Home Work & Study
If you need urgent support, call 999 or go to your nearest A&E. To contact our Crisis Messenger (open 24/7) text THEMIX to 85258.

A Levels.

Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
edited March 27 in Work & Study
Right, I've fucked it this year in terms of going to uni, left it toolate haven't bothered to make any effort towards it so chances are I'll be taking a gap year and working or whatever.

But, what I wondered is, after I've obtained my A Levels is it possible to go back to college and retake all my subjects (both AS and A2 exams) to boost my grades.

Basically I want AAA so I can study economics at LSE but I can pretty much guarentee that's not going to happen due to fucking about and being a general fuck head for the last 2 years, so need to know if this is possible at all. I knowI'll have to pay for the course and everything, but as well as that would it be possible to not enrol on a course but still sit the exams via the college? I'll already have all the notes I need to pass so it's not as if I need to sit all the lectures again.

Cheers.
Post edited by JustV on

Comments

  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    i can truely sympathise, this is where i was a few years ago, so what im gonna do is give you the advice that helped me get where i wanted to go.

    *KNOCK THE DRUGS ON THE HEAD, RIGHT BLOODY NOW. Even cannabis can be an inhibitor to academic study, ive never met anyone who's said anything better than; 'yeah i still passed, but i could have done better without it'

    *You probably will be able to boost your grades by re-taking fast courses (courses that do the whole A level in one year). Look around your area for a college that does these but be warned they are intense, although i did english lit, got my best grade and had the best time in that one.

    *You havent left it too late YET. Go here to find the list of places and courses and acceptance grades on which to make your applications.

    *Make sure you are serious about academic study. If you are it means leaving the fuck about life behind im afraid boss. Seriously you will need to get yourself in order if you are gonna do this, but i gotta tell ya when i sorted myself out and was working properly it actually felt great.

    *Excercise helps motivation and can help concentration, also helps you sleep better and feel better. Doing this while you study WILL have a noticable effect.

    *Talk to your tutor. Turn in a couple of good essays, start making an effort and show them what you can do, they will be falling over themselves to help you. When you get your work back, ask questions and generally get involved in the subject. This will help not only your studies but your impression on those who will predict your grades.

    *If you get your UCAS in by start of Jan you'll be ok.

    Everything above is what i did to sort myself out. Nothing i have stated i have not done, so all im saying is it worked for me and its not so as hard as it looks. Once you get through the first 2 weeks of PROPERLY trying you'll feel a million notes better man.

    I really hope you succeed mate, just make a proper go of it :thumb:
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    You can re-take exams, though you do have to declare it.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Originally posted by Kermit
    You can re-take exams, though you do have to declare it.

    ..Making my application less feasable? Would it even be worth it?

    And cheers for the wise words bashers :p, bit reassuring - will get myself in gear and sort it out if I know there's still time to kill. Ta. :thumb:
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    There are certain universities that will not accept resits- i don't think Leeds does.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    YAY! LSE - i go there! my advice: work like bitch. It's not too late... as some else said, there's still time. I'm not sure if LSE does accept resits, but I very much doubt it. Just work and work and work.... did it for me. I completely fucked up my AS levels, worked my arse off in upper sixth and got in...
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Originally posted by The First Lady
    YAY! LSE - i go there! my advice: work like bitch. It's not too late... as some else said, there's still time. I'm not sure if LSE does accept resits, but I very much doubt it. Just work and work and work.... did it for me. I completely fucked up my AS levels, worked my arse off in upper sixth and got in...

    Cheers. Do you enjoy it there? Not got my heart set on the place, but it's definitely top of my list.

    Also, entry requirements insist AAA, one of which must be Maths - I don't study maths, will they allow some leniency? Presume they wouldn't turn everyone away who hasn't studied maths to A-Level standard but rather bring you upto speed, so to speak?
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    with it being LSE i'd doubt they'd amke exceptions unless you were an exceptional student. but that's just a presumption. phone up and ask.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Further to what someone earlier said, you don't have to declare any of your grades. Some places don't do AS levels - they just sit all of the exams at the end of the 2nd year as if doing old A-Levels.

    Secondly, I also cocked up my AS Levels. Was a Cambridge candidate, but didn't do any work for my AS levels and it cost me a chance at Cambridge, although I got an interview. But I, like a lot of people have said, worked my arse off (and I mean worked) in Upper Sixth, took re-sits, did well in courseowrk and exams and got to got where I wanted, which is only 4 Places below Cambridge.

    So don't give up hope. You'll just have to make up for the fact you did no work in Lower Sixth.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Originally posted by queenmab_roo
    There are certain universities that will not accept resits- i don't think Leeds does.

    they did when i went. they even seemed to be impressed that i got my arse into gear and bettered my situation.

    you just have to turn it round so it benefits you. resitting exams can take guts. it's a lot easier to just think you've done as good as it's gonna get, and give up. in a lot of cases, unis think favourably of people who've ballsed it up a bit, but are working to put it right. shows ambition and determination. don't apologise for it, be proud of it, and i think any uni worth their socks would be impressed too.

    edited to add: although when i went, resitting used to mean having to do a whole extra year, so things might be different. but i doubt it.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    I'd suggest that you contact LSE and talk to them.

    I would fully expect them to be gits though, you're not an over seas student so you're not worth much to them. If you were paying over seas fee's then they'd love you.

    I've heard mixed things about LSE actually, a lot of the proffessors there are said to be more worried about their writting and careers than the students.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    also check out

    http://www.timesonline.co.uk/section/0,,6734,00.html

    my uni does better than LSE for economics, UCL :D
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Originally posted by kaffrin
    they did when i went. they even seemed to be impressed that i got my arse into gear and bettered my situation.

    you just have to turn it round so it benefits you. resitting exams can take guts. it's a lot easier to just think you've done as good as it's gonna get, and give up. in a lot of cases, unis think favourably of people who've ballsed it up a bit, but are working to put it right. shows ambition and determination. don't apologise for it, be proud of it, and i think any uni worth their socks would be impressed too.

    edited to add: although when i went, resitting used to mean having to do a whole extra year, so things might be different. but i doubt it.

    perhaps it was just the department that my housemate's friend was applying too.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Originally posted by wheresmyplacebo
    also check out

    http://www.timesonline.co.uk/section/0,,6734,00.html

    my uni does better than LSE for economics, UCL :D

    Uni things are confusing. For my course The Times says exeter is 23rd while in The Guardian its in the top 10 :crazyeyes I'd like to think I was in a top 10 institution
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Exeter isn't a top 10 institution overall and probably never will be. You're better off looking at the subject specific tables year-by-year.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Originally posted by Kath2003
    Exeter isn't a top 10 institution overall and probably never will be. You're better off looking at the subject specific tables year-by-year.

    For Politics it is apparantly.

    If it isn't top 10 why are there so many snobby people....
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    There are so many snobby people mainly because of the cost of living down here, combined with the history of the place (has always been mainly upperclass). People on a budget don't wanna be living somewhere where private accommodation costs £60-£70 a week not including bills (remembering this is outside of London) and the drinks/socialising/student lifestyle is far more expensive than in other areas.

    And according to this year's Times Good University Guide (which is the most quoted and widely used), Politics is 24th in the country.
Sign In or Register to comment.