Phew - Thanks F*** That's Over
Finished the exam hours ago but had to dash into work, grabbing some lunch on the way. Had a class (in theory) but they didn't turn up, so it was a bit of a wasted trip - but I did see my maths group who had an exam today and spoke to the biology teachers at work who had copies of the paper.
Just to explain a littel - the A level is made up of six modules. In the case of biology, it is unusual in that all six modules count for equal marks - 100 each so 600 in total. I di two modules (200 points) in January, so have 400 other points to do. Some of these come from the two projects I was doing a while back - something around 90, although that isn't exact. Each of the two practical projects has a theory paper to go with it, and I'm doing those this summer.
To make matters more complex, the course is split into two halves - AS and A2. The AS is what you'd normally do in the lower sixth, the A2 the year after. Both halves are worth the same - 300 points, but the AS half are understandably easier.
In January I did one module from each half. Module one is AS and I scored 100. Module 4 is A2 and I scored 72. My concern is that I thought I'd done better on the module 4 paper.
Anyway - what I need to get into physio school is a B grade, which needs 420 points out of 600 - or an average of 70 in each paper. An A (which I'd ideally like) is 480, or 80 in each paper. An added complication is that marks are scaled slightly according to how other students did across the country - so my 72 in module 4 was actually 64% as the "raw" marked - which is why I was so disappointed when I thought I'd got at least 90%!
Today was module 2 and the second half of module 3 - both AS modules. I'd done the project bit of the AS a few months back, and while I don't know the mark I anticipate a very good score. Even so - I wanted to get as many extra marks "in the bank" today to take the pressure off the other two papers which are A2 and seem a lot harder to score well on. I am redoing module 4 and if I do better will keep the better score, but I may well not have time to study too thoroughly for that.
The module two paper was first, and while I may have dropped the occasional mark here and there, they were very occasional, and I found myself knowing the answer to most of the questions immediately - standard answers I knew backwards, and the ones I slightly struggled on I've found out from talking to the bio teachers at work that I got correct. I don't have to score 100% to get 100 - as it gets scaled up. In January I got 100 for module one in spite of scoring 53 out of 60 on the paper - it gets scaled up. So - I think I dropped a mark or two, but I anticipate scoring somewhere between 95 on that paper. I sat there in the break feelign evry chuffed - all was going to plan!
Then onto module 3. This is worth roughly 55 marks as the project counts for the other 45. Hopefully I'd scored at least 40 out of the 45, but still wanted to get as close to the 55 available marks for the written paper. Unfortunately this wasn't the case. While the questions were undoubtedly on the syllabus, they were on a few semi-neglected areas, that although I'd studied I wasn't as razor sharp on as on most of the syllabus. I put down what I hope were sensible answers, and I've since foudn that they probably weren't bad, but I'm sure to drop quite a few marks. Let's just hope I can score at least 70 on module 3 - with a good coursework that should be reasonable likely. I'd need something like 30 out of 55 - probably something like half marks given there will be a slightly scaling up. It's possible I may do even better, although that'd be thanks to the coursework!
Anyway - so - I'm hoping to take something around 270 from the AS modules, leaving me with 210 to get on the A2 bits. I've already got 72 from module 4, even if I don't improve, and realistically a raw score of something like 65% should see me safe. The A2 project went well but the marking is less predictible.
I'm left feeling that an A is highly achievable, but after the shock module 4 mark I'm nervous about it. I can afford to drop a further 60 marks to get the B I need to get into physio school, which would mean more like 40% on the remaining papers - which I really can't see happening! Than again - who knows!. Physio school next year is the ultimate aim - but I would like an A - after saying how A levels have got easier I'll feel a right dumbass if I don't manage it! Then again - I have been doing a course that is acknowledged as tough in one year while working three days a week! I could always re-sit a module next year if I don't get an A and it bothers me!
I should do some exercise tonight - but frankly I'm mentally exhausted. A run might help me relax, but my right knee is still a bit stiff, and I don't want to agitate it before the great Ice Skating extravaganza tomorrow!
Just to explain a littel - the A level is made up of six modules. In the case of biology, it is unusual in that all six modules count for equal marks - 100 each so 600 in total. I di two modules (200 points) in January, so have 400 other points to do. Some of these come from the two projects I was doing a while back - something around 90, although that isn't exact. Each of the two practical projects has a theory paper to go with it, and I'm doing those this summer.
To make matters more complex, the course is split into two halves - AS and A2. The AS is what you'd normally do in the lower sixth, the A2 the year after. Both halves are worth the same - 300 points, but the AS half are understandably easier.
In January I did one module from each half. Module one is AS and I scored 100. Module 4 is A2 and I scored 72. My concern is that I thought I'd done better on the module 4 paper.
Anyway - what I need to get into physio school is a B grade, which needs 420 points out of 600 - or an average of 70 in each paper. An A (which I'd ideally like) is 480, or 80 in each paper. An added complication is that marks are scaled slightly according to how other students did across the country - so my 72 in module 4 was actually 64% as the "raw" marked - which is why I was so disappointed when I thought I'd got at least 90%!
Today was module 2 and the second half of module 3 - both AS modules. I'd done the project bit of the AS a few months back, and while I don't know the mark I anticipate a very good score. Even so - I wanted to get as many extra marks "in the bank" today to take the pressure off the other two papers which are A2 and seem a lot harder to score well on. I am redoing module 4 and if I do better will keep the better score, but I may well not have time to study too thoroughly for that.
The module two paper was first, and while I may have dropped the occasional mark here and there, they were very occasional, and I found myself knowing the answer to most of the questions immediately - standard answers I knew backwards, and the ones I slightly struggled on I've found out from talking to the bio teachers at work that I got correct. I don't have to score 100% to get 100 - as it gets scaled up. In January I got 100 for module one in spite of scoring 53 out of 60 on the paper - it gets scaled up. So - I think I dropped a mark or two, but I anticipate scoring somewhere between 95 on that paper. I sat there in the break feelign evry chuffed - all was going to plan!
Then onto module 3. This is worth roughly 55 marks as the project counts for the other 45. Hopefully I'd scored at least 40 out of the 45, but still wanted to get as close to the 55 available marks for the written paper. Unfortunately this wasn't the case. While the questions were undoubtedly on the syllabus, they were on a few semi-neglected areas, that although I'd studied I wasn't as razor sharp on as on most of the syllabus. I put down what I hope were sensible answers, and I've since foudn that they probably weren't bad, but I'm sure to drop quite a few marks. Let's just hope I can score at least 70 on module 3 - with a good coursework that should be reasonable likely. I'd need something like 30 out of 55 - probably something like half marks given there will be a slightly scaling up. It's possible I may do even better, although that'd be thanks to the coursework!
Anyway - so - I'm hoping to take something around 270 from the AS modules, leaving me with 210 to get on the A2 bits. I've already got 72 from module 4, even if I don't improve, and realistically a raw score of something like 65% should see me safe. The A2 project went well but the marking is less predictible.
I'm left feeling that an A is highly achievable, but after the shock module 4 mark I'm nervous about it. I can afford to drop a further 60 marks to get the B I need to get into physio school, which would mean more like 40% on the remaining papers - which I really can't see happening! Than again - who knows!. Physio school next year is the ultimate aim - but I would like an A - after saying how A levels have got easier I'll feel a right dumbass if I don't manage it! Then again - I have been doing a course that is acknowledged as tough in one year while working three days a week! I could always re-sit a module next year if I don't get an A and it bothers me!
I should do some exercise tonight - but frankly I'm mentally exhausted. A run might help me relax, but my right knee is still a bit stiff, and I don't want to agitate it before the great Ice Skating extravaganza tomorrow!
posted by XFR Bear @ 7:09 pm
4 Comments:
Sounds like hard work :-/
Maybe a little run is needed to relax.
Ice skating eh! we go every week, I can even go backwards now ;-)
I fully expect to go backwards - falling on me bum is going backwards isn't it? ;-)
Oi, no skiving during the Juneathon! Get out there :-)
Enjoy the skating tomorrow
A levels-a means to an end
i certainly wouldnt be retaking if i got a B
you will have more than enough on with the physio course
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