How to get better results next time
ToDAY, thousands of teenagers will celebrate their GCsE results south of the Border. However, it will not be a success story for all, and some students face the possibility of retakes.
Those who fail to make the grade in English and Maths — achieving below a four on the new GCsE grading system — must carry on studying them. The benchmark was previously a grade C. Retakes are allowed in the november and summer of the following academic year. There are also resit opportunities in science and additional science.
Rakhee Kotwal, a course director and tutor at Justin Craig Education, has compiled a simple checklist for students who do not get the results they expected:
TAlK To YouR TEACHERs: were the results expected? where did you lose marks? And ask their advice on whether you need to resit your exams, or which other options there are.
lEARn FRoM THE REsulT: if you decide to retake, then ask for feedback. This will enable you to look at where you can improve.
CREATE A nEw sTuDY PRoGRAMME: For retake revision, or to consolidate your knowledge as you go through the academic year, gaining confidence in your ability and reducing the stress level for next time.
Ms Kotwal says: ‘it is widely believed that the same environmental setting, way of learning and exam preparation can hinder students from thinking outside of the box.’
she argues this is where ‘external’ revision experts, such as Justin Craig, can help.
‘They work alongside experienced teachers, examiners and other educational bodies,’ she says.
‘The perception of retaking exams as dull, monotonous and demotivating can be changed in a different setting, bringing a different result altogether, not only in result but in attitude, focus and more importantly positivity.
‘The Justin Craig approach helps students embrace their revision, becoming an enjoyable experience as opposed to being stuck in a rut.’
FoR more information about Justin Craig Education, log on to www. justincraig.ac.uk