Bad A Level mock results can be really disheartening – especially if you put in lots of effort.
But don’t worry. Failing your A Level mocks isn’t the end of the world. Rather, it’s what you do next that really matters.
Here, we’ll show you how to use disappointing A Level mock grades to get your revision back on track and make sure you’re fully prepared for the real thing. But first…
Do A Level mocks matter?
Yes! Even though A Level mocks aren’t the real thing, they still matter.
Why?
Well, they’re an important opportunity to get a practice run in before your real A Level exams.
In this way, they should form an essential part of your exam preparation.
They’ll give you a chance to put your revision strategies to the test, experience real exam conditions and understand where you’re at in your learning.
Ultimately, taking your A Level mock exams – and your mock results – seriously will help to guide your preparation for the real thing so you can reach your full potential when it really counts.
What happens if you fail your A Level mocks?
Although it’s important to take your A Level mock exams seriously, things won’t always go to plan. After all, that’s why we have mock exams in the first place!
Remember, mock exams are a practice run. So, they won’t affect your overall A Level results.
Rather, they’re a helpful way for you and your teachers to pinpoint areas of weakness so you can improve on your grades for the real thing.
Unfortunately, they are still used by teachers a lot of the time when they’re working out your predicted grades – and these are often used by unis when they’re deciding which students to offer places to.
However, they’re not the only factor that your teachers will take into account. And anyway, once you have your real A Level results under your belt, your A Level mock exams will be a distant memory.
If you’ve failed your A Level mocks, the best thing you can do is use your results to help you get your revision back on track for the real thing.
Which brings us onto…
What to do with bad A Level mock results
Bad A Level mock results aren’t the end of the world – rather, it’s what you do with them that really counts.
Here are top tips from our expert team and handpicked tutors, to help you use your A Level mock grades to your advantage.
1. Consider what went wrong
First things first, reflect on the reasons why you might not have achieved the grades you wanted in your A Level mock exams.
A few common reasons for bad mock test results include…
- Issues with time management. Did you run out of time? Spend too long on questions that weren’t worth many marks? Or fail to leave enough time to check your answers at the end?
- Lack of preparation. Did you start your mock test preparation too late? Did you leave enough time for every subject? Were your revision techniques effective?
- Lack of understanding. Do you fully understand all the concepts covered? Do you have all the skills you need to succeed in this subject?
- Misreading the question. Did you read each question at least twice? Did you only answer the questions specific to you (in some subjects, you’ll need to avoid answering questions on texts or topics you haven’t studied)?
- Exam fear or anxiety. Did you use strategies to help you cope with exam fear? Did you look after yourself properly, for instance getting plenty of sleep and good meals?
- Exam technique. Did you remember to provide evidence to back up your points in subjects like A Level History and Sociology? Did you show all your workings out in subjects like A Level Maths?
Understanding what went wrong will help give you direction when you come to prepare for your real A Level exams.
2. Identify areas of weakness
Next, go through your mock exam papers with a fine-tooth comb and identify where you lost marks.
Which subjects did you struggle with the most? Were there any specific topics that pulled your grades down? Or any particular question types?
These are areas that you’ll need to focus on when you’re revising for the real thing.
Equally, don’t forget to identify what went right too.
Any subjects, topics or question types that you aced deserve a pat on the back. Plus, it’s worth asking yourself if you did anything differently for these that you could apply to the areas you struggled with.
For instance, did you prepare for them differently? Or give them more revision time?
Either way, this is a valuable learning opportunity!
3. Set goals
Now that you have a clear picture of where you’re at in your learning, it’s time to set yourself some goals to work towards.
Goals should be SMART, which stands for:
- Specific
- Measurable
- Achievable
- Relevant
- Time-bound
Setting the right goals will help to motivate you and keep you on track.
It’s always helpful to break bigger goals (for instance, your desired final A Level grades) down into smaller goals and action steps.
This way, you can prevent yourself from getting overwhelmed – and recognise and celebrate your progress every step of the way!
Which leads us onto…
4. Make a plan
Next, it’s time to make a plan for how you’re going to achieve your goals, taking into account everything that you’ve learned from your mocks.
Usually, this starts with making a really great revision timetable.
Map out all the time you have left until your A Level exams and plan how you’re going to spend it, giving an appropriate weighting to each subject and topic – and making sure to leave enough downtime to prevent yourself from burning out.
Not only will this ensure that you’re using your time productively to reach your goals. It’ll also help you to stress less, as you’ll know you’re on track.
However, don’t panic if you get behind at any point. While you should try to stick to your timetable, sometimes things slip – you might have a bad motivation day, or a subject might take longer than you thought.
And that’s okay!
The important thing is to keep reviewing and tweaking your revision timetable to respond to any changes and make sure it’s working with you, not against you.
“Incremental steps. Rome wasn’t built in a day!
“If you’ve remembered something that you didn’t know last week then you’re one step further along your journey than you were last week.”
– Matthew B, English Language A Level tutor
5. Ask for help
Asking for help is a strength, not a weakness!
Even though you have to sit the exams themselves on your own, you don’t need to prepare for them on your own too.
On the contrary, having a good support network you can lean on is absolutely vital – whether that’s your parents, siblings, friends, grandparents, teachers… you name it!
The right support network can hold you accountable, be a shoulder to cry on and even help to demystify complex topics that you’re struggling to wrap your head around.
In particular, if you’re struggling with your motivation or understanding, why not find an A Level tutor who you click with to help?
At Tutorful, our tutors are all handpicked and are experts at bringing their subject to life. They’ll give you one-on-one attention on the areas where you need it most, to help turn weaknesses into strengths and ensure you can reach your full potential.
In fact, 90% of students improve by at least one grade with the help of a tutor!
Browse expert, vetted tutors, message free, and book instantly.
5. Start working!
Last but not least, the most important thing of all – work hard, and start working now!
The earlier you start preparing for your A Level exams, the more time you’ll have to improve on your mock exam results.
Plus, starting earlier will mean you can take a ‘little and often’ approach, rather than cramming at the last minute.
This is likely to be a lot more effective – and a lot less stressful too!
Remember, improving on bad A Level mock results will take hard work, perseverance and the right support around you.
But with all those ingredients, there’s no reason why you can’t turn those mock exam results around and pass your A Levels with flying colours. We believe in you!
Find an A Level tutor to help you turn your A Level mock grades around
If you’ve failed your A Level mocks – or simply not got the grades you wanted – your life isn’t over.
It’s what you do next that really counts. But you don’t have to do it alone!
Our handpicked A Level tutors all have at least two years of experience and know what they’re doing when it comes to turning bad grades around.
With week-by-week plans and practice exams, they’ll give you the one-on-one attention you deserve to help you unlock your full potential and reach your goals.
Browse expert, vetted tutors, message free, and book instantly.
FAQs
Is it OK to do bad in mocks?
You should always try your best in mocks, as they’re an important opportunity to practise for the real thing. However, if you do badly, don’t panic – it’s what you do with your bad mock results that really matters.
What happens if you fail a mock test?
If you fail a mock test, your results won’t count towards your overall grade. However, your teachers may use them to help work out your predicted grades.
Is a D in A Level a fail?
No. A grade D in A Level is a pass, not a fail. In fact, to pass your A Levels, you technically only need a grade E or above. However, most universities will require specific grades for admission.
Read our guide on what is a pass at A Level to find out more.
What to do with bad A level results?
Bad A Level results can be disappointing – especially if you miss the grades you need to get into your top-choice uni. A couple of options include appealing your results or resitting your A Level exams.
Head over to our guide on what happens if you fail your A Levels to learn more about your options.
What to do after a bad mock test?
After a bad mock test, you should reflect on your results and pinpoint where things went wrong. This will allow you to learn from your mistakes and put together a plan for how to improve for the real thing.
It’s also a good idea to get a professional A Level tutor’s help. They’ll be able to work with you to ensure you reach your full potential in your real A Level exams.
