Cashing in and results
Last updated on: 11/03/2008
I didn't do too well in my exams and want to resit. I've already cashed in – but can I decline? I don't want these grades on my UCAS form.
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The last chance to decline, ever, was during 2007, as the declining rule has been removed. Thereafter, each time you resit a module and cash in, a new certificate will be awarded and recorded on your UCAS record. If you declined your unwanted grades by 20 September 2007 – or have not cashed in after a resit from 20 September 2007 onwards – then the grades in these subjects will not be on your UCAS record.
I'm a bit confused. Can you tell me what 'cashing in' means?
There are six modules in the full A level exam, three for the AS and three for A2, and any of these can be taken on more than one occasion. So that when someone has taken the three modules for the AS component they are able to cash in to receive an AS certificate. That means that they inform the exam board that they want their marks added and a final grade and certificate issued.
And when that person then goes on to complete the three A2 modules in that subject and cashes in for A level, then a further certificate is issued for A level. It is no longer possible to decline grades at any time after cashing in, as the declining rule has been removed.
Each time a candidate cashes in for an AS or A2 award, a certificate will be issued and all results for that student will be on their exam-board record and reported to UCAS. So that it will be known how many attempts students have had to achieve that final highest grade.
I completed my A levels a number of years ago and achieved C, D, D, E grades. Since then I have changed my direction and need to improve these grades to As. Now I am older I feel this is attainable but I am unsure where I stand, as far as re-sitting my exams is concerned, so long after first taking them.
Congratulations on taking this first step. Motivation, which you have, can do wonders for grades and achievement generally. It is never usually as easy as supposed to re-sit exams, even with only a year or several months of a gap, unless the attitude is right. A lot has happened in three years and you need to make enquiries now, so that you can start studying in the autumn without losing any more time.
The A level is now in two parts: AS and A2, and in total consists of six separate modules. This may mean that your original syllabuses are no longer available entirely as they were. If you intend to study full-time then it should be relatively easy to find a college where this can be done, but they may not offer all of the subjects you want to take. The same would apply to part-time study.
My advice would be to contact your local further education college or adult learning centre to see what the possibilities are. Tutorial courses are available too, but sometimes there are difficulties in finding a centre where you can sit your exams. It may be that your old schoool can help. Approach them; I am sure they would be pleased to hear from you. And you will also have a local Learning and Skills Council (LSC), which has a responsibility with regard to training and education within your area. There are many institutions which will be more than happy to help you, but you need to take the first step by contacting them to find out what is available. Make that contact now! The national LSC website is www.lsc.gov.uk.
I sat my AS exams this summer and 'cashed-in'. I feel now that I haven't done well in one unit in two of my subjects. Can I improve my overall A level grade by retaking these two units along with my A2 units next summer, even though I don't decline the grades and get my AS certificates?
Yes you can, if you do better in these units when you resit. But each time you resit a module and cash in, a result will be issued and that information made known to UCAS.
From the January 2008 examination series, candidates are no longer able to ‘decline’ grades as the declining rule has been removed. This means that after certification, candidates will not have to retake the whole qualification (AS or A level) to improve performance but may do so through re-sitting individual units.
And if an AS unit is re-taken to improve an overall A level grade, then the AS grade will be improved too, should the resit mark merit a higher grade in both the new AS and A level grades being issued. This is a change to the previous rules.
I completed my A levels a year ago and achieved an A grade in biology, and grade Cs for maths, computing and physics. And although these grades were good enough for me to get into the university of my choice, I have always thought that I could have done better – and having looked at my results again I see that I was just below a grade B in maths. Is it to late to ask for a re-mark? I accepted the grade twelve months ago. And if it is too late, how would I go about getting a higher grade? Could I simply resit one of the modules at some point or would I have to retake the whole course again after university? I know I should concentrate on my present degree studies however I cannot shake off the feeling that the three grade Cs I have at A level will hold me back in the future.
It never ceases to astound me, as to the number of students that have hang-ups about A level or GCSE grades. It's true that employers do look at performance in both these qualifications - even when you have a degree - as an indicator of your potential. But it is only one factor. Once you get into your chosen career, qualifications taken as a teenager, generally, begin to be less important and you will be judged on your track record in your chosen profession. I would have thought that a post-graduate qualification would be of greater value to you and prospective employers - if you are keen to take on further study.
Appeals and re-marks are out of the question. There is roughly a four-week period to raise enquires about results - so that is a non-starter. If you want to improve these grades - and doing it for three subjects would be a bit over the top - you could resit any of the modules and this can be done within the lifetime of the syllabus that you studied and on which your exam was set.