It’s the day that leaves many an anxious student fighting their nerves as they await the outcome of their fate: A Level results day. Will you pass? Will you fail? Will it be the end of life as you know it?
While we can’t comment on the first two, what we can tell you is though it might feel like failing your A Levels would be the end of the world, it really isn’t. There are so many alternative routes you can take to reach your goals.
So, instead of panicking in the run-up to results day, read about the efficient alternatives that will put your mind at ease.
How To Deal With Bad A Level Results
The first thing you should do if the A Level results you receive aren’t what you wanted or needed, is to take a step back and look at the entire picture.
While you might have ‘failed’ to get the results that allow you to cross the threshold to university or get grades that you thought would be impressive to others, you have still accomplished a huge achievement.
Studying is hard, and sitting exams in an intensive shared environment is even harder. There are all kinds of reasons why the anxiety and stress of academic study gets the better of learners of all ages. The thing to remember is you have come this far and you have learnt a lot in the process. It has not been a wasted journey.
The second thing to remember is there are many incredibly successful people who have achieved great things without following the traditional education route. You only need to look at the yearly Jeremy Clarkson A Level results day Tweets to be reminded of this:
While a little boastful, they help drive the message home: A Level results aren’t the be-all and end-all.
Secure University Entry Without A Levels
The typical go-to option at this point used to be setting yourself up for gruelling A Level re-sits. However, traditional re-sits force you back into a rigid classroom timeline, or drag out your university plans for another year.
Instead, thousands of modern students are completely side-stepping A Levels in favour of an Access to Higher Education Diploma.
Access to HE Diplomas are nationally recognised Level 3 qualifications specifically engineered to act as a direct pathway to university, condensed into a single course. Even better? They are completely assignment-based, which means you can entirely bypass the high-stakes anxiety of intensive end-of-year exams.
By studying an Access to HE Diploma with Stonebridge Associated Colleges, you can benefit from our fully flexible subscription learning model. There are no fixed contracts or upfront credit agreements—you simply pay an affordable monthly fee and retain the total freedom to pause or cancel your subscription whenever life requires it.
With our 100% online, modular course design, you can:
- Be qualified and ready to apply to university within a year.
- Earn UCAS tariff points that meet competitive degree entry requirements.
- Develop foundational study skills tailored for degree-level learning.
- Learn under the guidance of professional, dedicated distance-learning Tutors.
We have these fast-track university pathways available right now across an array of highly sought-after professional fields. You can easily find the perfect match on our website to jumpstart your future as a:
- Midwife or Nurse (via our Access to HE Diplomas in Midwifery, Nursing, or Health and Social Care)
- Veterinary Scientist or Zoologist (via our Access to HE Diploma in Veterinary Science)
- Mental Health Professional (via our Access to HE Diploma in Psychology or Criminology)
- Computer Scientist or Engineer (via our Access to HE Diplomas in Computing or Engineering)
- Teacher (via our Access to HE Diploma in Education Professions)
Secure Essential Functional Skills Quickly
If it wasn’t your full A Levels that held you back, but a missed pass in your core GCSE subjects required for university entry or career progression, you don’t need to retake a whole academic year. You can fix it in a matter of weeks entirely online.
Stonebridge offers a fully flexible subscription pathway for Functional Skills English and Maths Level 2 courses, which include your official exams. These are fully recognised GCSE equivalents that allow you to learn at home, sit your tests online when you feel confident, and secure the vital credentials you need without disrupting your life.
Complete A Career Course
While you could go through Access to HE Diplomas to get into university, there are other ways to access gated career opportunities. Granted, some career paths can’t be entered without a degree. However, there are many you can now get employed within once you complete an online qualification.
This is not only a great time-saving exercise as online courses are much quicker to complete than a degree, but they are also much cheaper. When you consider the entire set of costs associated with university level study, you can save a fortune by going down the online route.
With Stonebridge Associated Colleges’ flexible subscription courses, you can build industry-regulated skills module-by-module. You pay as you learn and advance entirely on your own terms.
So, what careers can you get into? Through our regulated vocational courses, you could become a:
- Zookeeper (via the Zookeeping Level 3 Diploma RQF)
- Veterinary Nursing Assistant (via the Level 2 Diploma for Veterinary Nursing Assistants RQF)
- Adult Care Worker (via the Level 3 Diploma in Adult Care RQF)
- Early Years Educator (via the TQUK Level 3 Diploma for Working in the Early Years Sector)
- Teaching Assistant (via the Level 3 Diploma in Supporting Teaching and Learning RQF)
- Care Sector Leader (via the TQUK Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management for Adult Care RQF)
Besides helping you enter a rewarding career, online courses allow you to easily juggle other responsibilities like childcare or an existing job with your studies!
Why Choose Online A Level Alternatives?
As time goes by, our needs change. This has called for the education system to evolve to enable a more flexible approach to learning and getting qualified.
This means that today, A Levels aren’t the only route to achieving your goal. There are many convenient online alternatives that can see you achieving just as much success but in a quicker timeframe.
This is why so many learners are choosing online study over the classroom, and why you don’t have to stress if your A Level results aren’t what you were aiming for.
Through our online courses you can:
-
Save money on your education with our monthly subscription structure
-
Pause or cancel your learning path at any point without financial penalties
-
Study from anywhere in the world
-
Learn on your terms without strict timetables or classrooms
-
Qualify faster
Your Backup Plan, Sorted!
Remember, if your A Levels don’t go to plan, it’s ok. We can keep you on track to success in a way that is more convenient for you. Just call our team to discuss your options and find the best backup plan for your situation.
Call them now on 0121 392 8288 or reach out to them online.
Leave a Reply