Struggles to Succeed

Every year, thousands and thousands of students send off university applications in search of higher education and better career prospects. This year, the number of applicants is said to be the highest, with much greater competition for places.

With the UCAS deadline closed, students will be facing apprehensive weeks and months: all the fantasies and dreams proclaimed and wished for during childhood are tested with the anticipation of replies that only heighten the strong fear of rejection and, ultimately, hope.

Now, fearful new threats have arisen with unsatisfactory reactions to recent A2 exams. Over 13,700 pupils have joined a Facebook group protesting against the ‘unfairness’ of a recent AQA A-Level Biology exam. The protests greatest anger come from accusations that questions were not fitting to the syllabus studied, that many of the questions were unusual and demonstrated great difference to the past papers students had undertaken for revision.

Moreover, with the introduction of these new A-Levels, and the fact that the stability of the course is still in development, many students are expressing fears over the status of getting into university as exam boards have become unorganised and contradictory, leaving professors and students alike all confused on what is expected for each exam.

Nonetheless, various sources still claim that exams are getting easier as a larger majority of students are obtaining higher grades- last year one in four A-levels were passed with a grade A. Still, these increases may not be as a result of easier exams, but simply because there is more interest and greater knowledge on the benefits of a higher education that has students working harder. Ultimately, it is important that exam boards properly address these recent concerns so that students know what is academically expected of them and are able to achieve their university prospects.