My grades are bad!

[Mohd Anisul Karim]

Hi all,

I just got my AS Level results and it looks pretty bad. DCE (Biology,
Chemistry, Physics) are my grades. Right now, I am just sitting here
and pondering what I have just done but can't think of any reason why
I flunked. I studied hard all year.. but, oh well, I guess whats done
is done.

I was wondering if I could get some advice on what I should do next.
My aim is to get a degree in biotek and no university with those
grades are bound to accept me, I reckon. These are the options that I
think I have right now:

1. Go ahead and do A2 Levels
2. Redo AS Levels
3. Just forget the whole thing and get a decent job!

And I haven't the slightest clue which one to choose... help!

[aonghus heatley]

Post by Mohd Anisul Karim
Hi all,
I just got my AS Level results and it looks pretty bad. DCE (Biology,
Chemistry, Physics) are my grades. Right now, I am just sitting here
and pondering what I have just done but can't think of any reason why
I flunked. I studied hard all year.. but, oh well, I guess whats done
is done.
I was wondering if I could get some advice on what I should do next.
My aim is to get a degree in biotek and no university with those
grades are bound to accept me, I reckon. These are the options that I
1. Go ahead and do A2 Levels
2. Redo AS Levels
3. Just forget the whole thing and get a decent job!
And I haven't the slightest clue which one to choose... help!

If you value A-Level results then re-take your AS-Levels. Speaking
from experience, its not as bad as you may expect it to be. And
you'll walk through your AS-Levels the second time around.

However, if you just want to get to university, any university, you
would be suprised by the number of universities that would offer you a
science course with grades only slightly better than those. Offers of
CCD aren't uncommon during clearing even from top-20 universities.
However, it will mean pulling your Biology and Physics grades up to Cs
during your A2 year which may be hard, especially if you've struggled
during the AS course. Speak to people at your school and ask them if
they think the results reflect your ablity as a student.

Working is an option, but I think most employers in that sector would
value a degree. I know a guy who entered into biotech recently at the
vrey bottom - no A-Levels, crap GCSEs - and his fulltime job involves
him sitting on a chair watching a machine to make sure it doesn't jam
up. When it does jam, he simply resets it, and sits down again.
Sounds a bit shit don't you think?

A.

[Ray Pang]

Post by aonghus heatley
I know a guy who entered into biotech recently at the
vrey bottom - no A-Levels, crap GCSEs - and his fulltime job involves
him sitting on a chair watching a machine to make sure it doesn't jam
up. When it does jam, he simply resets it, and sits down again.
Sounds a bit shit don't you think?
A.

How much does it pay, if you/he doesn't mind me asking.

[aonghus heatley]

Post by Ray Pang

Post by aonghus heatley
I know a guy who entered into biotech recently at the
vrey bottom - no A-Levels, crap GCSEs - and his fulltime job involves
him sitting on a chair watching a machine to make sure it doesn't jam
up. When it does jam, he simply resets it, and sits down again.
Sounds a bit shit don't you think?
A.

How much does it pay, if you/he doesn't mind me asking.

No idea, but from the firm's reputation, probably the minimum wage.

[Mohd Anisul Karim]

Post by aonghus heatley

Post by Mohd Anisul Karim
Hi all,
I just got my AS Level results and it looks pretty bad. DCE (Biology,
Chemistry, Physics) are my grades. Right now, I am just sitting here
and pondering what I have just done but can't think of any reason why
I flunked. I studied hard all year.. but, oh well, I guess whats done
is done.
I was wondering if I could get some advice on what I should do next.
My aim is to get a degree in biotek and no university with those
grades are bound to accept me, I reckon. These are the options that I
1. Go ahead and do A2 Levels
2. Redo AS Levels
3. Just forget the whole thing and get a decent job!
And I haven't the slightest clue which one to choose... help!

If you value A-Level results then re-take your AS-Levels. Speaking
from experience, its not as bad as you may expect it to be. And
you'll walk through your AS-Levels the second time around.

I can opt for the fast-track A Level, as it is called, where I can
redo AS and do A2 in one year. Should I go for that?

Post by aonghus heatley
However, if you just want to get to university, any university, you
would be suprised by the number of universities that would offer you a
science course with grades only slightly better than those. Offers of
CCD aren't uncommon during clearing even from top-20 universities.
However, it will mean pulling your Biology and Physics grades up to Cs
during your A2 year which may be hard, especially if you've struggled
during the AS course. Speak to people at your school and ask them if
they think the results reflect your ablity as a student.

I am sure I can do a lot better in A2, since I am now considering
alienating myself from the rest of the outside world for a whole one
year (no kidding!) and concentrate completely on my A2s. In other
words, I will double my efforts this time around, in whatever I option
I choose.

[L]

Post by Mohd Anisul Karim

Post by aonghus heatley

Post by Mohd Anisul Karim
Hi all,
I just got my AS Level results and it looks pretty bad. DCE (Biology,
Chemistry, Physics) are my grades. Right now, I am just sitting here
and pondering what I have just done but can't think of any reason why
I flunked. I studied hard all year.. but, oh well, I guess whats done
is done.
I was wondering if I could get some advice on what I should do next.
My aim is to get a degree in biotek and no university with those
grades are bound to accept me, I reckon. These are the options that I
1. Go ahead and do A2 Levels
2. Redo AS Levels
3. Just forget the whole thing and get a decent job!
And I haven't the slightest clue which one to choose... help!

If you value A-Level results then re-take your AS-Levels. Speaking
from experience, its not as bad as you may expect it to be. And
you'll walk through your AS-Levels the second time around.

I can opt for the fast-track A Level, as it is called, where I can
redo AS and do A2 in one year. Should I go for that?

Post by aonghus heatley
However, if you just want to get to university, any university, you
would be suprised by the number of universities that would offer you a
science course with grades only slightly better than those. Offers of
CCD aren't uncommon during clearing even from top-20 universities.
However, it will mean pulling your Biology and Physics grades up to Cs
during your A2 year which may be hard, especially if you've struggled
during the AS course. Speak to people at your school and ask them if
they think the results reflect your ablity as a student.

I am sure I can do a lot better in A2, since I am now considering
alienating myself from the rest of the outside world for a whole one
year (no kidding!) and concentrate completely on my A2s. In other
words, I will double my efforts this time around, in whatever I option
I choose.

I've been there and tried that kind of thing before. Cutting yourself off
and trying to get your head down to work really doesnt work because lack of
contact with friends etc and socially cutting yourself off greatly affects
your morale, which in turn filters through into your work. For best success
I would recommend finding a solution which is not entirely work based but
instead comprises of a balance.

You mention doing the A2s in a fast track. Now if you have had problems this
year perhaps it is best to start again and clear up your AS's before you
move on as the pressures of an A2 fast-tracked might be a bit much and you
want to guarantee getting good grades. After all it is only one year and
best to clear up your record. I have done one A2 fast-tracked and it is more
work but this was taken at a private college outside of my secondary school
so the teaching was orientated slightly differently.

Hope this is of some help,
L

[Ian/Cath Ford]

Post by Mohd Anisul Karim
1. Go ahead and do A2 Levels
2. Redo AS Levels
3. Just forget the whole thing and get a decent job!

OK, first thing you need to do is to look at the module breakdown and
what the totals come to. For example, if the E is 120/300 then it's a
bad E; if it's 159/300 then it's one mark from a D. (if I got the
grade boundaries wrong then tell me!).

Then look at the module breakdown. Is there on ereally bad one or are
they all about the same? Are any due to coursework - which is more
controlable? How did you feel when you did the exams? How do these
come up against your predicted grades? Ho do they come up against
your GCSEs? How much work did you *really* do - you need to be really
honest with that one! Have you talkd to your subjectteachers yet?
Can they offer any persepctive?

Then, you can, if you wish, get your exam papers back. It might cost
(school/college may pay but it's unlikely unelss your gardes are
substantially lower than their predictions, in which case you might be
able to get them to (why were they predicting you so high?)), but can
be very interesting. Then compare with the markschmes (this all takes
time though).

You can, of course, decline the AS award. That means you keep the
module scores but you say you don't want to cash them in yet. That's
probably a good idea - you can cash them in at some other point even
if you decide not to retake them. Then you can look at your retake
strategy.

You also need to know exactly what grades the kind of universities in
the kindof areas you're interested in want to see. Then you need to
know what universities might accpet your grades for those courses and
think really hard about whether you want to go there or not.

Which is a lot of stuff. If you can give ue some details I'm sure
you'll get a whole bunch of advice.

Ian
--
Ian, Cath, Eoin & Calum Ford
The view from Beccles

I loved the words you wrote to me/But that was bloody yesterday

No e-mail address. If you want to talk to me then talk here to start with and we can go back to your place later...

[Mohd Anisul Karim]

Post by Ian/Cath Ford

Post by Mohd Anisul Karim
1. Go ahead and do A2 Levels
2. Redo AS Levels
3. Just forget the whole thing and get a decent job!

OK, first thing you need to do is to look at the module breakdown and
what the totals come to. For example, if the E is 120/300 then it's a
bad E; if it's 159/300 then it's one mark from a D. (if I got the
grade boundaries wrong then tell me!).

Well, I just got the so-called "Statement of Results" which doesn't
specify the exact marks I have received for a particular subject...
just the grade. So I don't know how to get the exact marks.

Post by Ian/Cath Ford
Then look at the module breakdown. Is there on ereally bad one or are
they all about the same? Are any due to coursework - which is more
controlable? How did you feel when you did the exams? How do these
come up against your predicted grades? Ho do they come up against
your GCSEs? How much work did you *really* do - you need to be really
honest with that one! Have you talkd to your subjectteachers yet?
Can they offer any persepctive?

I felt kind of disheartened at this whole thing since I did, honestly,
put a lot of effort. My O Levels were great though, I took 7 subjects
and scored A's in almost all of them with only one B and C. Didn't
realise when the tables turned on me during AS. I was expecting a B,
if not A, in Biology since I am rather good at that but I got a D,
instead. As for how much work I really did, well.. people told me that
they were easy. I even had a look at some AS past papers and the
questions appeared very simple to me.. and I know that the paper I
received was quite easy too... I came out of the exam hall, all cheery
and stuff. I guess, the grades were simply too unexpected, considering
the confidence I had on my answers.

I will be talking to my subject teachers sometime tomorrow, hopefully
and let you know what they have to say.

Post by Ian/Cath Ford
You can, of course, decline the AS award. That means you keep the
module scores but you say you don't want to cash them in yet. That's
probably a good idea - you can cash them in at some other point even
if you decide not to retake them. Then you can look at your retake
strategy.

You can do that? Ok, now this is a good option. I will talk to my
teachers about this. Thanks!

Post by Ian/Cath Ford
You also need to know exactly what grades the kind of universities in
the kindof areas you're interested in want to see. Then you need to
know what universities might accpet your grades for those courses and
think really hard about whether you want to go there or not.
Which is a lot of stuff. If you can give ue some details I'm sure
you'll get a whole bunch of advice.
Ian

People, I have spoken to, here in UAE, have told me that its the A2
grades that matter the most and are taken in consideration, more
often, than the AS ones. In others words, if I were to get AAA in A2
but did really bad in AS (like I did now with a DCE), then
universities might consider me. I really don't know if this
information is accurate since now I hear, from you, to retake AS..
which must mean that the latter is of certain importance too.

I have also been told that you can retake the AS exams without missing
your A2 preparations; which means that you can do both of them
simultaneously without having to squander another whole year doing
them separately. My school has recently introduced this option and
calls it the 'fast-track' A Levels. Is it wise for me to subscribe to
this option or should I take another year to do AS alone?

I very much appreciate the time you took to answer my queries, Ian and
ofcourse the rest of the guys. Let me know if you need any additional
information and I will gladly provide them. Thanks!

Regards,
Mohd Anisul Karim

[Matthew Huntbach]

Post by Mohd Anisul Karim
I just got my AS Level results and it looks pretty bad. DCE (Biology,
Chemistry, Physics) are my grades. Right now, I am just sitting here
and pondering what I have just done but can't think of any reason why
I flunked. I studied hard all year.. but, oh well, I guess whats done
is done.
I was wondering if I could get some advice on what I should do next.
My aim is to get a degree in biotek and no university with those
grades are bound to accept me, I reckon. These are the options that I
1. Go ahead and do A2 Levels
2. Redo AS Levels
3. Just forget the whole thing and get a decent job!
And I haven't the slightest clue which one to choose... help!

Someone else in this newsgroup has referred to a newspaper article which is
available on the web:

http://education.independent.co.uk/news/story.jsp?story=553864

which points out that there is a massive shortage of applicants for science
degrees. As a consequence, many science degree programmes, even at quite
prestigious universities, are being forced to accept people with quite low
grade A-levels. The reality is that due to the government forcing
universities to expand in numbers (without a matching expansion in finance)
there are more than enough degree places to go round for everyone that has
any sort of A-levels, and still some left over after that.

The idea that university is really hard to get into and you need high grades
is complete nonsense. It's the usual snobs stuff that so dominates the press
in this country - writing as if the only universities that matter are Oxford
and Cambridge, and the only degree subjects that matter are the arts, Law
and Medicine.

So if you carry on and do A@ level and get the same sort of grades you got
for AS, OK, yoiu are not going to get into Oxford or Cambridge or a few
other really high-demand universities. You are not goint to get into
Medicine. But you will almost certyainly find a variety of degree programmes
in Biotechnology and related subjects would be open to you.

Matthew Huntbach

[a***@yahoo.com]

Post by Mohd Anisul Karim
People, I have spoken to, here in UAE, have told me that its the A2
grades that matter

Well no.
*A-level* grades matter (and AS don't) if you continue your A-level
beyond AS, BUT half of an A-level grade comes from the AS and the other
half from A2.
AS and A2 grades count just the same.

Post by Mohd Anisul Karim
I have also been told that you can retake the AS exams without

missing

Post by Mohd Anisul Karim
your A2 preparations; which means that you can do both of them
simultaneously without having to squander another whole year doing
them separately. My school has recently introduced this option and
calls it the 'fast-track' A Levels. Is it wise for me to subscribe to
this option or should I take another year to do AS alone?

Neither.

Post by Mohd Anisul Karim
From what I've seen from your posts, you understand the material (or at

least the vast majority of it) and simply didn't prepare properly for
the exams.
Re-take your exams this January (or at least any of the modules you did
badly on) and this time *really* revise. Don't just look at your books
for an hour or so a day! (I know that!). Read stuff, make notes on it,
test yourself. Do every past paper you can get your hands on, AND GET
THE MARK SCHEME AND MARK IT AGAINST THAT.

Don't waste a year of your life by re-taking the entire year, and don't
screw up your A2 exams because you've not had enough time to study for
them properly.

Alun Harford

[Matthew Huntbach]

Post by a***@yahoo.com
Re-take your exams this January (or at least any of the modules you did
badly on) and this time *really* revise. Don't just look at your books
for an hour or so a day! (I know that!). Read stuff, make notes on it,
test yourself. Do every past paper you can get your hands on, AND GET
THE MARK SCHEME AND MARK IT AGAINST THAT.

This is not always the best way to approach things. My experience is that
many people (and I hope this does not come across as insulting, but I just
report on my experience and I can see the cultural reasons for it -
particularly people from a Muslim background) confuse "learning" with
"memorising". They have an approach to passing exams which consists of
laboriously memorising things from text books without ever really thinking
about them and understanding them. They tend to think because they have
really, really worked hard at memorising lines from the textbook and
reproduced them in exams, they ought to get high grades. The reality is that
it is often possible to pass through memorisation, but rarely possible to
get good grades. If you ask people who are stuck in this mode of thinking
to "really *revise*" they will just spend even more time memorising and less
time understanding.

Also I hate this idea that you have to get obsessive about exam schemes to
do well. People who only think in those terms are never really going to
have the insight to do well. Better to understamd and enjopy your subject,
then passing the exams will come naturally as a by product.

Matthew Huntbach

[Stuart Williams]

Post by Matthew Huntbach

Post by a***@yahoo.com
Re-take your exams this January (or at least any of the modules you did
badly on) and this time *really* revise. Don't just look at your books
for an hour or so a day! (I know that!). Read stuff, make notes on it,
test yourself. Do every past paper you can get your hands on, AND GET
THE MARK SCHEME AND MARK IT AGAINST THAT.

<snip>

Post by Matthew Huntbach
Also I hate this idea that you have to get obsessive about exam schemes to
do well. People who only think in those terms are never really going to
have the insight to do well. Better to understand and enjoy your subject,
then passing the exams will come naturally as a by product.

Passing, yes, but the A grade may escape you. The trouble lies in the
nature of AS (much less so with A2). By breaking the subject down into
many tiny- to medium-sized bits, it's made more accessible. But then to
test it, the examiners have to ask remarkably specific questions, to
which there are pretty specific pattern answers. So a 3-mark question
might be "Define term X" and a candidate who doesn't mention 3 specific
elements (listed in the mark scheme which the markers must apply) won't
get all 3 marks - even if they could write a blistering essay at A2
making full use of term X and all its associations. So in fact Alun's
advice is quite right. It's only when you get to A2 that the mark schemes
become more of a hindrance than a help.

SW

[a***@yahoo.com]

Post by Matthew Huntbach
This is not always the best way to approach things. My experience is

that

Post by Matthew Huntbach
many people (and I hope this does not come across as insulting, but I

just

Post by Matthew Huntbach
report on my experience and I can see the cultural reasons for it -
particularly people from a Muslim background) confuse "learning" with
"memorising". They have an approach to passing exams which consists

of

Post by Matthew Huntbach
laboriously memorising things from text books without ever really

thinking

Post by Matthew Huntbach
about them and understanding them. They tend to think because they

have

Post by Matthew Huntbach
really, really worked hard at memorising lines from the textbook and
reproduced them in exams, they ought to get high grades. The reality

is that

Post by Matthew Huntbach
it is often possible to pass through memorisation, but rarely

possible to

Post by Matthew Huntbach
get good grades. If you ask people who are stuck in this mode of

thinking

Post by Matthew Huntbach
to "really *revise*" they will just spend even more time memorising

and less

Post by Matthew Huntbach
time understanding.
Also I hate this idea that you have to get obsessive about exam

schemes to

Post by Matthew Huntbach
do well. People who only think in those terms are never really going

to

Post by Matthew Huntbach
have the insight to do well. Better to understamd and enjopy your

subject,

Post by Matthew Huntbach
then passing the exams will come naturally as a by product.

A *massive* problem with your A-level system is that you can't do as
well as you should by just understanding your subject.
Sad, but true.
You unfortunately need to know what the examiners are looking for.

IIRC you're a computer scientist, so I'll give an example from the OCR
Computing AS Specimen paper:

1. A friend, who wishes to buy a computer for home use, knows little
about computer hardware and
has asked for some help. Write a brief report outlining the main
differences between a floppy disk
drive, a hard disk drive and a CD-ROM drive. You should make particular
reference to their
relative capacities and state a typical use for each kind of drive.
(a) Floppy disk drive [3]
(b) Hard disk drive [3]
(c) CD-ROM drive [3]

Nobody's to look at the paper, and it's an easy question, but lets just
see how few marks the computer scientists here get.
(BTW, you have 10 minutes)

[Matthew Huntbach]

Post by a***@yahoo.com

Post by Matthew Huntbach
Also I hate this idea that you have to get obsessive about exam
schemes to do well. People who only think in those terms are never
really going to have the insight to do well. Better to understand and
enjoy your subject, then passing the exams will come naturally as a by
product.

A *massive* problem with your A-level system is that you can't do as
well as you should by just understanding your subject.
Sad, but true.
You unfortunately need to know what the examiners are looking for.

I'm not quite sure what you mean by "your A-level system". Did you mean to
write "our" or did you suppose I have some sort of input or responsibility
for it (I don't)?

Post by a***@yahoo.com
IIRC you're a computer scientist, so I'll give an example from the OCR
1. A friend, who wishes to buy a computer for home use, knows little
about computer hardware and has asked for some help. Write a brief report
outlining the main differences between a floppy disk drive, a hard disk
drive and a CD-ROM drive. You should make particular reference to their
relative capacities and state a typical use for each kind of drive.
(a) Floppy disk drive [3]
(b) Hard disk drive [3]
(c) CD-ROM drive [3]
Nobody's to look at the paper, and it's an easy question, but lets just
see how few marks the computer scientists here get.
(BTW, you have 10 minutes)

Questions like this indicate why I, as an admissions tutor for a Computer
Science degree, do not regard A-level Computing very highly. It tells me
nothing about a student's logical reasoning capacity, which is what I really
need to know. I would much prefer it if there were an A-level in Computing
that actually was about Computing i.e. the questions were siple programming
examples, rather than things like this whcih look like an etyrnace test for a
Saturday job in Dixon's.

(The answer to the question is - I have no idea, we employ technicians to
deal with this sort of thing).

Matthew Huntbach

[a***@yahoo.com]

Post by Matthew Huntbach

Post by a***@yahoo.com

Post by Matthew Huntbach
Also I hate this idea that you have to get obsessive about exam
schemes to do well. People who only think in those terms are never
really going to have the insight to do well. Better to understand

and

Post by Matthew Huntbach

Post by a***@yahoo.com

Post by Matthew Huntbach
enjoy your subject, then passing the exams will come naturally as

a by

Post by Matthew Huntbach

Post by a***@yahoo.com

Post by Matthew Huntbach
product.

A *massive* problem with your A-level system is that you can't do

as

Post by Matthew Huntbach

Post by a***@yahoo.com
well as you should by just understanding your subject.
Sad, but true.
You unfortunately need to know what the examiners are looking for.

I'm not quite sure what you mean by "your A-level system". Did you

mean to

Post by Matthew Huntbach
write "our" or did you suppose I have some sort of input or

responsibility

Post by Matthew Huntbach
for it (I don't)?

You were right the first time. I can't type "our" correctly first time.

Post by Matthew Huntbach

Post by a***@yahoo.com
IIRC you're a computer scientist, so I'll give an example from the

OCR

Post by Matthew Huntbach

Post by a***@yahoo.com
1. A friend, who wishes to buy a computer for home use, knows

little

Post by Matthew Huntbach

Post by a***@yahoo.com
about computer hardware and has asked for some help. Write a brief

report

Post by Matthew Huntbach

Post by a***@yahoo.com
outlining the main differences between a floppy disk drive, a hard

disk

Post by Matthew Huntbach

Post by a***@yahoo.com
drive and a CD-ROM drive. You should make particular reference to

their

Post by Matthew Huntbach

Post by a***@yahoo.com
relative capacities and state a typical use for each kind of drive.
(a) Floppy disk drive [3]
(b) Hard disk drive [3]
(c) CD-ROM drive [3]
Nobody's to look at the paper, and it's an easy question, but lets

just

Post by Matthew Huntbach

Post by a***@yahoo.com
see how few marks the computer scientists here get.
(BTW, you have 10 minutes)

Questions like this indicate why I, as an admissions tutor for a

Computer

Post by Matthew Huntbach
Science degree, do not regard A-level Computing very highly. It tells

me

Post by Matthew Huntbach
nothing about a student's logical reasoning capacity, which is what I

really

Post by Matthew Huntbach
need to know. I would much prefer it if there were an A-level in

Computing

Post by Matthew Huntbach
that actually was about Computing i.e. the questions were siple

programming

Post by Matthew Huntbach
examples, rather than things like this whcih look like an etyrnace

test for a

Post by Matthew Huntbach
Saturday job in Dixon's.
(The answer to the question is - I have no idea, we employ

technicians to

Post by Matthew Huntbach
deal with this sort of thing).

Exactly my point.
You wouldn't be able to answer the question simply by knowing your
subject.
And while I'm sure that many people can answer this from general
knowledge (they won't be supprised at the answers given) they'll find
it *very* hard to find 9 marks for this.
Unfortunately, you've got to learn how to pass the exam, rarther than
just learning your subject (a bit like learning to drive and learning
to pass a driving test)

[Mohd Anisul Karim]

I understand that there are, broadly speaking, two ways you can pass
your exams. Either by 1) understanding the core material at hand and
deriving the rest all by yourselves. 2) memorising the material, as it
is (cramming). I, rarely, pursue the latter.. except as a last resort
(like the night before some big chemistry test or something and I came
home late!). But I think Mr. Hurtford is right, since A-Levels (or at
least, AS) does require certain specific answers to certain highly
specific questions... where simply understanding the core material
isn't good enough. Like a question I had during the Biology practicals
where you had to 'explain' a 'semi-quantitative' test. From common
sense understanding, I simply explained it to be a test that gives us
an approximate figure/result to help us determine what type of
solution, the solution really is. Even though my answer's pretty
accurate, it wasn't, unfortunately, considered to 'the' correct
answer, the examiners had in mind.

Nonetheless, I think I am enlightened now. I realise that simply
understanding the core material isn't adequate for a good grade. I
think that might have been the mistake I made during this AS, which
resulted in poor grades. The answers I written on all my exam papers
were based on 'my' understanding of the syllabus materials, on 'my'
terminologies. The examiners weren't expecting that!! How foolish of
me.. I should have realised this sooner. *Sigh*. Oh well, I won't be
making the same mistake twice.. I hardly have 5 months, at hand, so I
need to get started on mugging up stuff, as soon as I possibly can :).
Thanks for all the help guys.. appreciate it.

Cheers,
Mohd Anisul Karim

[John Porcella]

Post by Mohd Anisul Karim
Hi all,
I just got my AS Level results and it looks pretty bad. DCE (Biology,
Chemistry, Physics) are my grades. Right now, I am just sitting here
and pondering what I have just done but can't think of any reason why
I flunked. I studied hard all year.. but, oh well, I guess whats done
is done.
I was wondering if I could get some advice on what I should do next.
My aim is to get a degree in biotek and no university with those
grades are bound to accept me, I reckon. These are the options that I
1. Go ahead and do A2 Levels
2. Redo AS Levels

You could do the above two! Whilst you are learning new stuff for A2 you
may find that your knowledgebase for AS will improve. If you can get the
money to do it, you could hire tutors to give you assistance on the AS
retakes (and maybe for your A2s to come).

Post by Mohd Anisul Karim
3. Just forget the whole thing and get a decent job!

Unless you have connections, you are unlikely to get a decent job without
qualifications. Even plumbing, which has got must press recently, needs
qualifications.

I suggest you knuckle down right now and have another go whilst pursuing
your A2s.

Good luck and do not let the results get you down.