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Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

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Original poster

Has anybody got a dc who fluffed AS then went on to do well at A?

92 replies

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 14/08/2014 18:43

DD2 has got a B, 2 Cs and an E - we were hoping for better and she was predicted as better too. The E not a terrible prob, as she can drop that subject, but the C is the subject she had wanted to do at uni. Any success stories/tips would be v much appreciated!

OP posts:

YellowStripe · 14/08/2014 18:50

Pop over to the yr 13 support thread and ask them

We had BBEE here for ASs. Expected one E but the other subject teacher is sending all papers back for remarking.

Horsemad · 14/08/2014 18:52

Watching with interest as DS has ballsed up. Did no work all year and got A B C D - problem is, his preferred unis want all As and it's unlikely he'll get As now even if he works like a maniac next year.

He's deciding between ploughing on and seeing what offers he gets, or retaking the whole year again.

I could scream, he's so arrogant...

Original poster

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 14/08/2014 18:55

Thanks, both. It's not the end of the world, I know, but she's pretty upset. Doesn't help that big sister is a bit of an academic wonder-child (4 A stars at A2) so dd2 always feels like the poor relation, I guess. :(

OP posts:

emmaliz · 14/08/2014 21:02

I have taught lots of students who gave improved their overall grade from AS to A2. The extra year can make a big difference in their knowledge, skills and application.

Original poster

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 14/08/2014 21:03

Thanks, Emma. The biggest concern is just how brilliant the A2 year will need to be in her chosen subject, to make up for the C at AS.

OP posts:

jalopy · 14/08/2014 21:27

Someone today on the Yr 12 support thread, I think GameEnd, said that her son got BCCC at AS but got 3A* through sheer hard work in yr 13. An amazing turnaround.

Horsemad · 14/08/2014 21:31

To do that, they'd have to work very hard indeed. DS says he'll work that hard but I'm not convinced.

Cooroo · 14/08/2014 23:07

DD got C in Psychology -which she wants to do at uni. B.s. for everything else. We're happy with that but she's puzzled why she did less well in the subject she felt went really well.

She's determined to work harder next year but I think Psych will get a lot harder.

Mindgone · 15/08/2014 00:23

I don't think you need A level psychology to do it at uni. DS's friend got AAAC at AS with the C in psychology, wanting to do it at uni last year. She dropped psychology as it seemed the sensible thing to do, and has just finished her first year at a RG uni doing psychology. :)

Mindgone · 15/08/2014 00:49

Remus, yes! One over here! Two years ago, my DS got BCCC at AS, then turned it around to AAA last year! He worked his ass off, and we were all gobsmacked! We were wondering if he should resit the year, but the HoY said that he had seen Bs and Cs turned into As and Bs, which is what DS needed.

We started by getting photocopies of his papers back, to see if a remark would be advisable, sadly not! But, that was really useful, as he sat down with his very helpful teachers, and found out where he went wrong, and where he needed to improve.

Next, we found good private tutors, who were a big help. We asked for friend's recommendations to find these.

Next, DS found the exact exam specifications on the internet, and worked to them.

He was fortunate to have the choice of January resits, so he decided which exams he would resit in Jan, and which in June. Think strategically about these, where she needs the most marks, and where she can pick them up.

Which subjects is your DD doing? DS did chemistry, biology, maths and economics, and dropped economics. Not sure if all this advice is as relevant to essay subjects.

He studied every day, with only Christmas Day off, and did as many past papers as he could find, making a chart of his results for them.

Reading back, it's a wonder that we all survived the year! He needed ABB for his chosen course, and was so desperate to achieve it. He was good friends with the kids going for medicine, and asked them for any study tips.

My longest ever post! But I was so desperate for any encouraging news when I was in this position two years ago. Best of luck to your DD, and you, for a tough year ahead. Please feel free to ask any questions.

Cooroo · 15/08/2014 06:43

DD got C in Psychology -which she wants to do at uni. B.s. for everything else. We're happy with that but she's puzzled why she did less well in the subject she felt went really well.

She's determined to work harder next year but I think Psych will get a lot harder.

Horsemad · 15/08/2014 07:04

Mindgone, I was choked reading your post! Your son was so determined, bless him. What a star!

What went wrong with his AS? Was it a case of he didn't put the effort in, or was the teaching a bit iffy?

DS is off to speak with Head of Sixth Form today, so that will help decide whether to re-do the year or continue and work like billy- o !

Original poster

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 15/08/2014 09:52

Lovely post, Mindgone, and v well done to your son.

Her subjects are all Arts/Humanities, so not sure yet what has gone wrong. She did work a lot harder for these than she did for her GCSEs, so... I also don't think tutoring will be much use for these subjects, either.

We'll speak to her teachers as soon as we can, and then work from there.

OP posts:

Mindgone · 15/08/2014 11:26

Horsemad and Remus, you're both very kind, thank you. We were really not sure what went wrong at AS, he was expecting As and Bs. He says, looking back, that he thought he was working really hard at the time, but it was only when he stepped up a few gears that he learnt what hard work really is! He got into 'the zone' and enjoyed studying hard.
You're in for a tough year, as am I, as DS2 is applying for medicine this year. Things have always come easier for him, so I am worried about his ability to work as hard as DS1. We'll see.

TheOneWiththeNicestSmile · 15/08/2014 11:33

I haven't but a friend's DD had terrible AS grades - similar to yours in the OP (I can't remember exactly)

She worked her socks off in Y13 & came out with brilliant A2s

TheOneWiththeNicestSmile · 15/08/2014 11:34

(Hers were languages & Business Studies iirc)

ChaosK · 15/08/2014 11:55

Remus, if it makes you feel any better my DS came home yesterday with AS results e,u,u,u. The school won't have him back next year for A2 (not surprising) and don't let them start again. He did have a bad year (death in family, plus own illness) but was also v v lazy. Did not listen to constant warnings.He has no confidence, no enthusiasm and no commitment - so no point in looking for new A level centre. God only knows what happens now for us. I feel that I have failed him.....
If they want to turn around bad grades I'm sure they can - and your DS sounds like she will. Mine has a lot of growing up to do before he realises the error of his ways.

ellenjames · 15/08/2014 12:02

Chaos good luck to your son. I was that child I was predicted a's but got d d e as was too arrogant and did no work! I am now 31 with 3 kids and going to uni after completing an access course. It isn't the end of the world. I left college at 18 and worked had a family then realised what I wanted to do. A lot of people at 18 don't have a clue about hard work or what they want so don't try hard but it all works out well for them

Original poster

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 15/08/2014 12:33

Thanks, all. She seems much more positive today, and I hope is ready to go back and work her socks off.

OP posts:

Primrose123 · 15/08/2014 12:47

Hope it works out for you Remus.

We have a similar situation. DD is studying sciences. She needs 3 'A's next year. She did really well in GCSE, 5 'A*'s and 5 'A's last year.

She did badly in her AS exams this year. We don't have the overall grades, just the individual marks, which are mostly B, C and D and one U. She did get some A, but only in practicals, which she thinks don't count for much.

She is very upset, and as far as we can see, she did work very hard, but she finds the subjects difficult, and I don't blame her!

We don't know if all the results are down this year, or if it is normal to do badly for first year A level. Perhaps she just doesn't have the ability. We have an appointment on Monday in school to see what the next step is. She has always done brilliantly in school, with hard work though, and this has come as a huge shock. She expected to do badly because she felt the exams went badly, but not as bad as this.

Anybody else's child have a similar experience?

MrsRuffdiamond · 15/08/2014 13:56

Another mixed bag here. Ds got A, B (1 mark off an A), C (3 marks off a B), but an E in Psychology, the subject he was most interested in, wanted to pursue, and thought had gone pretty well

Not sure what to do about the E, or what went wrong, but he will get the B and C remarked. Good to hear of dc who have gone on to get good A2s, after poor AS results, but retrieving anything from an E is probably too big an ask! Doubt they will let him carry that on, unless there has been a significant under-performance in the whole year, which gets investigated!

OhOneOhTwoOhThree · 15/08/2014 14:09

I am strangely relieved not to be the only parent of a child with less-than-excellent AS results (B, D, E, U). We knew the subject in which he got a U would be bad, but not how bad - halfway through the year he realized it was a mistake, but it was too late to switch to anything else.

DS is berating himself very hard for being lazy all year and is very upset that he will not now get into his chosen university (niche subject, so only on offer at a handful of places). He had had plenty of warnings, but thought he could pull it off at the last minute, as he did for GCSEs.

His form tutor told us last term that he know of other DCs who had turned things around after poor AS's - but didn't say how poor. DS will be talking to him when we return from holiday next week.

offtoseethewizard64 · 15/08/2014 16:29

DS also did worse than he had hoped (CCCDD) in 3 Sciences, Maths and Gen Studies. He also wanted to do a course with high entry grades at a RG Uni although has now resigned himself to considering plan B of applying to the very limited number of 'ex poly' unis that offer his chosen course although he will still need at least 2 Bs plus a C for them. We are also looking at Plan C which is a Foundation Course in his chosen speciality followed by a degree. He is still hoping, however, that he can turn it around and get As and either see if he can get into a RG through clearing or take a gap year and apply with actual grades. Nethertheless I have advised him to apply this year to the unis with the lower grade requirements and hope he gets some offers.
He is very bright but doesn't 'get' hard work and didn't do nearly enough revision - although he thought he did at the time. Only time will tell if he is prepared to make the sacrifices it will take and get off the bloody computer games

Mindgone · 15/08/2014 17:31

After a tough year and poor grades at AS, a friend's son went to a different 6th form and did a BTEC. No exams, all coursework. He is now off to his chosen RG uni in sept! It might be worth seeing if the course they want to do will accept alternatives to A levels.

queenofthemountain · 15/08/2014 18:28

Hmm The trouble is there are no January resits and so unless you want to do the whole lot AS and A2n at the end of upper sixth , there is probably too much ground to make up

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