What Are Your Options If You Fail Your A-Levels in 2022?
Failing to get the grades that you want at A-Level — or failing your A-Levels all together — can be a shocking experience, which can take some time to absorb, as it seems that all your life hopes and dreams have been swept away in an instant.They haven’t been dashed of course; you have just met one of life’s hurdle, that we all have to face and overcome if we are to reach our life goals. And what’s good about these hurdles is that you have certainty, (which should not be taken for granted as uncertainty can be an even more challenging experience), and a clear, objective. You just need to pick yourself up, dust yourself off and start running forwards again. In the case of failed A-Levels, you have several options.
1. Study and Revise and Retake A-Levels Successfully
Of course, another option is to simply retake your A-Levels to improve your grades, and then reapply to university the following year. Your choices will be slightly reduced as some courses at some universities may not accept retakes. Doing retakes can also show courage, and persistence and so it may reflect well in your application. Retake your exams, but don’t make the same mistakes twice and use these top-rated A-Level Study and Revision Guides from CGP, which are available on Amazon.
1.A-Level Biology: AQA Year 1 & 2 Complete Revision & Practice with Online Edition: ideal for catch-up, assessments and exams in 2021 and 2022.
The perfect companion for A-Level AQA Biology, this new and improved CGP Complete Revision & Practice Guide is ideal for reference throughout both years and preparing for those final exams!
It has straightforward study notes, helpful examples and full-colour diagrams. Click to view or buy A-Level Biology: AQA Year 1 & 2 Complete Revision & Practice now.
2. A-Level Maths for Edexcel: Year 1 & 2 Complete Revision & Practice with Online Edition: perfect for catch-up, assessments and exams in 2021 and 2022 (CGP A-Level Maths)
Achieve the best grades in 2021 or 2022 with this all-in-one book from CGP! CGP has Year 1 & 2 of Edexcel A-Level Maths coveredwith this fantastic Complete Revision & Practice Guide. It contains essential revision notes and worked examples for every topic, plus plenty of questions to test students on what they’ve learned (including answers). What’s more, the book comes with a free Online Edition to read on a PC, Mac or tablet. Click to view or buy A-Level Maths for Edeexcel Revision or Practice Now.
3. A-Level Chemistry: AQA Year 1 & 2 Complete Revision & Practice with Online Edition: perfect for catch-up, assessments and exams in 2021 and 2022 (CGP A-Level Chemistry)
You’ll find everything you need for both years of A-Level AQA Chemistry in this CGP Complete Revision & Practice Guide! It has straightforward study notes, helpful examples and full-colour diagrams. It contains practice questions (with detailed answers) for every topic – plus a section of mixed (synoptic) practice testing different parts of the course. To round things off there are sections of in-depth advice on Practical Skills and how to pick up top marks in the exams. Click to view or buy A-Level Chemistry for AQA Revision or Practice Now.
4. New A-Level Economics: Year 1 & 2 Complete Revision & Practice (with Online Edition): ideal for catch-up, assessments and exams in 2021 and 2022.
This hefty and handsome tome covers Year 1 and Year 2 of the AQA, Edexcel A and OCR exam specifications for the 2021 exams and beyond. Inside, you’ll find straightforward study notes explaining all the theory, plus plenty of helpful diagrams and examples. Warm-up questions and exam-style questions are included for every topic, and the book is rounded off with a section of in-depth advice on how to do well in the exams! Click to view or buy A-Level Economics for AQA Revision or Practice Now.
5.AS and A-Level Psychology: AQA Complete Revision & Practice with Online Edition: perfect for catch-up, assessments and exams in 2021 and 2022
This chunky all-in-one CGP book is a perfect way to prepare for the AQA A-Level Psychology exams – and it’s bang up-to-date with the latest spec tweaks! It covers both years of the course, with straightforward study notes explaining all the theory, plus summaries of the case-studies students will need to learn. Practice questions and exam-style questions are included for every topic, and the book is rounded off with a section of in-depth advice on Exam Skills. Click to view or buy A-Level Psychology for AQA Revision or Practice Now.
6.A-Level Physics: AQA Year 1 & 2 Complete Revision & Practice with Online Edition: perfect for catch-up, assessments and exams in 2021 and 2022 (CGP A-Level Physics).
This new and improved CGP Complete Revision & Practice Guide is the perfect companion for A-Level AQA Physics – it’s ideal for reference throughout both years and preparing for those final exams! It has straightforward study notes, helpful examples and full-colour diagrams. We’ve included more challenging exam practice than ever before with plenty of practice questions and exam-style questions (with detailed answers) for all the Core Content and Options 9-12 – plus a section of mixed (synoptic) practice testing different parts of the course. To round things off there are sections of in-depth advice on Practical Skills and how to pick up top marks in the exams. Click to view or buy A-Level Physics for AQA Revision or Practice Now.
2. Find a career that suits your personality
One of the main reasons that students fail their degrees is that they have chosen a subject that doesn’t really suit their personality or psychological preferences. Many students choose a degree subject without really knowing if they will be suited to that subject. If they find the degree is not a match for their personality, they can become severely demotivated and fail their degree. Don’t make the same mistake again when deciding what to do after a failed degree. This time why not do a professional personality assessment from Career Key to give you an idea of the kind of subjects and careers that you are psychologically suited to and will therefore enjoy and excel in. Click to View or Buy Career Key Career/Professional Personality Assessment
Click to View or Buy Career Key Career/Professional Personality Assessment
3. Gap Year
Don’t sweat it. See your failure as a near miss from 3 years of academic servitude and a great opportunity to take a character building gap year, during which you can re-build your confidence, find some focus and have a lot of fun in the process. When you come back you’ll have clarity, focus and enthusiasm and you’ll be energized and ready to do your retakes, start your own business or to smooth talk your onto a course through the university clearing system. Try out these great gap year motivational books. They are an essential read for any depressed student who has just failed their a-levels.
1. The Big Trip: Your Ultimate Guide to Gap Years and Overseas Adventures (Lonely Planet). This 4.5 out of 5 star rated book on Amazon provides essential pretrip planning advice, regional overviews with maps and itineraries, and practical resources for finding work abroad.
2.Volunteer: A Traveller’s Guide to Making a Difference Around the World (Lonely Planet). This 4.5 out of 5 star rated book on Amazon gives you specific advice on how have a gap year based around volunteering. Highlights are: 159 organisations listed and reviewed, opportunities on six continents, in 130 countries, over 120 seasoned volunteers share experiences and top tips. Remember, research shows that employers look more favourably on students and graduates who have done volunteering work.
4. Develop a marketable skill fast at GoSkills.com
Get on to a learning site like GoSkills that contains over a thousand courses where you can learn the most in-demand, marketable skills for your career. They have courses in Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator which when provide you with monetizable design skills. They have courses in web development (HTML, CSS, Javascript etc..), Course start at around £30 and with just a small outlay in this personal development you could soon be offering your services as a web developer or designer to local businesses or online project marketplaces like Fiverr. Excel, Microsoft PowerPoint!, Adobe Photoshop and Project Management. are the most in-demand skills and courses. But, the most popular learning package is the Go-Skills Unlimited Package.
10% Off any Goskills course w/ code “GOSKILLS10”
5. Take the back door into university via clearing
Depending on the extent of the failure, you may still have the option to go to an alternative university, via the university clearing system, but that only occurs in August/September of each year. There are some disadvantages to this approach in that it is a very rushed, and a far from ideal application process, meaning you could make a poor decision in terms of choice of course, university and location. Also, you may want to seek a personal statement service to help increase the chances of getting your foot in the door. If you have applied for different courses in separate universities, it is advisable to tweak your personal statement to reflect the course you intend to take. Having failed the A-levels, clearing may be a useful way to get you into the university. However, you must consider the cons. It’s a very big decision to be making in such a short amount of time, so make sure you seek out advice from friends, family and career experts on the right options for you. You might find this book useful, as it’s the definitive guide on applying to universities in the UK.
The Times Good University Guide 2018. This guide has been in print for 20 years and is the most comprehensive guide of it’s kind. Highlights include extensive profiles of over 130 universities including the most recent institution to gain full university status: St Mary’s University, Twickenham, and clear guidance on the application process.
6.Apprenticeships are back
A new option that has now made itself available to young people is the modern apprenticeship which has now made a resurgence with many of the elite blue chip businesses offering apprenticeships. Major Employers that offer apprenticeships include: Microsoft, PwC, Nestle, NHS, P&G, Redrow, Unilever, Morrisons, Virgin Media, Telefonica. The advantage of this approach is obvious in that there may be a job at the end of it and since you will be paid you may not need to run up a debt in the same way as you would if attending university. If you are thinking about doing an apprenticeship, then try this book.
- Apprenticeships: For Students, Parents and Job Seekers. This is a 4.5 out 5 star rated book on Amazon and is considered to be the most up-to-date and comprehensive book on apprenticeships in the UK.
7. Temp to Perm
Now, it can be hard to walk into a big firm without a degree or A-Levels, so that’s why you can try a backdoor way in, which involves getting a temp job at a big blue chip, and simply getting your foot in the door. You’ll now be able to hear about any jobs in the grape and if you can impress those around you with your positive attitude and productivity and you’ll be in pole position to be chosen for one of these internal vacancies and then the sky is the limit.
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