Poor AS results - am i giving dd the right advice?

[Mosschops30]

Dd wants to do a history degree, she knows everything there is to know about history and really enjoys studying it.

She has spent most of the AS year fannying about on FB and twitter, talking about sherlock or dr who and enjoying life with her friends. So despite getting As and Bs at GCSE she got 2 Us 1E and 1D at AS level

I was furious, having just done a degree and a pgdip i know about how hard you have to work and for a year i spent one day of my weekend in the library on top of lectures and day study or i would never have got through it, but she just cant seem to grasp it. Weve had lots of tears but i know the same will happen this time next year. Also she had to change school for Alevel and i dont think theyre that supportive.

So i think she should leave and do 3 fastrack A levels at college at work her arse off for the year so she can get into Uni. Shes picked 2 different subjects to do at college but obviously wants to do history and says their course looks great.
Is this a good idea or not? I cant see any point in her staying in the school and wasting time

[Rummikub]

Hi, I suggest your dd speaks to the tutor and student adviser at the college. If you can go with her that might be useful. This is what I advise students, that sometimes to guarantee success they will need to repeat a year. It all depends on reasons for the low grades. Did she work? What revision techniques did she use? Were the subjects suited to your dd?

[Mosschops30]

Well a mixture of all those, she didn't want to take 3 out of the 4 subjects and the one she liked the best she didn't get on with the teacher

There is greater choice at college, and she has picked 3 subjects she really wants to do.
She has admitted that she didn't work hard enough last year and wasn't motivated at all.
She is adamant she wants to do these in a year, I have given her the options of repeating yr 12 but she says this will de-motivate her

She knows she will have no life for a year and says she's willing to work

[Rummikub]

I would listen to the college carefully. Do you get the impression that they want to fill courses or want your dd to achieve? 3 new subjects in a year is a tall order. Does the college offer a 2 year option? Your dd must monitor herself and if she finds that she is struggling with 3 or 4 subjects, then consider dropping 1 to give her a better chance of grade improvement.

[littlemisswise]

I honestly don't think she knows just how much work is involved, tbh. And to say "she knows everything there is to know about History" is incredibly arrogant, IMO.

DS1 got 100% in his History GCSE. He worked like a train through Year 12, he got 1 UMS mark off an A. He worked really, really hard through Year 13 and got his A. He didn't go out more than once every 3 or 4 months. It was books, books, books, practice papers and essays all the time. There was nothing else. That was doing it over 2 years.

[forehead]

I agree with starting the course again, She is very young fgs and there is no rush.
I went to uni a year later than my peers . Many of the students were mature students. From what you say, i am not sure that your dd realizes how difficult it is going to be. However, if she wants to do the course in one year that is up to her.

[chickydoo]

My DD also did badly in her As levels this year DDEE
She wants to go in to nursing and needs a minimum of CCC next year. I wanted her to re start yr 12 again, but the college say no, they are 100% full for September and anyway only take re-starters under very exceptional circumstances. There are no other FE colleges in our area. Only option is to send her to a private 6th form (we can't really afford it) or let her continue to A2, and hope to God she puts the work in and turns her DDEE in to the 3 c's she needs.

[fancyanother]

I don't teach history A level, but in the 2 subjects I do teach, (both essay based) the AS level is fairly straightforward- eg facts plus simple for and against points. The A2 is much, much harder. There is a lot more analysis and critical thinking involved, which would mean she would really have to put the work in reading around the subjects and developing her own views. As others have said, doing a 2 year course in a year is a big ask, even for a motivated student. In my experience, resits are for students trying to get their D grades up to a C. Maybe not being in the same group as her friends will be one less distraction? In the long term, going to uni at 19 instead of 18 is no big deal and may mean she is more mature and committed.

[Rummikub]

Chickydoo, there's a good chance your dd will be able to pull up to c grades from d's. if the college has learning mentors then get your dd to see them straightaway. They should be able to help her get on track and advise on study and revision skills.

[chickydoo]

Thank you rummikub....I hope she can do it

[IForgotMyPencil]

I was in a similar position to your daughter last year! I did well in my AS year, but I missed my UNi offer quite spectacularly because I was basically not working in the second year. I then repeated the year when all my friends went off to Uni. And it really wasn't that bad! It really made me want to pull my socks off, and I made lots of new friends in my new classes. I don't feel behind my peers - repeating a year is more common than you think!

If she hasn't worked hard enough this year, then fast track a levels would be a disaster - she would have to do double the work in the same year. Half the a level in a year is hard enough!