Help understanding AS results/options pls?

FairyElephant_2

Hiya,

DSS has just got his AS results and they are apparantly dire - all E's. He is very shocked! I'd like to say I'm surprised, but sadly I did't expect him to do well as he is a bit lazy and tries to cram everything into the last minute. He got away with this at GCSE, but I had a feeling he was heading for a fall - but then have you ever tried to tell 17yo boys anything!?!

When I was at school we did O and A levels, so DH & I are struggling to get our heads around this, DSS is not all that forthcoming on the phone and DH won't ask the Ex-W of course! He is coming to see us poss. this evening, so we want to understand/know what to advise.

As I understand it, they now take more subjects at AS level, for a year, then go on to do several of them to full A level for another year - is this about right?
What I don't know if where he can go from here. Would he be able to still carry on with anything, having got E's? Can he retake some of these and then go on to A levels?
Sadly he doesn't really know what he wants to do with his life in general(changes his mind from one wild idea to another every 5 minutes - possibly this is also a symptom of being 17!?!).

I actually think it would be good for him to go and get a job, see what the 'real world' is like and that would help him grow up a bit. I think he has had it pretty easy in life so far - he's never even had to find his own part-time work - he did have a part-time job but his BM sorted it out for him with a friend of her partner's! Of course since he is my SS, I have to keep my own counsel on a lot of things, or be very tactful how I put them!!!!

Any advice gladly received, as DH is not very good at these things and I know he will look to me for advice on how to handle it!

Thanks,

FE

LittleMissMoneySaver1986

Hi

It seems like you have the right idea in terms of how the exams work. Most students go on the take 3 A Levels (as this is usually the number of grades required to get accepted to a university).

There are a few options from here - if some of his unit modules are ok then he could go on to A2 level and just retake the worst modules so that in the end he will have a decent A2 grade - provided his school/college allow resits which most do (but you may have to pay)

If all the modules or too many are not that great then he could retake the year. Or if he feels that A levels are not for him and he wants to go to university get him to research universities and courses to find ones that appeal and that accept courses such as B-tech or NVQs which are a bit more 'hands on' and may suit better.

If he decides to leave education for a while, but later decides hed like to go to university he could do the A levels then or take an access course.

Hope this helps!

Alikay

DS1 also got an E in his single AS level! He actually left school a few months into post-16 and started an apprenticeship, but school let him continue going a few hours a week to complete this AS level as an external candidate, and we paid for it. I wish he'd put in more effort too. He's a very bright lad (passed 13 GCSE's at A-C) and is doing well at work and was easily capable of a decent result, just wouldn't work hard enough.

Maybe your son is like mine and will do better on an apprenticeship - DS1 is not academically inclined, although is hard-working and very competitive when stirred! If your DSS has got all E's, he's either got to work darn hard to get decent A Levels or he may be better off finding a job or apprenticeship. You probably need to have a talk and work out what he wants, what he is willing to put in, and what your expectations of him are....and 17 year old lads tend not to like such discussions

FairyElephant_2

Thank you both.

My feeling is that he wants to sit back and do bog-all except play computer games and go out with his mates, and wants 'someone else' to sort his life out!
He is not a bad lad, never been in real trouble, doesn't smoke, only drinks a little, is usually polite & friendly...he's just so lazy! it is a shame as he is actually quite bright when/if he puts his mind to it.

I think there's some 'head in the sand' going on at the moment too - he didn't come to see us last nite as he was 'doing something with his mates' - he know we are taking the younger 2 away at the weekend (his choice not to come with us) and we are busy tonight & Thurs nite, so if he really did want to discuss it and get some help....

I feel quite frustrated as DH (his dad) is not very good at being firm, it seems like his mum couldn't really care less what he does (unless we try to 'interfere' of course!!!!) and I'm a bit of a step removed as he's not my biological son. I was always taught that academic qualifactions are important and made to work hard at school, and I KNOW he is capable of more than this.......

oystercatcher

Hello,
You're not in an unusual situation . 17 is a 'funny age' and I think it's quite hard for boys especially to start realising they have to take some responsibility. especially if they have managed to cruise along through GCSE's and get reasonable grades so far.
I have three boys 19, 17 and 16 so am going through similar stages.

What is normally expected is they do 4 AS levels in 'lower sixth' and usually they then drop 1 subject and do 3 A2 levels in 'upper sixth' (equivalent to our 3 a-levels) many of my son's friends have had bad results at the AS stage and the options seem to be 1) leave school and look for a job / doss about
2) retake the whole year again and actually do some work this time, , I know a few lads who this seems to have worked for, if they can find something they really want to do and are motivated then they may want to work hard.
3) they can retake all or certain papers from the ones they did at the same time as going on at A2 level. This apparently can be very hard work as they are having to revise the old stuff as well as learn new stuff. It seems to be very common to retake at least a few papers to boost the grades. My middle son is planning to retake a few papers as he was a bit disappointed with his results although they were by no means 'bad'.

If your SS doesn't want to talk to his parents then someone at the school may be able to advise him, they will after all know what he's like and how much effort he's put in. Most schools have teachers available at this time of year to discuss options. He's probably feeling a bit low and that he's failed himself so may need a few days to get his head round what has happened and maybe see what everyone else is doing as well. Hopefully there are a few responsible friends who may be around at whatever he decides to do.

The main thing seems to be finding something they are interested in and want to do, I think most lads of that age can be very motivated if they have a goal to work for but sometimes life can seem pretty pointless if it's just full of boring and difficult stuff and there's so many options of computer games, girls and beer to distract .....

Hope this makes sense and I haven't woffled too much

good luck with him

Oystercatcher

Oldernotwiser

You could encourage him to make an appointment with the Connexions Service. Their role to discuss his options and help him make decisions about his future and they will have trained staff that can help him.

Galaxy863

From what I remember doing my A levels 5 years ago its all based on a points system and obviously how many points you get determines what grade you get. It could be that he was borderline on the next grade up so I would check how many points he has for each subject ( I think this can be found on the slip with his results on, and if I remember correctly the points brackets can be found on the back )

If he checks this he will be able to determine how many points he will need to get the next year for each grade. It is possible to re-sit exams if he feels the need to, but if he puts the effort in he should be able to easily pull his grades up ( I did ). Generally people do start out in the first year doing 4 or 5 AS levels then decide which ones they want to continue with. Most continue on with 3 but its entirely your own choice, you can continue on with 5 if you wish ( although the work load might be a bit much to handle ). Really it depends on what uni you want to get into and the requirements needed to get onto that course. If he's planning on going to uni this is something he will need to consider sooner rather than later.

There is of course the possibility that he just isn't enjoying doing A Levels. When I left school it wasn't really an option as to whether you were going to college, it was just assumed you would and you were carted off. At 16 I didn't have a clue what I wanted to do and the A levels I've got have absolutely nothing to do with my job now. I didn't go to uni but still have a good solid job so if he decides against it its not the end of the world!

FairyElephant_2

I just wish he would decide something!

He did say on Monday that he was going to make an appt with Connexions as that is what his BM told him to do.

I got DH to txt him yesterday, asking how he got on, when the appt was, and did he want DH or I to go with him or give him a lift (I guess he won't, but thought DH should offer as it shows support, and although I think he should be independant we want him to know that we are willing to take time off work to take him if he wants. Personally I find it helps to have another person there sometimes to help remember what is said!). No reply.

DH has tried to call him several times today. No reply.

TBH I have other stuff going on in my life at the moment which is more important to me, and probably to DH too, but I still want us to do the best we can by DSS. However, if he can't be ar**d to even reply to msgs offering help then I don't know what we can do!