to teach themselves for the retakes?

Do you think in your heart of hearts what you've said is true, but do you think they are looking for excuses? I know that sounds harsh but it's important to know that to know if retakes are worth it?

My dc worked for 8 hours a day revising for 4 months. Could yours do that?

Milsonophonia · 02/09/2024 13:11

CraigBrown · 02/09/2024 13:06

What were his a level subjects and what uni courses would he consider?

Yeah subjects are relevant, if they were chemistry physics and biology then that's different to RS, business and anything else with a coursework component (nothing against those subjects!)

Original poster
lovemyboyz247 · 02/09/2024 13:13

Madmoomoo · 02/09/2024 13:01

My son really messed up his A Levels, he took 3 years and came out with a C and two E’s. I’ve been worrying about him for so long because he had no direction, didn’t want to go to university, didn’t want to travel. He had a part time job but doesn’t want for anything so had absolutely no drive to do much at all.

At the beginning of the summer I sat down with him and went through all his options from minimum wage jobs, armed forces, apprenticeships, university, professional qualifications. Initially he decided on one of the armed forces. He did the CBAT but had to spend the night on a base, well that was enough to put him right off! He passed the CBAT but decided that wasn’t for him.

To cut a long story short he applied for various trainee and apprenticeship roles. His extracurricular activities are quite interesting and he got a number of interviews, he is a nice person with a fun personality and that seemed to really work in his favour. He is due to start a fantastic apprenticeship in a couple of weeks and will be earning 20k plus! The career path is excellent. I just hope that he puts some real effort in because he can be so lazy laid back.

so instead of going to uni and creating a huge debt, he’ll be working and saving.

Good luck

Thank you for sharing.

I'm so pleased for your son and well done to him for finding his feet.

Wishing him all the best for his next chapter.

OP posts:
Original poster
lovemyboyz247 · 02/09/2024 13:16

Subjects he is looking to retake are politics and business studies.

I don't think he can go it alone. He will need to go to a private college so he has the teacher support/pastoral care

OP posts:
Milsonophonia · 02/09/2024 13:18

If you can throw money at it then do the private college PLUS a tutor at home online once a week per subject.

But bear in mind he won't get any of that at uni...

NyeRobey · 02/09/2024 13:21

What has he learned?

It sounds like he might be a bit intransigent. That will be a barrier unless he recognises it. Family events were beyond his control of course but deciding to self teach an A level because he didn't get on with the teacher sounds...arrogant? Then being intransigent on his options now - did he learn anything from what happened? To me that would be the really important take forward from this. That sometimes his plan isn't the best plan. Until he has accepted and acknowledged this I would be a bit anxious about any grand scheme ahead of him.

Original poster
lovemyboyz247 · 02/09/2024 14:12

NyeRobey · 02/09/2024 13:21

What has he learned?

It sounds like he might be a bit intransigent. That will be a barrier unless he recognises it. Family events were beyond his control of course but deciding to self teach an A level because he didn't get on with the teacher sounds...arrogant? Then being intransigent on his options now - did he learn anything from what happened? To me that would be the really important take forward from this. That sometimes his plan isn't the best plan. Until he has accepted and acknowledged this I would be a bit anxious about any grand scheme ahead of him.

He wasn't being awkward while he was studying. The teacher was quite uninterested and therefore he didn't learn much in that subject and had to do lots of research himself. This was time-consuming and his other subjects suffered as a result.

I do feel he is being stubborn now though and needs to be more open minded about the various options available to him before those doors close on him too

OP posts:
NyeRobey · 02/09/2024 14:21

How did the rest of his class do? Did they all fail?

LIZS · 02/09/2024 14:27

Not much point taking just two and it won't be funded. Maybe a level 3 at college or apprenticeship? Or just find a job where they can be trained. Tbh term is already starting at colleges so options may be limited.

LIZS · 02/09/2024 14:28

What was the apprenticeship he missed out on, would they advise him of a different route?

Prawncow · 02/09/2024 14:29

I think he needs to look at what he wants to do and find a different route towards it. Maybe something more modular? The only point in resits is if higher resit grades would allow him to access a course or apprenticeship that he really wants to do. Would they? Do they accept resits?

DDuDDUDDU · 02/09/2024 14:36

NC'ed for this.

OP my husband got DDE for his A-levels (8 years ago). He's autistic and never really suited exams but was made to do them anyway, had a lot of MH issues so he did well to even pass.

Got an unconditional offer for a uni (ex-poly) based on an open day test, got onto a big grad scheme and is now earning well! He got a First in an integrated master's degree nobody cares about A-levels.

Employers usually want A-C maths and English GCSE, A-levels might be considered but a good degree or work experience overrides that. It's not worth re-sitting

Milsonophonia · 02/09/2024 14:39

Dds teacher in one subject was absolutely awful (he's now left), and the other wasn't much better. She bought revision guides and learnt the subject herself and got an A. BUT she was very hard on her own marking- didn't think oh well that was a bit wrong, but I'll give myself a mark for it - she was very harsh on herself.

I'm in no way suggesting she is in any way special, but she absolutely slogged her guts out to get an A.

I've always said not liking a teacher is no excuse not to do well. After all the teacher isn't going to be marking your exams so if they don't like you either it's irrelevant

Milsonophonia · 02/09/2024 14:41

Tbf he probably would have got into somewhere like Oxford Brookes in clearing - that's probably what I would have suggested.

Original poster
lovemyboyz247 · 02/09/2024 15:17

Thank you all for your guidance and support. It has helped. I have one last question.

He is determined to retake two A levels he's already studied using a distance learning platform (as he is trying to support his family while they go through a difficult time and feels this will give him more flexibility if needed) He still has all his books and revision notes so he feels he can do it if he fully focuses on them. He has asked me/Mumsnet if they can suggest a subject that can be studied in one year for him to find his final subject.

Any idea if an A level can be learnt from scratch in one year? He said he will then put a plan into place, find tutors for each subject and start this week. He said even if he doesn't do well, he will think he has given it his best shot and worst case scenario he will be in the same position as he is now in a year's time.

He seems really focused on this and is willing to fund it all himself and has said he needs to do this for himself. I think the past few months have been very difficult for him and he's trying to block that out and is using fitness and education to focus on to get through this

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated

OP posts:
DoctorDoctor · 02/09/2024 15:24

titchy · 02/09/2024 11:28

If they do a FY at one uni then wanted to continue elsewhere then yes they could apply in the normal way through UCAS. If accepted it would be based on getting a good grade in the FY. Obvs this takes a year of extra loan though.

Tbh repeating year 13 isn't a bad option, neither is doing an FY. In ten years time none of this will matter. It's only a year!

No, many foundation year courses don't work this way. You are more often effectively starting a four year course in the subject with a beginning starter year to get you up standard. Look at them very carefully and don't assume he'll be able to transfer somewhere else after one year. He'd be better looking for somewhere now he could be happy and doing the whole degree there. Clearing is a buyer's market this year so it's a good option to look for this.

DoctorDoctor · 02/09/2024 15:30

lovemyboyz247 · 02/09/2024 15:17

Thank you all for your guidance and support. It has helped. I have one last question.

He is determined to retake two A levels he's already studied using a distance learning platform (as he is trying to support his family while they go through a difficult time and feels this will give him more flexibility if needed) He still has all his books and revision notes so he feels he can do it if he fully focuses on them. He has asked me/Mumsnet if they can suggest a subject that can be studied in one year for him to find his final subject.

Any idea if an A level can be learnt from scratch in one year? He said he will then put a plan into place, find tutors for each subject and start this week. He said even if he doesn't do well, he will think he has given it his best shot and worst case scenario he will be in the same position as he is now in a year's time.

He seems really focused on this and is willing to fund it all himself and has said he needs to do this for himself. I think the past few months have been very difficult for him and he's trying to block that out and is using fitness and education to focus on to get through this

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated

I wouldn't advise starting something new and doing it without formal teaching in one year only, unless there was concrete evidence your son had the abilities to do this. Sorry but his current performance doesn't suggest he could do this alongside resitting the other two on his own. Why does he want to do a new subject? Why not just the two resits?

I really would suggest he looks at Clearing. There will be plenty for politics and business studies related courses this year, possibly with foundation.

Milsonophonia · 02/09/2024 16:11

lovemyboyz247 · 02/09/2024 15:17

Thank you all for your guidance and support. It has helped. I have one last question.

He is determined to retake two A levels he's already studied using a distance learning platform (as he is trying to support his family while they go through a difficult time and feels this will give him more flexibility if needed) He still has all his books and revision notes so he feels he can do it if he fully focuses on them. He has asked me/Mumsnet if they can suggest a subject that can be studied in one year for him to find his final subject.

Any idea if an A level can be learnt from scratch in one year? He said he will then put a plan into place, find tutors for each subject and start this week. He said even if he doesn't do well, he will think he has given it his best shot and worst case scenario he will be in the same position as he is now in a year's time.

He seems really focused on this and is willing to fund it all himself and has said he needs to do this for himself. I think the past few months have been very difficult for him and he's trying to block that out and is using fitness and education to focus on to get through this

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated

Don't encourage him to do this OP. He sounds as though he's panicking.

Honestly he could have got into a uni with Ddd to do politics somewhere.

Milsonophonia · 02/09/2024 16:13

Or at least just retake two and leave the other one at a D

Milsonophonia · 02/09/2024 16:14

Where would he like to go?

Original poster
lovemyboyz247 · 02/09/2024 17:30

Milsonophonia · 02/09/2024 16:14

Where would he like to go?

He's trying his best to get on to the apprenticeship that has been deferred for a year.

From a recommendation posted previously, I think he should try to retake two that he's already familiar and try to get the best possible grade rather than trying to learn a new subject from scratch.

I will encourage this

OP posts:
Original poster
lovemyboyz247 · 02/09/2024 17:32

I agree that he can get something with DDD, he doesn't see those options for the moment.

Just to be clear, this is not my child. This is my friends son who I am trying to help out while she is totally lost right now. She isn't able to help her son and I have stepped up to help him and her family

OP posts:
Twoshoesnewshoes · 02/09/2024 17:40

BBD is going to be so much more useful than DDD, for FY or work. If your DC is focusing on resitting the two it sounds like it’s worth a try, ideally at the private college.

Rory17384949 · 02/09/2024 17:42

lovemyboyz247 · 02/09/2024 15:17

Thank you all for your guidance and support. It has helped. I have one last question.

He is determined to retake two A levels he's already studied using a distance learning platform (as he is trying to support his family while they go through a difficult time and feels this will give him more flexibility if needed) He still has all his books and revision notes so he feels he can do it if he fully focuses on them. He has asked me/Mumsnet if they can suggest a subject that can be studied in one year for him to find his final subject.

Any idea if an A level can be learnt from scratch in one year? He said he will then put a plan into place, find tutors for each subject and start this week. He said even if he doesn't do well, he will think he has given it his best shot and worst case scenario he will be in the same position as he is now in a year's time.

He seems really focused on this and is willing to fund it all himself and has said he needs to do this for himself. I think the past few months have been very difficult for him and he's trying to block that out and is using fitness and education to focus on to get through this

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated

Sorry but this sounds like a bad idea.
I really think clearing is his best option. Or taking a year out to earn some money and think about his next move - he could apply to uni for next September with 3Ds

Original poster
lovemyboyz247 · 02/09/2024 17:55

Thank you all. I agree that this is a bad idea.

I will share this with him tomorrow.

He's not my child but he fair to him, he's a great kid. He has worked hard to help his family and work with the opportunities that have been given to him. He loves his mum and siblings and has tried to have a relationship with his dad who is an alcoholic and emotional and physical abuser.

I want him to have the best opportunity possible because he deserves a chance in life.

I really hope whatever he chooses to do,
he can give it his best shot

OP posts: