A level Results 15 August 2024

Yesterday was A level results day and I am pleased to say that all the students I tutored at this level did exceptionally well. There is plenty in the media about the national results, with full analysis of regional trends as well as some interesting scrutiny of different subject disciplines. The BBC is a good place to start if you wish to get a decent overview of the grade patterns and the wider contextual factors. For the breakdown of grade boundaries, go to the relevant examination boards and the information should be available in pdf format for you to view.

But for those of you interested in A Level English tuition with me, the excerpts below from feedback I received yesterday might be most useful. I am really pleased with what my students have achieved at this level since it is a seminal moment for many of them as they achieve their UCAS aims and take the next step to university.

Imogen Barratt   
A level English Literature  Grade A*   
ELAT entry  Cambridge University

From Imogen:
‘Hi Jonathan,

I am so pleased to tell you that I’ve been accepted into Cambridge! I got the A* in English, A* in Psychology and an A in French.

In the first English paper, which included the Measure for Measure essay, the Unseen Poetry and the Gatsby comparison, I got 99%!

Thank you so much for your help over the past few years. I couldn’t be more grateful for everything you’ve done from coaching me through the English admissions assessment to picking up the slack from my teachers this year as well as always being confident in my abilities.’

From Samantha, her mother:
‘No doubt Imogen has already told you the good news of the confirmation of her place at Cambridge. Thank you so much again for your time with her which I think made all the difference.’

 

Aurelia Altuntug      
English Language A level  Grade A*        English Literature A level  Grade A

From Aurelia:
‘I’ll get straight into it: for English Literature I got an A, English Language an A* and French an A – so straight As. After a good two months of stressing over the results, this is very much reassuring, to say the absolute least!

I would like to deeply thank you for what you have taught me over the years with English Language and Literature. I’ve been to many different schools, had many different teachers, but only three of them truly helped me with my development – both academically and as a person. I consider you to be one of them. Beyond your strong teachings in Language and Lit, you have also taught me valuable skills, such as critical thinking and discipline, that will always benefit me in life. Although I will no longer study Language nor Literature, I will forever hold a deep love for both subjects, especially Literature (I’ve been spending a lot of my summer reading some classics in both French and English, notably La Peste which I’m continuing with), thanks to you.’

 

From Patricia, her mother:
‘Thank you so much. You gave her the strength to believe in herself and of course the skills. We are so grateful for all you have done for her over the years from GCSE to A level!’

 

Shaan K
A level English Language   Grade: A* (overall score 470/500)

From his mother, Ravinder:

‘I wanted to say a HUGE thank you for all the help and support you provided to Shaan. You will have heard he’s got an A* in English which is awesome.’

GCSE and A Level Exam Dates

Exams are approaching! Below is confirmation of all the exam dates for my GCSE and A level English students: 

GCSE English Language and Literature

Language Paper 1    23rd May
Language Paper 2    6th June

Literature Paper 1   13th May
Literature Paper 2   20th May

English Literature A Level

Paper 1   24th May
Paper 2   5th June

English Language A Level

Paper 1  23rd May
Paper 2  7th June

We still have plenty of revision sessions in the coming weeks! Looking forward to another great set of results from everyone this year.

Jonathan

 

 

 

GCSE and A Level Results Success

All twelve of my GCSE and A Level cohort for summer 2022 have now received their results and, without exception, they have performed extremely well. All at least matched their predicted grades in Language and Literature and in over 90 % of cases the final grades were above those predicted.

I am absolutely thrilled for all of them and pleased too that such kind feedback was sent to me on results day. It has been a tough couple of years for these students and the rewards they have received for their outstanding efforts make everything worthwhile.

Below is a selection of comments from parents and students to give you a flavour of how important success is to each of them. I am really proud to have had the opportunity to work with all of them.


Hi Jonathan,

I got my A level results yesterday, and I got three A*s! Thank you so much for all of your help with my personal statement and interview prep, as well as all of our sessions over lockdown. I really appreciate it and feel like they’ve prepared me well for Cambridge!

Kiran


We wanted to let you know that we can’t express in just a few words our gratitude for the possibilities and opportunities you have given to Aurélia to explore.  This journey wouldn’t have been the same without your professional guidance, all your care and attention.  We know it was going to be difficult to be home-schooled. We needed the best teachers. We feel very privileged and blessed to have found you😊

Not only did you help her reach the highest grade in English literature with a  A* as well as a  A in English in her IGCSE but you also gave her the confidence to move forward and beyond in her learning.

Patricia


Hi Jonathan

I got an 8 in English Literature and a 9 in Language! Thank you so much for all your help and I’ve decided I’m definitely doing English Literature for a-level.

Imogen


To Jonathan

I got a 7 in English language and 6 in English lit!!!!!! After getting 5 and 6s the whole of year 10 and 11!

Thank you so much

Ishani


Hi Jonathan

Thought you would want to know that Charlotte got 7s in both Lit and Lang, she is so pleased!!

Clare


Hi Jonathan,

Killian got grade 5 in English Language and 4 in English Literature!

We are really pleased for him,  he is delighted. Thank you so much for all you did.

Kind Regards,

Catherine


Hi Jonathan

I hope you are well. I wanted to let you know that Shaan got grade 9s in English literature and English language.

Thanks so much for your support and looking forward to continuing working with you in Sept.

Kind regards,

Rav

GCSE English Language Resit Results

Students of mine who sat the November English Language GCSE resit received their results this week and there was some great news for many of them. 

The highest praise has to go to Anoushka who transformed a grade 5 into a quite remarkable 8, an achievement which is going to have a significant impact on her future path in education as well as her employment prospects. Employers looking at her grades will see evidence not only of a high level of competence in critical reading and a range of writing skills, but also the tenacity and determination that underpin success in a whole variety of challenges that are encountered in the work place. 

I am so delighted for all of those students whose efforts have been rewarded.  It makes everything so worthwhile.

Jonathan

A level and GCSE results

Exam Success!

Congratulations to my A level and GCSE students on their excellent results in English.

I am delighted to have had the opportunity to work with so many well motivated students over the last year, all of whom have demonstrated commendable determination to succeed in very testing circumstances.

For anyone looking to the coming academic year for support in A level English Literature or Language, or to help prepare for GCSE exams in November or June, please drop me an email via my Contact page.

I have a little availability as things stand at present but expect this to change once the new academic year comes into sharper focus as we move towards the end of this month.

Thanks to all
Jonathan

 

 

Examination time – with a difference

It has been a very challenging time for all students in secondary education but those whose external exams have been cancelled have had to contend with more uncertainty than seems fair. Year 11 and 13 students have a challenging term ahead of them once the Easter break is over as they face a series of assessments to determine their final grades.

After last year’s chaos, the good news is that the algorithm chaos of last year has been avoided. Instead the situation for 2021 is that schools can determine grades by using a combination of mock exams, coursework and essays. In essence then, the grading system for this year is built around teachers’ judgements.

Continue reading “Examination time – with a difference”

GCSE resits success!

man in library

Congratulations to all my GCSE English resit students for their super results in the November exams.

Every single one of them secured at least the equivalent of a pass, with a couple of students performing superbly to secure grade 7, or what used to be thought of as a low A.  I received some really kind feedback from one of their parents:

‘I wanted to let you know that William boosted his English grade and got a 7- we are all so happy!

Thanks again for all your help – couldn’t have done it without you.

Thanks again,
Kathryn Edward and William’

Continue reading “GCSE resits success!”

Online tuition and the coronavirus

There’s an interesting article on the BBC today which includes a good section on the outlook for education in the near future and the role of online tuition.

Scroll down to the fifth section to see what Branwen Jeffreys has to say:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/explainers-52356136

Over the past five weeks or so, all my sessions have moved online and students have adapted to this with remarkable ease, using technology like Zoom and Facetime effortlessly,

Continue reading “Online tuition and the coronavirus”

GCSE and A Level Results

library books

A big congratulations and thanks to all the students from this year who have done so well in achieving the grades they needed. Thanks too for the great feedback on results day!

Best wishes to everyone.