For a young person who has worked hard, receiving a lower grade than expected can be very upsetting. One disappointing result can quickly overshadow everything else they have achieved.
This is where talking can really matter,.
It may help to talk about how you are feeling before immediately trying to solve the problem. That might be with a parent or family member, but not every young person will feel comfortable talking to their parents about their results. A teacher, tutor or another trusted person can be just as valuable – the important thing is not to feel that you have to deal with disappointment or uncertainty on your own.
For parents, listening may initially be more helpful than analysing what went wrong. If your child doesn’t want to talk straight away – or would rather talk to someone else – give them some space and let them know that support is there when they need it.
Once the initial disappointment has settled, attention can turn to a simple question:
It can be tempting to begin by working through complete past papers, but you don’t necessarily need to do that straight away.
If a particular type of question caused difficulties, spend some time working specifically on that. If you tend to make a good point but don’t explain it fully, practise developing your answers. If your own writing needs improvement, work on planning, structure and expressing your ideas clearly.
The important thing is not simply to do more practice, but to understand what you need to improve.
Feedback can be especially helpful. Looking at an answer, understanding where marks were gained or lost and then having another attempt can help you see what you need to do differently.
Don't Forget About Timing
Occasionally, a result may be very different from what a student and their teachers expected.
If there are concerns about a grade, speak to the school or college as soon as possible. They can explain the post-results services available through the relevant exam board and advise on the appropriate next step.
Depending on the circumstances, this could include requesting access to the marked work or a review of marking.
There are procedures and deadlines to follow, and fees may apply. It is also important to understand that following a review, a mark – and potentially the resulting grade – can go up, stay the same or go down.
Don't Let One Result Knock Your Confidence
A disappointing GCSE result can affect your confidence, particularly if you worked hard the first time.
Try not to see the resit as starting all over again. You already have experience of studying the subject and sitting the examination, and there will be plenty that you already understand.
As you prepare, pay attention to the smaller improvements. You may find that you understand a question more quickly, develop an answer more fully, choose evidence more effectively or manage your time better than before.
These are all signs that you are making progress.
How an English Tutor Can Help with a GCSE Resit
For some students, one-to-one tuition can provide useful additional support when preparing for a GCSE English Language resit.
A tutor can spend time identifying the areas that are causing difficulty and concentrate lessons on what the individual student needs to work on. This might include understanding particular question types, analysing texts, developing and organising ideas, improving written responses or working on exam technique and timing.
One-to-one tuition also gives students the opportunity to ask questions, revisit something they haven’t understood and practise difficult areas at a pace that suits them.
At Personal Tutors, our English tutors provide individual support for students preparing for GCSE English Language examinations and resits. Both local in-person tuition at home and online tutoring are available.
If you are looking for a tutor for yourself, or you’re a parent looking for support for your son or daughter, you can request a Free List of English Tutors covering your area. We’ll send you details of suitable tutors to consider, including information about their experience and tuition fees. You can then decide which tutors you would like to contact directly.
There is no charge for receiving tutor details and no obligation to arrange lessons unless you decide a tutor is right for you.
Looking Ahead to Your Resit
Having to resit GCSE English Language may not have been the result you hoped for, but it doesn’t mean that you cannot achieve the grade you need.
Give yourself a little time to take in your result, then look carefully at what caused difficulties the first time. Concentrate your preparation on those areas, practise regularly and ask for help when you need it.
You already have knowledge and experience to build on. By understanding what needs to improve and focusing your preparation accordingly, you can approach your resit with a clearer idea of what you need to do differently.
