A-Level Tips & Benefits Of A-Level Retakes
The moment when you see a different result from the one you were hoping for is one of the more gut-wrenching feelings you can experience as a young person. So your immediate response to this might well be to succumb to that jarring combination of depression and panic that can only be induced by exam failure. But the thing to remember is that all is not lost: you have options.
Whether you choose to enter Clearing to find a last-minute place, apply for a remark on the off chance or start your A-levels over again, there are plenty of reasons to resist curling up in a hopeless ball on Results Day.
Why should you sign up for A-level retakes?
If you’ve just surfaced from an intense two years of Sixth Form study, it’s completely understandable that the prospect of delaying university for another year in order to resit your A-levels may seem less than appealing. But hear us out. A-level retakes might not be how you envisaged spending this year but there are several reasons why dusting yourself off and trying again might well be the best option for you.
When it comes to university, you don’t want to compromise
Even if you’ve just dipped your toe into Results Day research, you’ll have heard about the infamous sifting process known as Clearing which allows students who have received rejections from their university of choice to apply to alternative courses last minute. While thousands of applicants go through Clearing every year, there’s one obvious flaw in this plan: the university you enter through Clearing will not be the one you originally chose.
This can be devastating for students who had their hearts set on everything – from the course to the campus to the town – their dream university had to offer. So when considering A-level retakes as an option, the first question to ask yourself is a simple one: is this university worth waiting for? For an enormous number of students, the answer is a resounding yes.
What are the benefits of A-level retakes?
We’re so glad you asked.
It’s not like school!
The first thing to know about A-level retakes is that, if you choose to go down the private tutoring route, the experience will not be a repeat of your last year at school. Promise. Sitting your A-levels outside a school setting is an entirely different ballgame, and we guarantee it won’t be the groundhog day you might be picturing.
[Read More: Top 10 A-Level Subjects Selection And Their Benefits]
Time frame
Gap year, anyone?
An unplanned gap year can turn out to be a blessing in disguise. While your friends may be gearing up for another year of full-time study, we’ve designed our retake courses in a way that allows you to take on other projects alongside revision. You might use the spare hours to get a part-time job, explore a potential career via an internship, or perhaps go traveling.
[Read More: How many hours of tuition per week?]
Troubleshooting
Your tutor’s no.1 focus in the run-up to ‘A-levels Take 2’ is working with you to identify what went wrong on your first attempt so you can achieve the results you’re hoping for this time around. So, how exactly do they do this?
We asked one of our most experienced retake tutors, what they consider to be the most important elements of a retake course. “Not getting the exam results you want is quite a blow and it takes some considerable courage to try again. So our tutor’s primary aim during the initial stages of the course is to bolster students’ confidence. They also make it a priority to determine what happened for the student to not be able to achieve the grades they deserve. Did they have problems with their teacher, did they miss lessons through illness or could their exam technique do with some improvement?
As part of our retake courses, we aim to break down the hierarchical student-teacher relationships that learners will have encountered at school. A collaborative approach to learning yields the most positive results, so our tutors work to develop an environment that encourages openness, questions, and immediate feedback.
How can you make the most of your A-level retake the course?
Good question.
Practice
So signing up to resit your A-levels would appear to be the best option. But what can you do to guarantee you don’t end up making the same mistakes as last time? Try every past paper and exam-style question you can get your hands on, even if it’s not from your exam board. The more you practice your subject the more you embed the skills in your long-term memory.
If you find a topic tricky or you’re struggling with a question, tell your tutor, and don’t be embarrassed. We’re here to help, and working together with your tutor on the parts of the course you find tricky will really help improve your results.
Be bold
Try not to let past mistakes hold you back. Insecurity about what came before will only hamper your growth and ability to perform better this time. Just remember: the power of a fresh start knows no bounds and with the right commitment and support, you have every chance of succeeding this time around.
With a private tutor, you can learn at your own pace. A tutor can identify your strengths and weaknesses and design a learning plan that is tailored to your needs. Additionally, a tutor can provide individualised feedback, helping you to address areas where you need improvement.
At Good Tutors Finder, we offer private tutoring services in a range of subjects, including Mathematics, Science, Physics, German, French, English, and more. We cover all levels, from elementary school to university. Our tutors are highly qualified and experienced, and we are committed to providing the best possible learning experience for our clients.
Take a look at our recent blogs for more learning tips and guides.
If you like to provide your child with a trained tutor after school and during holidays who can help with structure and organization, we have just what you need. At Good Tutors Finder, we only have hand-picked tutors who are well versed in these and other strategies and can apply them, whether they are in IB Diploma, IGCSE, AP, or lower grades. Mathematics, Science, Physics, German, French, English, and more, no matter which subject is difficult, our tutors can help out.
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