Chemistry AS level....

[LynetteScavo]

DS1 is sad.

6th form started on Monday, and by Tuesday evening his face was like this ->

He says doesn't understand Chemistry. He got a high B in his GCSE, and an A in his mock, so I would have thought he'd able to manage. I've suggested he swap to Biology but that was a definite no!

He's also doing Maths and Physics, but he seemed to expect them to be hard, and Geography which he says is OK.

He's never had to apply himself or make any effort with school work before. He got through his GCSEs without any revision.

I'm not sure what I'm asking, apart from will it get easier? Will it all come together and he'll start to understand it? Will he stop being so sad?

Tbh the beginning of AS Chem shouldn't be that hard... Did he do Triple Science? Unless of course the teachers have gone in hard to get them focused.

I would say though, it doesn't come instantly for everyone. Some kids take a while to get it, but they do get it in the end.

He needs to give it a bit longer before doing anything drastic.

Chemistry is hard, although generally 1st few weeks aren't too bad, then it gets really hard.

I suggest he just accepts it and starts working. Students who coast through GCSE's often get a shock in AS and unless they adapt they often flunk the year. If he got a B grade at GCSE he is likely to be at the lower end of the class.

Sorry to be a little harsh but the quicker he accepts it is hard the quicker he will start coping and to be honest, this applies to all A levels. So, in summary, nope it won't get easier, it will get harder.

That's what I suspected.

I think he has accepted he's got two years of hard work ahead, which is why he's so miserable, but he does seem grimly determined - and is actually doing some work which is a first!

Has he swapped exam boards for AS level OP? is he at a different sixth form to where he went to school?
If he has take Triple Science then he should be able to cope with the content which is similar to Further Science but is covered in more depth. As he is also taking Maths and Physics he should be able to cope with the more mathematical parts of the course.
Would recommend a book "Headstart to A level chemistry" by CGP which is designed to help with the transition.

My DD has just started AS Chemistry at a different school and everyone else in her class seems to have done a different exam board for GCSE. Already it is apparent that she has covered different topics. Sometimes it works in her favour though! Could something like this have happened to your DS?

Sounds like your DS is bright but not used to hard work. I am surprised that you suggest your DS to drop Chemistry just after a few days. You should encourge him to put down more time on this subject, maybe even do some revision on GCSE Chemistry.

DH works in a Russell University, he said the rate of students in his University fail the subjects is quite high , despite they all come in with AAA. It looks like children in UK has a very relaxed Primary school, then worked a bit hard on secondary, then the work is harder in A Level, then students have to study really hard in University.

Same school but different exam board from GCSEs.

"You should encourage him to put down more time on this subject, maybe even do some revision on GCSE Chemistry." Autumnsky - this made me laugh as he really needed to do that GCSE revision before his GCSE exam, but it never happened!

However, today DS is much happier. I think the first few days of 6th form were a shock. It transpires he thought he would be doing much less work as fewer subjects are involved and the cold hard truth is that it's not all sitting around the common room doing nothing with your mates (He only has one good friend who has stayed on).

DS is definitely not used to hard work - and he still thinks he will be able to complete homework during lessons give me strength Obviously he'll have a massive shock when he realises this is't anywhere near possible!

They say a mother is only as happy as their unhappiest child, and seeing DS so sad was awful. I'm acutely aware if he's going to change subjects the sooner the better, but he's adamant he's made the right choices, but also realises there is nothing else he could do so maybe feels slightly trapped.

Chemistry AS is hard.
He's in for a nasty shock this term if he sailed through his GCSEs
Get him to rise to the challenge
as A2 is even harder

Glad he seems to be settling in and buckling down a bit. Much better he finds out that he needs to work now than having it hit him at uni.

DD is also doing Chemistry AS, everyone saying it is hard is slightly worrying, she only got a B at GCSE! However, as it is considered soo hard does this mean if you can grasp the concepts its easier to get an A as a lot of students don't fully grasp the concepts - if you get where I'm coming from ie trying to find a positive!!!!

As someone who coasted through GCSEs and then had a nasty shock in sixth form, I agree that he should keep working at it. Glad to hear he is getting on a bit better, if he sticks at it and does well, unis really value chemistry A level because it is so tough!

Blue IME the majority of kids get it eventually. I'd say the "just scrapped a B" or c grade brigade are those most likely to struggle, but with hard work and plenty of practise, they can get there in the end.

Dd was told if you think it's hard now, wait until after Christmas! It's not going to make you feel better, but at least you can help him face up to the realities. Dd did work hard last year, but this year has still come as a bit of a shock. I imagine we will have some very tired dc by half term.

I don't this an A at GCSE is any guarantee of success at Chemistry AS level as a friend's DC found out this summer when a U grade was awarded. I would not recommend it with a B! Especially with a DC that doesn't work. You could be in for a rough ride. My very non science DC got a B in Chemistry and would never, ever, have done it at A level.

Hard work just is not enough at some subjects though. You really do have to get the subject. If you have let everything wash over you and get lucky at GCSE, then AS is harder than you think. Lots of schools do not allow Chemistry to be studied at A level without a high A at GCSE due to the demands of the course!

It makes me wonder why so many young people are so unrealistic about their abilities and think exams are some sort of game. Is this type of young person likely to be employable in comparison to others who have taken their study seriously?

That's a little harsh Millymolly. Op would he be better doing a BTEC?

This is why it is good that there are three years available post 16. B's are borderline grades for some of the tougher A levels but why shouldn't the student have a chance? Of course they should - who knows how hard they did/didn't work at GCSE, who knows how hard they will/wont work at A level, who knows how great the teaching was or will be? So many things we cannot call.

BTECs are great if that is what is or ends up being the best call for the student - but let those on the borderline have the chance to try A levels first. If it doesn't work out then fine.

I'm afraid i agree with Millymollymama.Chemistry is a hard subject at A Level.Dd was only allowed to take it if she achieved an A * in her gcse.I would not recommend it as a subject for the work-shy ( i have one of those too!).
Secondly why is he doing 4?Dd with nearly all A*'s has been advised to only do 3.A levels are becoming harder and there are no As1's in sciences now.Your ds1 may well coast for 2 years and end up doing badly.

getoffthattablenow is incorrect. There are still AS levels in Science subjects such as Biology, Physics and Chemistry but they are now stand-alone qualifications and the marks won't count towards the final result at the end of Y13. Some sixth forms are still allowing pupils to take 4AS subjects and then drop one at the end of Y12 and continue with 3 subjects to be examined at the end of Y13 which is similar to the old A levels system. Others are effectively making it a 2 year course and only allowing 3 subjects.
Actually I agree with Kez100 BTECs are really for pupils who are just above average who just scrape a B at GCSE and that pupils who narrowly missed a grade A should be given a chance to take a subject at A level.
Chemistry at A level is different to GCSE and the difficulty is that some students can obtain an A/A* at GCSE because they are good at exam technique and have a good memory rather than having the skills and knowledge needed for A level. Able Scientists can lose marks on the application of science in real life type questions for examples as they don't see this as part of the subject. Some schools don't have enough specialised teachers in Chemistry and Physics to enable pupils to achieve the top grades at GCSE so that is why many sixth forms allow pupils to take a levels with grade Bs.

Catslife i am well aware that is the case i just chose not to state this.Most schools will not be doing the 'stand alone' As1's.Some private schools are - not all.

Of course it's hard, it's an A-level. It wouldn't have any currency were it easy.

He needs to persevere and keep his eyes on the prize.

I have assumed from the title of this thread that the OPs son is taking stand-alone AS levels in June 2016.
It would be better if he could keep going and finish the AS course if possible but unis are really only interested in the 3 subjects taken at the end of Y13.

I imagine that most schools will have their students sit AS levels in the LVI in all their subjects. If they are continuing to A2, these will work out at mocks. If students decide to drop the subject, they will have something to show for their year of study. Also, universities will want to see AS grades. This will all be in full knowledge of having to do all the modules in the UVI.

Wow, so many different opinions!

I do agree that hard work is not enough, you need to "get" it.

GinandJag, you speak a lot of sense.

No, DS wouldn't be better doing a BTEC (for many reasons I won't go into here!)

He has no intention atm of going to uni....he wants to study the Alevels he has chosen because he wants to know more about those subjects. I may be the only parent in the country with this attitude, but if he drops one of the subjects after a while it's not wasted, he will have learned something. However, he grimly insists he won't drop any.

The alternative 6th form he considered wanted him to do 5 A levels (I said no way!), so it's interesting some are only doing 3.

He got a high B, and was expected to easily get an A. I think it would be silly to tell him he can't do it because he didn't get an A*. He got A's in subjects he's not at all interested in, and won't consider changing.

I think I panicked slightly - he only started 6th form on Monday, so had only been there 2 days. It didn't help that for the first two days he didn't wear his glasses - he has a +6 prescription! The rest of the week went much better.

Parent's meetings are in October, so I'll get a better idea how he's doing then.