Final year a-levels

[theyoungvisiter]

Can anyone give me a dummy's guide to rough timings for the second year of A-levels, in terms of course work deadlines and final exams?

In my day [old crone emoticon] you had mocks in the winter, then final exams around May-ish, but I'm sure that's all changed. How does it work now?

bump?

last bump! [sniff]

No-one with A-level kids?

Very similar to y12. Modules in january and may/June. Not all schools do mocks as many use January module results for this purpose. Coursework final deadline any time now. Does that answer your question? I can go into more detail if necessary.

Oh fantastic thank you - that's perfect.

So between, say, March and May there would be no coursework due in, only exam revision?

it probably depends on subjects but DS2 had coursework in History which went in before Christmas, then modular exams in Politics & Economics which were in January. Now there are only the final modular exams to come in May/June (haven't seen exam timetable yet) so yes, no deadlines between January & late May/June IME

The year is in 2 semesters, although they don't seem to use that word; first half of syllabus is covered Sept-mid Jan, then second half (all new stuff) mid-Jan to mid-May.

gawd - why do they keep changing it?!

Thank you very much - v useful. (It's for something I'm writing - I just don't want it to be full of total howlers).

Why indeed?

DS1's A levels were 5 years ago, he had no coursework IIRC & I don't think he even had modular exams in January (can't remember)(tiny brian)

I'm making a BIG assumption about the semesters though - it's certainly how DS2's subjects have been organised, & it makes sense to me that all subjects should start on new material after the Jan exams, but I don't know...

is tiny brian your nickname for ds?!

Don't worry - I shan't go into too much detail. It will all be suitably hazy, just there are some things I can't skate over.

it is now

(he'll be thrilled)

Coursework will be due in, in early May for some subjects.

oh really Hat? What kind of subjects?

do these subjects not have summer exams, hat? that would make sense - fits in with the Dec/Jan coursework/exam timetable DS2 had.

Some subjects only have coursework moderation in the summer, which ones depend on the exam board but definitely for art, music, D&T, dance etc. The exam board deadline for most a-level coursework is 15th May, but schools/colleges will almost certainly have internal deadlines sooner as they have to mark the work before it goes off to the moderator.

DD1 has been doing Physics coursework over the past couple of weeks - they waited till after the January modules to start it. Looks like it depends on the subject (which isn't really helpful for you sadly).

hmm... ok - looks like almost anything could be right depending on your particular subject and exam board! How complicated.

If your DS/DD says they are still doing coursework after the end of April, I would be worrying.
Exams run from second week of May to mid-end of June.

Does your school have a website? Some schools put key dates like this on their website, particularly the exam dates.

Coursework would normally well out of the way before summer exams so they can focus on that.

Hth

Oh my DS1 is only 4 so I would be more than worrying if he told me he had coursework due in after April

It's for something I'm writing and I don't have any handy friends with kids the right age.

My old school still doesn't do modules in Jan unless they're AS resits

My music coursework was due last day of term before Easter. We also had open book exams which were sort of coursework before the actual exams started. I was under the old modular system though.