The A-level results are out and it is being contemplated whether exam grades are lower this year or is it really the ‘biggest fall in a decade’. There is inevitable anxiety over those who couldn’t make it to the college of their choice, especially in the South Asian communities where top-quality education is not just a priority but a tradition. Amid that pressure, and rise in cost of living, despite likely lower grades, universities have adjusted entry demands and offers accordingly. Experts and academicians insist that is important to remember that grades are not the end of the world and there are more opportunities like apprenticeship at hand for those who would like to explore more options.
Kavitha Ravindran, secondary science teacher and Co-founder of sAInaptic told Asian Voice, “A-levels or GCSEs are just part of your learning adventure. Your success down the road will depend on more than just these exams – things like your passions, how determined you are, and your willingness to learn from both your successes and challenges. But here's the deal: it's smart to be ready for different possibilities. Having a backup plan can really help lower stress and those uncertain feelings. This way, you'll be better equipped to handle unexpected emotions if they pop up. Good luck to all students!”
Taking this opportunity to attack the government, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has stated that he wouldn't be able to pursue higher education if he were a school leaver today due to the current financial challenges. This declaration has raised the possibility of Labour introducing measures to alleviate the escalating cost of living for students.
Blaise Heywood, a promising psychologist-to-be, is driven to utilize her personal mental health journey to aid others, following her impressive accomplishment of securing three A* grades. Blaise's experience with Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services during her youth, as well as her ongoing involvement with adult mental health services, has ignited her passion to effect positive change. The University of York is her next destination for studying psychology, a prospect that excites her due to the contrast with Bolton's environment.
Grades not the end of the world, says PM
Broadcaster Jeremy Clarkson in a tweet post the declaration of A-level results said, “It’s not the end of the world if your A-level results aren’t what you’d hoped for. I got a C and 2 Us and here I am today with my own brewery.”
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak who backed Clarkson’s tweet, was heavily criticised for supporting the former broadcaster who has criticised Meghan Markle. Sunak said, “Jeremy has made a career of being the exception, not the rule but he does have a good point here: Results day is important, but not necessarily a deal-breaker. Whatever results you got today, there are lots of options available to you. If you’re ready to get straight into work, there are hundreds of apprenticeship courses available. This is a brilliant way into a whole range of careers and means you can learn and earn on the job.
“If you’re looking to study for a qualification that leads to a great job, but prefer classroom-based learning, look at HTQs. They equip you with skills across a huge variety of sectors, from software development to engineering. And if you are looking for a university course and haven’t met your offer, there are hundreds of great courses at great universities across the UK, all within your reach through Clearing. If you haven’t got the results you wanted, don’t panic – talk to your college or school about your options or a National Careers Service adviser if you need extra support.”
Girls outperform boys
While girls slightly outperformed boys in top A-level grades, the gap has lessened since exams resumed.
Dr Indranil Chakravarty MBE’s daughter Aria has got into Oxford University. Speaking to us, he said, “This year the A-level results are for students who were mostly taking their GCSEs in 2021, in the immediate post-pandemic year. Due to the pandemic disruption to education and the inability to hold board examinations, a formula for marking and grades done by schools was used. As often seen in such circumstances there were much higher grades awarded and as a consequence, there were many Universities who found themselves in a position of over-subscription. There were many students who were then asked to defer their university places by a year at a significant cost to the education department. As parents, we were anxious about the outcome of board examinations and national grading this year. As professionals who were receiving students in University, we were also anxious about how the offers and grades would match up. We were aware of the Department of Education's plans to stage a reduction in top grades to match the pre-pandemic levels of top grades awarded.
“On the day before the A-level results were out, we did not sleep. We (as parents) were thinking of many strategies to contain the distress and disappointment of our children if the grade- predictions and grade requirements were missed. Fundamentally, we knew that much of this was outside of our control. My father's philosophy has always been, 'you can only do the best you can and one should leave the rest to external factors'. Many who are more spiritual and religious spend a lot of time and resources praying to superior beings for luck. We as scientists have to rely on faith in our own abilities. However, as a parent, it is not unusual if I quietly said a little prayer to someone above, that our child was not disappointed. It was interesting that although our daughter had offers from 5 Universities including Oxford and a firm but safe offer from London - she decided the night before that she would take a gap year. That really surprised us as parents -as we had always reassured her that it was important to pursue studies in the subject of her choice rather than the University. That was the safer option, psychologically speaking.
“We spent the night torn between hope and how we would manage any disappointment. We even managed to argue about missing the deadline of 8:30 am, when the school would release the results, as it clashed with an important meeting that my wife was not able to miss. In my state of anxiety, I could not fathom why someone would agree to a meeting at this critical hour. It was an unreasonable request, as the hour had nothing to do with the results. My daughter was happy for us to accompany her to school, where I was aware some others refused to allow their parents to come anywhere near the school gates. When she got the results - an A*AAA we were relieved, happy that her place at the University of her choice/ dreams (Oxford) had been secured and then came to the sense of a huge weight being lifted off our shoulders. We would not have to console the child. We could relax. That sense of relief slowly converted to one of happiness and then finally elation. We went out to celebrate and then let our family and friends share in our happiness.
“We know that examinations have their flaws and are not the best and most sensitive way to assess the future of students. However, they have stood the test of time as being reliable and reproducible. There is research that suggests that there is a loose correlation between exam scores and success in examinations at University. The link between examination results and success in life or at work is rather tenuous. So if anyone has not managed to secure the grades that they were expecting-my advice would be not to despair. Your desire to learn and gain knowledge is far more important than any grades and if you follow your passion - you can be anyone and succeed in any field that you have the aptitude for. Grades or no grades.”
Prof Bhaskar Vira, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Education, at Cambridge University tweeted, “You should be proud of what you’ve achieved. For all those who met their expected offers, we look forward to welcoming you to Cambridge when you start with us at the academic year. If you happen to have missed your offers, don’t be disappointed. I can understand that you have a number of options available to you. Think about what’s available through clearing, think about your insurance offer, the world is very open and you will have many opportunities to pursue your academic paths. You’ve worked hard to arrive at this point, you should all feel proud of what you’ve achieved.”
Now is the right time to look at different paths for your future
Dr Nick Smith, course director and founder of The Oxford Open Learning Trust, said: “We know it can be a stressful time, so the first thing to do is look at the UCAS clearing systems, as this will show you which institutions have places available. Many institutions will still be accepting students, so have a look on the UCAS website or give them a quick call to check if your course is on offer elsewhere.
“If you feel like the grades you’ve received are lower than expected, you are allowed to appeal them by contacting your school, who will pass this on to the examining board. Once the evidence has been examined, the board will decide whether changes to your results are needed.”
