A level results disaster

[LadySadMum]

DS was predicted CDD which was low and based on not doing much work in year 12. However he really started working much better in year 13 and seemed to be getting better marks in his results for mocks and class tests.

So we were hopeful that he would get better than the predicted grades. He seemed happy after each exam, completed all the questions. There were a few questions that he said were hard but this is normal, right?

Anyway he got CEU. Obviously he missed his firm and insurance but it’s not even enough for any foundation courses.

The C is fine and the E was in his worst subject so can understand that. But the U is unexpected and I feel it can’t be right as he wasn’t that bad at it!

We’ve asked for a review to make sure all the questions were marked correctly and if it changes to an E that would get him onto a foundation degree. We made a mistake as we didn’t ask for it at the time (we were shocked and didnt think to ask) and by the time we contacted the school again they had left.

The exam officer is not available until next Wednesday now so it’s an agonising wait.

The worst thing is we’ve had to lie to everyone that everything is OK and he’s been accepted into uni. His grandad is ill and would be devastated if we said he failed. We also don’t want to navigate all their questions and worries until we’ve worked out the next steps ourselves.

So now we’re getting congratulation messages from all the family and his uncle is also visiting later today, probably with a present. It’s all so so awful.

Yes we have established this.

Well, DS did a creative course at NTU and had no exams.

UA92 that I posted above doesn't do exams for any courses. It's got a very particular approach that differs from traditional unis, very linked with industry.

It's not really that simple is it? There aren't unlimited trainee jobs/apprenticeships for all the trades we're apparently so desperate to send our kids into because its a "guaranteed job"

My DS got his A/S level results and they were shit... We have recalled the Sociology exam papers because he simultaneously got an A for one paper and a U just two days later... He did about the same work for both... He's starting again doing Year 12 I think but he got his arse handed to him and got the results he deserved.. it's a first for him so it was probably a necessary humbling. His Dad wants him to go to Uni, he wants them all to go but I'm not so sure, certainly not in a couple of years unless his attitude changes massively. He's just too young to really appreciate what it's all about. And as for the OP's DS, if his highest mark is a C in the subject he wants to pursue as a career you might want to encourage him to find another way. Onward and upward to another DS getting GCSE results next week.

can people stop saying yhe boy failed . C and E are passes and not much different to his predicted.He can be proud. The U is a bit of a shock but shit happens.

Well done to your son. Yes the stats bear this out on many foundation courses apparently - you can ask universities how their foundation route results compare.

Yes, and I simply asked - can you given any examples of these non exam focussed degrees! @concertinacornflake

Accruing as much as £40k debt and no qualification is not that common an outcome. Most people if struggling do not continue long, and sees the biggest number of students drop out.

A further group of students leave after year 1 (likelihood declines each year), a small number pass without honours and some get a third. The vast bulk get a 2:2 or higher.

Yes people can always go later, and a percentage always have, and that can be a good decision for those who are undecided. There's a bit of a risk trade off there as mature students are statistically more likely to drop out.

Was it a degree?

My Dd's degree had no exams after the first year ones (which did not count, just needed to be passed). She collapses in exams so she chose coursework modules. English at Leicester but for sure that's just one example.

What is the weighting given to coursework vs exams

If you need specific course information start looking on UCAS, then go to specific courses and see how they each assess.

I don’t. But if someone suggests a non exam focussed degree, it would indicate they have experience of one or at least aware of one. So to ask for an example of just one such course seems reasonable.

What is the weighting given to coursework vs exams
This question is not very clear, but a student does a number of credits per year, usually 120, and a module is usually 10 or 20, and within a module it could be all exam, some exam + some coursework, or all coursework.

Some degrees can be graded 100% on coursework depending on assessment method of modules taken in years 2 and 3, as in the Leicester example.

Ok so… what degrees can be 100% marked on coursework?

Oh right. I think it would be reasonable for you to look it up yourself if you want more detail. Fortunately you now have an example from Clary above.

Right, so not one single example. You obviously know but seem unwilling to list one single undergrad degree that is not exam based despite suggesting this. Ok

My DD did her degree at Southampton and deliberately excluded every module that was assessed as an exam as she is dyslexic and autistic. Her course wasn’t advertised as assessment only. She had to work exceptionally hard and this was a very time consuming route especially with her issues - but she pulled off a first and has brought that diligence to an excellent grad scheme job where she is flying. She graduated in 2023 so maybe since AI there are now less assessed options. My other DD is ADHD and does brilliantly in exams - less so on projects, dissertations.

I'm not sure I understand the question? All the modules she chose were assessed via extended essays rather than an exam.

She could have chosen some exam-based modules but preferred this assessment route. It's not that unusual AFAIK. She got a first btw.

Yes like @Claregalway's dd, mine had to do a lot of work. Obvs the standard for an assessed essay vs an exam is higher. Also longer - say a 4,000 word essay vs a two hour exam with a 2,000 word task.

My ds is the other way; he does much better in a pressured exam than when he has more time to research.

ETA doing a degree based mostly or all on CW requires a lot of self motivation and ability to self study.

Tell people he has decided to defer to spend time with Grandad.

Crap A Levels are not the end of the world and the 'U' means he can still get some funding.

Did he feel like the exams went OK? If so it could be a clerical error (e.g. they only used the marks from one paper). I think it's poor of the school not to have anyone available until next Wednesday though.

Was it a degree out of interest?

Literally all I’ve been asking is for an example of one degree!

I don’t doubt their existence! 😆 I’ve just been asking for an example… one!