A Year After A-Levels

By Ve

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A-levels, if anyone is not familiar with it, is a British standard qualification required for university. Many, including myself, may not have been prepared for the jump towards this rigorous education system. To give a little background, when I first started out, I was pretty carefree about the whole process. I was the “naturally gifted” child who received stellar grades all throughout my school career; A-levels wouldn’t be any different, right?
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Wrong. Being naturally gifted wasn’t enough and it got overwhelming pretty fast. The increased workload and content overload was bad enough, but combined with my rapidly declining mental health, my academic performance was severely affected. From being a straight-A student to failing my mock tests, it was a serious blow to my self esteem. At that moment, I nearly accepted my fate and wholeheartedly believed that this was the end of my education. Now that a year has passed, I can see the exaggeration, but I can also see where I went wrong. 

For my final A-level exams, I was somehow able to pull myself together literally during the last month. I knew I didn’t have much time, so I only focused on preparing for 3 out of 4 subjects and retook the last subject 2 months later. Ultimately, I didn’t get the stellar A stars I not-so-secretly wished for. On the other hand, the B’s I got seem pretty darn good for someone on the verge of failing, and for that, I'm proud of myself. 

A few pieces of advice I would give to whoever is reading this, as well as my younger self:

• Establish good study habits

This is something I wish I understood earlier. Unlike before, not studying, or simply cramming, does not work in high school where concepts are intricate and vast. Setting up and following a study pattern from day 1 can work wonders (as evidence of my current progress in university!) If you’re a little late to this, don’t stress! Although it may vary among people, considering I was able to turn the tides within a month, I believe that it’s never really too late to start studying efficiently. If you’re reading this the day before your test, however, look away :).

• Get enough rest

I cannot stress this enough- do not overwork yourself!! Pulling an all nighter to study or finish up assignments seems pretty common; I’m guilty of going overboard overnight as well, however it’s best to avoid it. You need a good amount of sleep to function properly, nevermind the fact that retaining information while sleep deprived is simply futile. Moreover, overworking can negatively impact your mental health since it’s pretty much a recipe for burnout. Listen to your body and take that nap or youtube break if needed! 

• Reach out for help

I know it can be rather scary at first, but don’t hesitate to reach out for help! Whether that be to your mentors, parents, or anyone else you trust, confiding in someone truly does release the burden a bit. Relating it back to education, once I opened up about my academic struggles, my teachers and parents suggested a tutor who finally helped me understand how to tackle each subject. Furthermore, opening up emotionally to my friends and joining therapy ultimately helped me overcome my inner struggles! So as you can see, not only might this help out your academics, but having a good support system is great for your mental health. The only regret I have is not reaching out a year or two earlier; it would have made my A-level experience a whole lot easier. 

Asking for help, being well rested, and setting up good study habits are some of the major factors that helped me out. Not only are these essential for high school, but they can help you out later in life as well. 

School is tough- there’s no sugar-coating it, but the way you choose to handle it can make it easier. Hopefully your experience was better than mine!

Remember, a bad grade isn’t the end of the world. You’re going to be alright! Power through and learn from the past.