Improving A level Results during/post university

[Tommy Hallam]

Hi All,

I was wondering if it was at all possible to improve your A level results whilst at university or afterwards? I am currently studying French-Spanish and I am in my second year of study. When I applied to university the entrance requirements were BBB so I got BBB in my results but I feel I may be at a disadvantage when applying for jobs post graduation as I will be applying with students who got AAA at A level?

[Buenchico]

I have never heard of any employer taking the slightest notice of a graduate's A-level grades. Most application forms don't even ask for them. Your class of honours achieved for your degree studies will, almost certainly, be the only academic qualification that any employer will look at.

So I think it's completely pointless to retake your A-levels. However (with the exception of syllabuses that require continuous assessment throughout the course) anyone is free to take any A-level exams if
(a) they can find an examination centre which accepts external candidates (FE colleges normally do; some schools might not) ; and
(b) they're prepared to pay the relevant examination fees.

So, if you can find a college which offers evening classes, or pay for private tuition, or study the relevant subjects on your own, you can retake your A-levels. But I still think that you'd be wasting your time.

University should be fun. You do enough studying already. Get out there and enjoy yourself. If doing so involves, for example, working with disabled children or simply challenging yourself by climbing a few mountains, it will count for much, much more (when it comes to impressing prospective employers) than any A-level grades ever could.

Chris

[coccinelle]

I agree, I don't think that would help you later but if you want to stand out from the others get yourself fluent in both languages, this counts for a lot more than written work unless you're staying in translation of course. There are so few British people who can't speak a foreign language that those who do find bilingual or trilingual jobs very easily.