A-levels: 'Lead-up to results day is more stressful than exams'
Erin McCabe, a medical student hopeful, writes about how she is feeling apprehensive ahead of receiving her results on Thursday.
Saturday 24 August 2019 06:05, UK
A-level students across the country are eagerly awaiting their results this week, bringing an end to an intense two years of studying.
However, what many past exam-takers forget is how the stress and anxiety that builds up before results day can eat you up.
Erin McCabe, from Wyke College in Hull, is among those feeling particularly apprehensive before opening her letter on Thursday.
Here, the 18-year-old medical student hopeful writes for Sky News.
The days leading up to results day have somehow been more stressful than the actual exams themselves.
I have applied to study medicine and have been lucky enough to get offers from four medical schools, with Hull York Medical School my firm choice.
Thankfully, I was able to do my EPQ in Year 12, meaning that the A* I have achieved has allowed a reduced offer, down to AAB.
Despite this slight reduction, I am anxious about results day.
After my exams I was somewhat confident about my ability to get into medical school but now, almost two months later, I am much less confident.
Although originally trying to distract myself from results day, I have been preparing for this day as most of my friends have been, by watching almost every A-level results reaction video that I can find in an attempt to make myself less worried, yet this has not helped at all.
I have been in the process of applying to medical school for around three years now, from completing work experience and volunteering to going through admission tests and countless interviews.
It is scary how all of this work comes down to a few exams.
I am particularly worried about maths as it is the first year in which everyone takes the reformed specification and I, much like all of my friends, found this very challenging.
Not getting the results you want or need is not the end of the world, however results feel very important to me.
For a career in medicine, getting good A-level results is the easiest way in. If I do not get the grades for my firm choice, I have an insurance choice of the University of Leicester to study medical genetics.
This would not be ideal, but I would then try and apply to postgraduate medicine after completing the degree.
Hopefully on results day I will be celebrating.
My friends and I are going for breakfast after we have received our results (we will all be too anxious to eat beforehand!).
I am then scheduled to work for a few hours before I meet back with my friends to enjoy results day night, before a trip to London the next day.
Erin achieved A*AAB (Biology, Chemistry, History, Maths) in her A-levels and is excited to start her medical degree at Hull York Medical School.