Retaking A levels as private candidate in 2017

[wei1006]

Hi,
I'm kinda new here and lost about things... I've took A level as school candidate this year but I've screwed them up and there's a very high possibility that I will do badly for H2 physics and mathematics having checked the 'ans' on reddit... Just wanna know how does retaking A level works in case I could not get a place into a local uni and too lost to search for info regarding all these. Not considering private and overseas uni cuz of the fees and also the application deadlines for overseas uni...

Firstly, is there any information provided by SEAB or MOE regarding retaking A level?
I know that retaking A levels means that I'll need to retake GP and 3H2s(in my case H2 Physics, Math and Translation). How about the practical? Heard that there's a different subject code for those without practicals.

I heard that registration as private candidate has to be submitted by end of March. Can I apply for uni and wait for offers? And if I receive a offer, can I withdraw my application to retake As? How about the payment? Any refund?

How does the bell curve for private candidate work? Or is there no bell curve?

How does application for uni for private candidate work? Do they still consider your application the same way as school candidates?

Will there still be opportunities for scholarship?

How about application to overseas uni? If I wish to apply for overseas uni for 2019 Fall admission, how do things work?

Any advice on these queries will be appreciated. Thanks!

 

[Parmesean]

Hi,
I'm kinda new here and lost about things... I've took A level as school candidate this year but I've screwed them up and there's a very high possibility that I will do badly for H2 physics and mathematics having checked the 'ans' on reddit... Just wanna know how does retaking A level works in case I could not get a place into a local uni and too lost to search for info regarding all these. Not considering private and overseas uni cuz of the fees and also the application deadlines for overseas uni...

Firstly, is there any information provided by SEAB or MOE regarding retaking A level?
I know that retaking A levels means that I'll need to retake GP and 3H2s(in my case H2 Physics, Math and Translation). How about the practical? Heard that there's a different subject code for those without practicals.

I heard that registration as private candidate has to be submitted by end of March. Can I apply for uni and wait for offers? And if I receive a offer, can I withdraw my application to retake As? How about the payment? Any refund?

How does the bell curve for private candidate work? Or is there no bell curve?

How does application for uni for private candidate work? Do they still consider your application the same way as school candidates?

Will there still be opportunities for scholarship?

How about application to overseas uni? If I wish to apply for overseas uni for 2019 Fall admission, how do things work?

Any advice on these queries will be appreciated. Thanks!

Though I am not familiar with the SEAB 'A' Levels, there is also the CIE 'A' & 'As' Levels you may want to consider. As you are taking it as a private candidate, why limit yourself to the subjects you took in JC, the world is your oyster, you can take whatever subjects you please.

You can read more about the CIE 'A' & 'As' Levels here

You can register for the CIE 'A' & 'As' Levels at the British Council.

Hope this is of use to you!

 

[zcrusader]

Firstly, is there any information provided by SEAB or MOE regarding retaking A level?

Yes, they're all on the SEAB website.

I know that retaking A levels means that I'll need to retake GP and 3H2s(in my case H2 Physics, Math and Translation). How about the practical? Heard that there's a different subject code for those without practicals.


Your marks for SPA can be carried forward if you decide to retake Alevel the very next year.
(so if 2017 take H2 Phy + 2016 take H2 Phy SPA, then 2018 you can just opt to take the H2 Phy paper in 2018).
If you choose to retake in 2019 or later, your SPA results can't be carried forward, and you need to carry out new experiment(s) at some JC (usually).


I heard that registration as private candidate has to be submitted by end of March. Can I apply for uni and wait for offers? And if I receive a offer, can I withdraw my application to retake As? How about the payment? Any refund?

Actually, by right that's true. However, if you need time to think, you can just register first without paying. (I think DL for payment is end Mar).
But don't worry la, after that can still email SEAB to register with no penalties (I think until mid June, then from mid June to mid Jul got some fee).

Of course you can apply to Uni. However, you should note that if your RP sucks, local unis will take a long time (like end June or so) to get back to you (except NUS).

You can do payment for the private Alvls at those SAM machines you see in shopping malls etc, or through online transaction. Iirc, refund depends on the timing you withdraw.

How does the bell curve for private candidate work? Or is there no bell curve?

Legend says the bell curve is with the rest of the candidates (including the JC kids) taking the same paper.

How does application for uni for private candidate work? Do they still consider your application the same way as school candidates?

Don't worry about this. You don't have to worry about your PW also, local unis have other ways to judge.

Will there still be opportunities for scholarship?

Of course. My friend did quite average during her JC Alvl, and she was not happy about it. She took a gap year to work and retake Alvls, and is now doing really well in NTU. She applied for a scholarship for her programme (try luck), and actually got it.

I have another friend who did quite badly for Alvls back in JC. But she chose to use the failure to push herself, and is now at SUTD.


Can one la. It's going to be tough, but you've experienced that shitty feeling. Make sure you work hard so that you don't have to experienced that again.

How about application to overseas uni? If I wish to apply for overseas uni for 2019 Fall admission, how do things work?

I really can't help with this. Overseas uni all got their different cut-off application dates and entry requirements. You need to do your own research for this.


All the best!

 

[eddief4]

Firstly, is there any information provided by SEAB or MOE regarding retaking A level?

Yes, they're all on the SEAB website.

I know that retaking A levels means that I'll need to retake GP and 3H2s(in my case H2 Physics, Math and Translation). How about the practical? Heard that there's a different subject code for those without practicals.


Your marks for SPA can be carried forward if you decide to retake Alevel the very next year.
(so if 2017 take H2 Phy + 2016 take H2 Phy SPA, then 2018 you can just opt to take the H2 Phy paper in 2018).
If you choose to retake in 2019 or later, your SPA results can't be carried forward, and you need to carry out new experiment(s) at some JC (usually).


I heard that registration as private candidate has to be submitted by end of March. Can I apply for uni and wait for offers? And if I receive a offer, can I withdraw my application to retake As? How about the payment? Any refund?

Actually, by right that's true. However, if you need time to think, you can just register first without paying. (I think DL for payment is end Mar).
But don't worry la, after that can still email SEAB to register with no penalties (I think until mid June, then from mid June to mid Jul got some fee).

Of course you can apply to Uni. However, you should note that if your RP sucks, local unis will take a long time (like end June or so) to get back to you (except NUS).

You can do payment for the private Alvls at those SAM machines you see in shopping malls etc, or through online transaction. Iirc, refund depends on the timing you withdraw.

How does the bell curve for private candidate work? Or is there no bell curve?

Legend says the bell curve is with the rest of the candidates (including the JC kids) taking the same paper.

How does application for uni for private candidate work? Do they still consider your application the same way as school candidates?

Don't worry about this. You don't have to worry about your PW also, local unis have other ways to judge.

Will there still be opportunities for scholarship?

Of course. My friend did quite average during her JC Alvl, and she was not happy about it. She took a gap year to work and retake Alvls, and is now doing really well in NTU. She applied for a scholarship for her programme (try luck), and actually got it.

I have another friend who did quite badly for Alvls back in JC. But she chose to use the failure to push herself, and is now at SUTD.


Can one la. It's going to be tough, but you've experienced that shitty feeling. Make sure you work hard so that you don't have to experienced that again.

How about application to overseas uni? If I wish to apply for overseas uni for 2019 Fall admission, how do things work?

I really can't help with this. Overseas uni all got their different cut-off application dates and entry requirements. You need to do your own research for this.


All the best!

Just to add some information to the OP

For bell curve, the usual subjects such as economics, maths, GP etc. will be graded on the usual bell curve with JC kids. For niche subjects, there will be no bell curve.

For application to university, unless you're a fresh private A level candidate, the uni will take into account your previous PW grade and you can submit your fresh A level grades for uni application.

As for scholarships, your grades do matter but scholarship opportunities still exists. I got a one year scholarship from my residential college despite not having straight A's (I did get 2 A's for H2 level). Scholarship wise, it's all about how you present yourself to be honest. If they shortlist you, it's then how you present yourself.

 

[Ottoke]

This thread will be closed to prevent spamming.

If you are planning to retake your A Levels in 2018, do kindly start a new thread. Thanks.

O