AS mocks results - not good!

[mindgone]

My DS got 3 of his AS mocks results today, and they're really not what we were expecting. He got 2 Ds and a C. I was just wondering if anyone has any advice or words of reassurance? He worked really hard, and is thinking of applying to do pharmacy. Not sure if that is out of the window now, or have other's DCs done similarly, then pulled it back? Has anyone tried revision courses, and are they any good? Or should I just speak to his school and ask what further help they can offer? Any advice gratefully received, thanks.

this doesn't sound right - the 'real' module results are out on Thursday (the January exams) so why are the mock results given today?

In terms of 'normal' mocks; we normally expect at least 1 grade increase from the mocks as this is a case of a run through so students learn what to expect, understand the extra revision needed unlike GCSEs. What were his GCSE results? What are his given targets? Has he been revising/studying/extra reading? A lot of the time, year 12 students get a huge shock as to the jump from GCSEs to A levels

Thanks for responding. He didn't do modules in Jan, he has the whole exams in the summer. For his GCSEs he got 6As and 4Bs which was also a shock and disappointment, was realistically expecting a few stars! His targets are Bs but his personal ones are As. Yes, he has been studying and revising hard, that's why it's been a big shock. The poor thing came home and cried his eyes out! Is wondering what's the point in all the work without the results to match! He's doing maths, economics, biology and chemistry. Haven't got the chemistry result yet. This parenting lark is so bloody hard!

did he do mocks instead of January modules then? I think it's surprising he hadn't realised he hadn't done very well - usually you can tell with an exam if you know the answers or not, but there are some exceptions: History papers seem to catch a lot of people unawares - I know a lot of children get very unexpectedly low results on the source test paper and then manage to improve dramatically. Chemistry mark schemes are sometimes very picky about exactly the right terminology being used in the answers, which can be learned and so grades can improve there. Maths I think can sometimes improve quite dramatically too.

He needs to understand why he scored as low as he did and see what his teachers suggest.

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so he has a history of under performing in exams... does he get very stressed? does he handle time constraints OK? A friends ds always got low exam results through stress, but he managed to get good A2 results after a lot of hard work in the end. Another friend's ds was similar and found to be dyslexic in year 12

It's not just about working hard, it's about answering the questions properly. I teach biology and it is a struggle getting students to accept that they need to take on board what I am telling them about how to write, and how to structure their independent study and revision. If he gets good advice from his teachers, and follows it, he could pull it back to his targets I would think.

Thanks, he's hoping to be getting some papers back in the next few days, and going over them in class, which will give him a much better idea of exactly what went wrong, and more importantly how to prevent it next time!

We are in Scotland so a bit different but ds 1 has not done well in his prelims (mock highers). His targets were a's and b's and he is nowhere near. He did well in his standard grades. I have been meeting with his teachers to see what can be done. At least they have a chance to go over things and sort out what went wrong.

There is a huge leap from GCSE to A Level and, at A Level, especially in the difficult subjects you are only competing against a* to b GCSE students because few C Grade are allowed to do the A level. So, it's a very hard transition for them and a lot to learn - including exam technique. Hopefully he will be able to get under why with the paper post mortom.

Yes I really wouldn't worry at this stage.My DD did her mock AS exams in Jan and despite working pretty hard she managed an A ( in the subject she didn't expect) and two Cs where she was expecting and A and a B. After her initial disappointment, turns out the teacher was pretty pleased with how she had done- in Chemistry she just hadn't mastered all the technical language which is now hammering the learning on and also practising lots of past questions. In Maths the teacher said all her basic skills were there just need to practice lots of questions to get used to how to apply them. He made the very good point that if everyone was going to get As now (in Jan) he would have put them all in for the Jan sitting- that's why there is the June sitting as it takes most people longer to get up to speed from GCSE level.

Key message seems to be spend as much time as possible practising past questions so that by the time you come to the real exam you have already attempted virtually every type of question they are likely to throw at you.

Hi my daughters March AS results were awful, U's in Biology and Chemistry, basically she has been cruising since starting 6th form after getting A*'a and As in her GCSE's and has had a big wake up call. I am at a loss what to do and notice that schoolchauffeur mentioned past questions technique, where would I get the papers from? The school is helping everyone who did badly with after school classes in Biology, but not in Chemistry which is the subject she is really struggling with. She has had a tutor since almost the start of September, when she realised she was not doing well in it but now will need to rethink that as at £28 a week its very expensive! Help and advice would be much appreciated, she is very down. I have suggested finding a bright peer in her Chemistry class and seeing if they can go through the class in lunchtimes, her Chemistry tutor discussed her results but didn't come up with much practical help, or ideas :-(

I noticed how few Raw marks there were between my daughters GCSE grades. Does this follow with AS grades as well. So, a C might sound bad (compared to a prediction of A) but in reality is no more than 5-10 actual marks which better revision or exam advice or more understanding of the AS requirements will help to sort. Just a thought, especially for those who are used to coasting.

DS got an unexpected D in his Biology module on Thursday. He's always been A/A* throughout GCSEs, but is struggling now and only predicted a C in AS (which I hope he can pull up to a B as he's getting tutoring now).

He was initially gutted, but the vast majority of people in his class (v high achieving Grammar school) got Cs, Ds,Es and even a couple of Us.

They're all going to have to resit and he obviously needs to talk to his teacher about what went wrong.

kez, yes, I think you're right. Ds's D grade was equivalent to 60%, if he'd got just two marks more it would have been a C

For a student getting As and Bs at GCSE, Ds and Cs in AS mocks sounds about right, TBH. Mocks are usually a bit of a wake up call and most students IME do learn from the feedback (especially when looking at exam technique) and go up a grade or two.

However, I would also say that Pharmacy is incredibly competitive and he will need AAB or similar (along with a lot of relevant work experience) to realistically apply. It might be worth exploring other options as well so that he is prepared.

Yes, much better grades are needed, one of his teachers has given some help with revision methods, and has arranged to meet with him on a weekly basis. We at least had some better news later in the week, with a high C/low B in chemistry, and a top A in his AS General Studies! Couldn't believe it! Such a shame it's no use at all!! I agree he needs to get some work experience under his belt, he has had a couple of days in a local pharmacy, but when I mention writing letters to ask for more, in a hospital pharmacy, and a pharmaceutical company, I am accused of nagging and not understanding the pressure he is under! It's so hard when you know what they need, but can't get through to them. But then, they do know everything!

My experience is that in Year 12 they don't quite understand the leap from GCSE to AS and the fact that they have to work independently outside of lessons and often find that students who sailed through GCSEs really come unstuck in Year 12. Taking their first modules in Jan is usually a wake up call as they realise just HOW much work they will need to do!

Am actually quite glad he didn't do Jan modules, as at least nothing actually counts for anything yet, iyswim.