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Original poster

Year 12 preparing for AS levels

980 replies

HSMMaCM · 15/03/2016 14:22

Here we are everyone.

OP posts:
Helenluvsrob · 15/03/2016 23:11

EPQ is a pain. Eldest did one, enjoyed etc but it didn't gain her any advantage I don't think.

Youngest year 12 now. Just decided to much relief to give up the dreaded maths next year.

BackforGood · 15/03/2016 23:59

dd has drawn up a list of universities she might be considering / would like to go and look at.... dh and I have been trying to whittle them down to a more manageable number before we book in anywhere Grin

Not huge amounts of 'preparing for AS levels' apparent though Hmm

SugarPlumTree · 16/03/2016 07:27

Thanks Mrsfluffybottom, that helps, they all failed the mock in the girl's class. The new style questions seem to have thrown the school into a flap and they are having to rethink their teaching and apparently a similar situation at our other local upper. Good that they know now though and have some time to deal with it.

cressetmama · 16/03/2016 08:56

Hello everyone. First time on this thread but I recognise some of your names from elsewhere.

I am a bit comforted by the general view that AS mocks can be disheartening. DS's maths and physics classes results were poor, although apparently so were everyone else's. Is it normal to have the vast majority of the class failing at this stage?

School also appears to be struggling on all fronts. The English teacher was dismissed last week for (I believe) unprofessional conduct, and seems to have taught the wrong A level syllabus, as well as taking the AS Mock papers home to mark, so there's no result for that either. We are about to move him to repeat Y12 at a private school in September to buy another year, as he is a summer holiday birthday, and I am minded to tell his current school that he will not be sitting AS this summer. WWYD? Is this a good idea? The indie doesn't enter AS but does it all in one hit at A2, and I think it would be good to have a break for serious study without the pressure of public exams.

Original poster
HSMMaCM · 16/03/2016 09:00

Ooh that's a tricky one. I'd be tempted to just pull out of AS and have a long summer break and then start fresh, but I've no idea if that's the sensible option.

OP posts:
LineyReborn · 16/03/2016 09:06

My DS is at a sixth-form college and Chemistry is a shambles.

Luckily a lot of universities are now requiring Biology or Chemistry at A level for degrees such as Biomedical Sciences, as long as the student also has Maths and Physics.

I think DS may as well drop Chemistry now, rather than potentially record a U.

He's likely to be AAA on his other subjects.

SugarPlumTree · 16/03/2016 09:52

Cressetmama I'd be tempted to let him have a break rather than sit the AS and have low grades. People much wiser than me can advise better but my understanding is you have to put all results on the UCAS form unless they're a U so I'd rather him be refreshed and a clean slate next year I think.

Sounds like things aren't going well with Chemistry in a few places then. Really hope by the time Year 7 DS gets to A level everything a lot more stable and doesn't keep changing but won't hold my breath.

DD still on a countdown until the end of this year so she can ditch her BTEC. However after pretty much scraping passes in all the units until now her most recent project came back yesterday with distinction in both units so that really gave her a boost. It was graphic design and she really enjoyed it so she's having a ponder about maybe working that into future plans.

LineyReborn · 16/03/2016 09:59

SugarPlum I just don't understand the Chemistry issue this year. DS is fine with Maths, and fine with the chemistry that they do within Biology. But Chemistry itself as an A level is a real problem - for the whole class, not just him.

I've been in to talk to the STEM leader who had no answer other than, 'it's a hard subject'. Well, how is he getting A grades for Maths, Physics and Biology? They're not exactly a piss in the park.

choirmumoftwo · 16/03/2016 10:59

My DS has a clear idea of what he wants to do after 6th form but isn't enjoying his A level courses at all, and is about to give up EPQ as he feels it's a total waste of time. He can't seem to see that he has to get good grades to be able to take the next step and I fear he'll end up either doing an extra year at school (which he won't want to do) or not going to his first choice of university. Deeply frustrating.

bigTillyMint · 16/03/2016 11:12

Oh gosh, what awful storiesSad Is it because of the government reforms which have been rushed in and teachers haven't had time to prepare? DD's History teacher says the work expected of the current Y12's is harder than what last years Y13 had to doSad

Cresset, I have no idea, but a break sounds a good plan. Well done him for agreeing to start afresh - my DD would sooner slit her throat than do that I think!

Well done SugarPlums DD!Wine
Isn't is interesting how for some DC a good result fires them up, whereas for others it makes them think they can just coast along!

cressetmama · 16/03/2016 11:49

Thanks, BigTillyMint, he wasn't/isn't very keen but reluctantly accepting that it won't make much difference in a few years time, and it will make him one of the oldest (would not claim most mature) in the year, for the first time ever.

bigTillyMint · 16/03/2016 12:22

DD is summer born too and I think it would be great if she had been able to go into the year below when she was in Y9 - she really wasn't ready for the onslaught of the social and academic pressure - she really wanted to keep up. She has quite a few friends from the year below and has even said a few times that she would have moved. However now she cannot wait for school to be finished and "life" to startGrin I think a gap year could be a great idea - she was thinking about it, but now seems keener to go straight to uni.

EricNorthmanSucks · 16/03/2016 12:36

I was on the original GCSE thread.

I've changed names but am probably self evident Grin.

Two in year 12 here, with a mixture of A levels and pre-u. DS has started thinking about university in a quite specific way, and that seems to have galvanised him to be ambitious in terms of results.

DD's head is full of drama at the moment. Her AS drama class are preparing for their practical which accounts for a large number of the marks (40%?) plus she's taking part in the finalas of a national poetry competition this week. It's all very time consuming (she still has to choose a WW1 poem and learn it before Thursday Shock).

1234Littleham · 16/03/2016 14:08

Drama sounds as painful as Music. DD's music performance is 40% of the AS grade and a performance is exactly how II would describe it! Just to make our month she has her instrument exam soon and she isn't ready because all her time has been sucked away by school work.

I'm wishing she had stuck to four academic AS Levels. I feel they all have way to much going on at the same time. Why does that always happen? It all comes together.

dingit · 16/03/2016 14:58

Can I ask if any of your Dec are doing a Headstart course. I have just had a call from them chasing up Dd to see if she still wants to do one. Anyone know if they are any good?

JugglingFromHereToThere · 16/03/2016 15:28

DD's mocks didn't go too well I guess. Unfortunately DH came home for something around lunch-time and kicked off about them.
I wish it was just DD I had to cope with about them.

I tried to reassure DH that it's not that un-common to not do well in the mocks
And both of them that there's still some time to work towards better results in the Summer (though guess it's Spring really!) Confused Brew

Original poster
HSMMaCM · 16/03/2016 15:28

Dingit- never heard of it Grin

Littleham- I sympathise about the clash with music exams. DD has her ballet exam dates - May !!! Perfect timing !!!

OP posts:
Original poster
HSMMaCM · 16/03/2016 15:28

Juggling WineBrewThanks

OP posts:
aginghippy · 16/03/2016 15:39

My dd will be doing a Headstart course in the summer. She did a girls only one last year and really enjoyed it. She came back very enthusiastic and sure that she wants to study engineering.

bigTillyMint · 16/03/2016 15:58

HSM, glad it's not only me that hasn't heard of them! Off to google headstart now, but if it's extra work, it'll be a no-no!

Fairenuff · 16/03/2016 16:19

Are mocks moderated like the external exams? It seems that lots of students got some low grades so won't that be adjusted in the summer if it's the same across the board?

It's really hard to know which unis to visit until we know predicted grades. No point going to look at RG unis if he isn't going to get the grades. It's even more confusing this time round than it was with dd two years ago Confused Grin

dingit · 16/03/2016 16:27

Headstart is for the science/ engineering geeks. They spend a few days at a university as an under undergraduate!

JugglingFromHereToThere · 16/03/2016 16:36

Fortunately both DD and especially DS(14) seem more sanguine and level headed about the mocks.

DS reckons "no U's?" ... "that's fine" "A mix of C to E's? ... that's a pass isn't it!"

Sometimes I love his laid back perspective & contribution to family life - it can be much needed at times Smile

1234Littleham · 16/03/2016 16:36

Why do all these extra curricular exams - music for us and ballet for HSMM have to clash with the AS Levels? Who plans these things?

DD3 is celebrating this year as her birthday falls on a weekend in May. Smile Last year she had two GCSE exams on her birthday and I felt so sorry for her on that day.

Original poster
HSMMaCM · 16/03/2016 16:43

DD had a dance exam the day before her first gcse last year. It was actually a blessing as it took her mind off the whole sorry mess.

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