Year 12 preparing for AS levels

[HSMMaCM]

Here we are everyone.

Liney I feel for you. Last year results day for AS and A2 was a bit grim where I was. Friend's DD did badly at A2 and missed both her offers. Other Friend's two children had AS disasters including U's. All 3 did well at GCSE.

A year on the girl who missed A2 results had a go at an apprenticeship, has decided she wants to have another go at university so is resisting. One of the AS boys continued with year 13 as was also doing a double BTEC along side his 3 A levels. He dropped things and this year has gone well with offers from various places including Loughborough for sport. The other is doing an extra year, dropped a couple and took up some new ones and discovered a flair for engineering. He's having a long think about where to go from here and has said he doesn't think what has happened will be a bad thing in the future.

I think until he gets his AS results you can't really know . But if he does end up doing another year it can sometimes be a positive thing in the long run, though tough at the time.

Apologies, not for one moment suggesting he'll get U's.

I think you're right, Sugar. Maybe an extra year will be the best thing. DS has dyspraxia so this whole year at a new environment of sixth form college has been a challenge anyway.

Maybe have it in the back of your mind as a plan. He might have done well and you have a lovely surprise on the day. DD has dyspraxia and was on her 3rd course by the end of September adjusting to things, it is a big change.

HSM, DD keeps mentioning criminology. And I keep suggesting sociology!

Liney, STAY CALM AND DO NOT PANIC! You have no idea of what grades he will get - encourage him to look at a range of courses and universities, and he can make a decision about what to do next when he has his results And as SugarPlum says, if he doesn't get the grades, although it may seem awful at the time, he can redo/take a different path if necessary. Life will go on

This is whole thread is worth reading Liney as it shows the grades different universities require for Biomed. and gives some examples of dropped grades being accepted on results day. It might help him gauge where he can apply to next Autumn.

www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=3603997&page=10&highlight=Biomedical+sciences+dropped+grades

I think AS exams are possibly the hardest because they have only been doing the course for 8 months.

GCSE's are studied for at least two years, sometimes three. A levels build on AS knowledge, experience and practice and they start the courses this summer before they break up.

Many students this year went into completely new environments and/or had completely new subjects and a whole lot of new people/teachers to get along with.

Of all the years in education, I think this is the most demanding (with the possible exception of first year at university which holds similar challenges).

So well done to all of them. There are many options going forward and nothing is set in stone. I think they've coped brilliantly and I hope you all have a fantastic summer and a good, long rest

(But let's get the rest of the exams over first )

Thank you so much everyone for the feedback and kind words, and Littleham thanks for that helpful link which I've started reading.

Oops, cross-posts!

DD found it all a huge change. Even those who didn't change school for sixth form did - it's not that uncommon for students to repeat Y12. Or even redo A'levels in "Y14" to improve grades.

Any feedback from anyone on today's AS Edexcel Spanish?

(DD thought the listening was gobbledegook)

Thanks for the psychology advice.

I think she homed in on criminology because
a) there seem to be plenty of jobs
b) she went to a conference hosted by murderers
c) she's interested in reforming troubled teens.

Fairenuff you're right some of them are studying completely new subjects.

That's a lovely post Fairenuff
A bit of half-time encouragement for us here!
Other encouragement today DD got her art sketch book handed in so that's two subjects done now - Geography and Art
Two left - Maths and Biology, both with exams this week
Plus General Studies but that's one that went well in those tricky mocks so DD feeling OK about that one.
Other good stuff DH has booked DD some flights for her trip to Finland - a "Nordic Adventure" based at an outdoor centre in northern Finland, which she's hugely looking forward to.
And she passed her Standard 6 ballet with merit, and her teacher says she can still be in their end of year show even though she'll miss a key rehearsal date as we're going to a Uni Open day (for a Uni that could be a contender as has especially interesting course)
And I just had an evening out with friends which has lifted my spirits.
DH, with challenge of feeding the DC, went to the chippie
Never mind, with mayo, ketchup, and coleslaw they go quite well with my

We may do chippy tonight, Juggling. Sounds good.

Well, Maths C2 this morning. C1 you may recall was a bit of a horror. I hope to hear DS up showering shortly.

I have to start designing a website today. No idea where to start. All the stress is rubbing off on me.

DD seems to be flagging a bit this morning - thankfully only History today and then Eng Lit tomorrow morning. I think she was something of a celebrity yesterday as everyone wanted to know what had happened on Monday!

Hope this Maths paper is better than the first one for all the Maths-takers!

I told my OH your DD's story yesterday, TillyMint, and his face was and he did one of his Ben Elton-esque rants about The Authorities until I handed him a nice cold lager and told him to calm down.

Good luck for today.

C2 and history today. Gulp.

Good luck maths and history people.

DD has the dreaded drama assessment today with the cast member who may or may not turn up. Her drama teacher phoned me last night, because she was in tears after yesterdays rehearsal apparently. I have been up since dawn sourcing props they seemingly only realised they needed at 2am. It's ok because HSMM is able to find anything apparently . Super mum to the rescue.

Spanish was yesterday- Don't think we even have a grade here. Did anyone else do it? 100% in both exams at GCSE to a U at AS level

C2 maths today, the exam that's most dreaded

C2 today for us and atmosphere is very tense after last week's fiasco.

Good luck to all today and well done, Super Mun, prop-finder!

Nothing here today or yesterday so good luck all who have. Tomorrow is the killer biology and English

Rain, that is quite a drop - is the teacher up to scratch? Surely someone who got 100% at GCSE is capable of more than a U. I really hope that your DC hasn't done as badly as they think

However, I am not surprised that MFL students find the step up from GCSE difficult - the GCSE is so incredibly rubbish - they are being taught to jump through hoops, not learn a language. If my DS gets his French, it will completely prove my point! Totally inadequate preparation for doing it at A'level

I need to stop saying, 'Don't forget your calculator'

C2 here for DS1 and DS2. They were both happy with C1.
DS3 is mid GCSE, he has Business Studies and Physics today.
As soon as they drive off I cross the exams of the day off the timetables.

Truffle, I wait till they get back home having done the exam - especially after Monday!

I know, I thought of changing my routine when I read your post. My rationale is that once they have left home it is out of my control!