Rise in A Level Retake Enquiries Reported by Rochester Independent College
Rise in A Level Retake Enquiries Reported by Rochester Independent College
(PRWEB UK) 17 August 2011
Rochester Independent College, an independent boarding school that specialises in students resitting A levels has announced a significant rise in enquiries from students considering retakes as results day approaches.
Co Principal Alistair Brownlow says: “The surge in enquiries we are experiencing in the days leading up to results shows that students are thinking ahead and prepared to retake if they do not make their first choice university, despite the increase in university tuition fees from next year.
“Universities have always raised the bar when it comes to retakers but A level resit students, and those who have a disappointing Year 13, do secure places on the most highly competitive courses, including Veterinary Science, Law and Dentistry – if they target their applications carefully and strengthen their academic profile.”
He continues: “Next year the government cap on University places will be removed and this, combined with the tuition fees hike, means there will be a lot more space at leading institutions -as long as students have the magic AAB minimum grade passport. This might be the perfect year to consider retaking, aiming high in 2012 and not compromising in clearing.”
In 2010 Rochester Independent College had four aspiring lawyers retaking their A levels. They won LLB places at Birmingham, Exeter, Lancaster and Newcastle.
Retakers can also make it to Vet School as demonstrated by the second chance offer Amelia Liddell, formerly of King’s School, Canterbury received this year. As well as retaking Chemistry and Spanish at RIC Amelia took AS Sociology from scratch in a term and continued to broaden her work experience.
Brownlow says: “Where retakers fail to secure places it is often because they do the bare minimum – resitting only certain modules. Successful students use the opportunity of an academic gap year to do extra subjects. They present themselves to universities as better potential undergraduates than they were applying first time around.”
Typical is Matthew Sarstedt who was adamant that the disappointing A level grades would not hold him back. “On results day I knew I had to resit – I was determined to study Dentistry rather than going through Clearing.”
He continues: “When you do resits, a lot of universities raise their entrance criteria, so I had to get AAA. To get that extra edge, I also took two more AS levels. If you are planning to resit, you have to go above and beyond, and give something extra.”
First time round Matthew was rejected from all the Dental schools without interview. Applying from RIC as a resit student – when it should have been harder to get in – he received offers, achieved his grades and started at Sheffield University in September 2010.
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