Failing A-level student seeking advice

[empty tendon]

Hey everyone! I'm currently an Edexcel/Cambridge IAL student with the subjects Math (Edexcel), Physics (CAIE) and CS (Also CAIE) - I am going to fail my CS and Physics in this May/June 2026 exam but I can get an A in Math easily tho I might get a U in CS and D or U in Physics 🙁

My problem is that I don't know what to do from here. I don't want to do Engineering or CS in Uni (Because I despise and curse physics and CS in my sleep) and I'm also against fields like Business, Accounting, Econ and other related subjects.

My plan does sound idiotic but I choose Chemistry(Edexcel) and Biology (Edexcel and I didn't do IGCSE Biology) and go for Pharma, in turn spend another 2 years doing AS and A2 as a private candidate or go for foundation year (I don't know if they'll accept me with my current subject choice)

My second plan is become a Pilot (I've got 100 hours in MS flight simulator and I LOVE planes :3) but with my poor grade in Physics, I don't know if it'll be possible

[static bobcat]

why do engineering if u hate physics and cs?

[empty tendon]

Our school forces us to choose these subjects
They did offer Biology, Chem and Math but they refused to let me choose this field

Back in AS, I didn't know about giving exam privately until i started my A2

Now I'm forced to do engineering but with my low grade in physics and cs I don't think it'll be possible

to go to uni

[static bobcat]

why didn't they let u choose those subs

fuckass school

[static bobcat]

yea ngl for engineering physics is a necessity

[empty tendon]

They were coping and seething

[empty tendon]

Yeah, but as mentioned in the post, I'm not interested in engineering 💔

and i don't know what field to choose now

[static bobcat]

wait so

u wanna spend an extra 2 years on a levels

?

[empty tendon]

i part i don't understand what difference will it make if i chose foundation over spending 2 years on A levels again

[static bobcat]

u might asw js do foundation ngl

cause it would look odd to admissions asw doing a levels late

[uneven olive]

100 hours in MS flight stimulator

bruh

[static bobcat]

i mean not a crazy amount

most ppl have over 100 hours on at least one game

[uneven olive]

yeah that's what Im tryna say

Being a pilot cuz u got 100hrs in ms flight stimulator and love planes

ssshhhiiiii

[static bobcat]

yea ibr pretty hard to get into a flight academy

w out being at least decent at math and physics

[uneven olive]

you gotta map this out your own way cuz we don't have enough context

I know your plans are 💩 though in some way

Just put a lot of effort into accounting for things

By the way just in case, if you're dad has money or you know some people you can go in and become a pilot or go pharma foundation with your grades

You just need the minimum grades for foundation year, for unis where I live you take an entrance test for foundation year after you do IGCSEs if you don't wanna do A levels

If you did good in there you might be fine, even if u didn't take bio IG

[empty tendon]

I did perform well in my IGCSE.
Thanks for the advice

[pearl ferry]

Gave +1 Rep to @uneven olive (10)

[empty tendon]

Yeah, it does sound a bit like it because i can't choose one field and stick with it

i went from Engineering because of FOMO (everyone chose it in my school) to CS to Engineering again, then pilot (changed plans after i saw the fees but there was one that wasn't expensive) to Engineering again and then my hate for physics and CS extended to a degree that i just stopped studying them
After that i couldn't decide what do i wanna do in the future, there was a time i wanted to do accounting but i got vetoed by my parents

[empty tendon]

Another thing I'm a bit skeptical about is that
In foundation year, will i be behind? Like I haven't done Biology, Chem and I'm going to fail my physics basically
(I'm talking like your average foundation year, not specifically medicine or smth)

[static bobcat]

ngl

you've not been very clear

of what your asking

and your situation

can u make it more clear?

[empty tendon]

My bad, I am terrible at asking questions 😭
What I'm trying to ask is, that in foundation year, will the teachers expect me to know some of the things?
Like for example, if i don't know about about organic chemistry, will they expect me to know about this topic, or will they teach it from basics

[empty tendon]

I'll make the post more simpler and clear:
I'm taking Math, Physics and CS (I'm going to get a U in Physics and CS but A in Math)
I have done IGCSE (Math, Physics, Chemistry, ICT, English) (B,A,B,A,D respectively) (Don't ask me why i got D in English, it's only because my handwriting was egyptian hieroglyphs)
I have done IELTS to compensate my IGCSE English (score 7)

My issues:
Firstly, What should I do now? I basically failed my A levels. Either I switch out Physics and CS with other 2 subs and spend 2 years or foundation year. What do you think is the best course of action?

Secondly, I don't know what to do in future...I know it sounds dumb right now but I've been following paths that my friends have and FOMO...I myself can't decide what to do and it's probably too late for that now. I can't stick to one field, because I changed my mind a lot. So i would like some suggestions on fields (perhaps that does not include Accounting/Business/anything that'll earn me a place in the homeless shelter)

Thirdly, Is there any chance for me to go for medicine foundation year? Or are there specific subject and grade requirements? (I still can't decide what field lmao)

Hopefully this might bring clarity to the post :D

[uneven olive]

It's an year to prepare you for your course in uni, they'll skip over some things expecting you to know them because you did IGs

If you fail your foundation year

It's over

[static bobcat]

never heard of anybody failing foundation year tbh

[static ferry]

Do u still have time to sit? Make sure you do your best in it ok but lets say the worst casr scrnario happens. Dont give up, focus on other parts of your portfolio and be transparent in essays. This is ur first step then go for back up plans if these fail. Your position isnt even bad, an A in maths is solid, just dont give uppp!! :))

[empty tendon]

I don't know if I'll be able to resit for A level again for Bio and Chem
It'll take 2 years for AS and A2

Composite is not an option as I have to study these subs from scratch especially Bio which I've not done in my IGCSE

I have B2 in French tho idk if that will help in anyway

[static ferry]

Hm why not? Cant you register for a resit privately?

[empty tendon]

I am talking privately 😭
Because my school sucks
they forced me to choose Math, Physics and CS combo
they won't let me choose Bio and Chem instead of CS and Physics

[static ferry]

Im so sorryyy thats so asss man

That leaves u with no choice i get it.

[empty tendon]

Yeah💔🥀

Because my parents aren't proud of the fact in failing CS and Physics and I'll spend another 2 years studying another subject

They want me to go to uni💔💔

[static ferry]

Hey just an advice, im not sure why youd make a tough decision of repeating 2 years but if you genuinely believe its better than resitinh cs and phy then go for it.

[static bobcat]

what other option is there

other than retaking

[static ferry]

Yo let me be honest, dont let anything pressure u, not that u shouldnt listen but just make things more realistic and healthy for yourself

[static ferry]

They can resit cs and phy?

[static bobcat]

but they're on a literal U

[empty tendon]

As mentioned

I despise physics and cs

[static bobcat]

regardless that will take 2 years

[static bobcat]

the easiest thing for u to do rn

u said your on A in maths rn right?

?

[empty tendon]

ye

[static ferry]

Ahhahah fair enough i failed my ig cs

2 out of 100

[static bobcat]

take that this year

aim for an A*

then do accounting and economics a level

speed run them in one year

go to uni

do finance

or mathematics

[static ferry]

You bird they said they dont like it

[static bobcat]

they said they dont like buisness

thats diff

they like maths

[static ferry]

And economics

[empty tendon]

for furthur clarity i wrote this ig...

[static bobcat]

yea cl

u have not much options then

other than med

but med is hella competitive

[static ferry]

Yo man you cant give advice bru

[empty tendon]

It is ngl

[static bobcat]

how

[empty tendon]

but i chose it because i don't have any other choice

[static bobcat]

she doesnt wanna do physics cs or anything finance/buisness related

the only option left is rlly med

she cant do law

bc of the english grade

[empty tendon]

im a guy💔🥀

[static bobcat]

*he

[static bobcat]

im ngl self teaching/ doing bio and chem privately is rlly difficult

[empty tendon]

doesn't ielts like compensate?

[static bobcat]

if u can endure it its a good option

[static bobcat]

wht 3 subs would u even do for law?

you'd need 2 essay subs

[empty tendon]

yes my friends who took chem were crying tears of blood

I'll prolly have to find tuition

[static bobcat]

it the hardest a level after further math

[static ferry]

Are you sure you can do bio and chem

[static bobcat]

what other option is there?

[empty tendon]

What other option do I have other than Engineering and CS

[static bobcat]

he ruled out finance, engineering, computer science, law

[static bobcat]

u can do pure maths

at uni

?

[static ferry]

Pure maths yeah

[static bobcat]

take further maths a level

the issue is

she would need to get an A* in math

not an A

[static ferry]

I was thinking major in maths heavy subs maybe and one elective like literature in english

Thats it

[empty tendon]

idk if there's A* in edexcel math when overall result is made

But for separate components there's A*

[static bobcat]

he got a 4 in english

[static bobcat]

there is an A* for edexcel math

[static ferry]

Bro misgendered two times in a row

[static bobcat]

the pfp throwing me off

[static bobcat]

take maths further maths and statistics a levels

[empty tendon]

lmao

[static bobcat]

if u cant do statistics take js another stem

ibr maths further maths accounting a levels is your best option

u dont have to do accounting at uni

[static ferry]

Lets hear his reply too

[empty tendon]

Yeah
I suppose so
But what field tho?
If i do Math, F math and Accounting

[static ferry]

Youre going on and on take a bfeather

[static bobcat]

what do u think im waiting for bro

[empty tendon]

sounds like a good combo ngl

[static bobcat]

with pure math

[static ferry]

Pure maths later

[static bobcat]

u can go into actuary

finance

economics

many things

ngl

this solution doesnt work

@empty tendon

why do u not wanna do finance

js wondering

[static ferry]

@empty tendon and if you only care about degree which is unlikely, the job market for maths heavy jobs is slowly going extinct because Ai will replace those

[empty tendon]

My parents will disown me
my dad did finance and he doesn't want me to do finance

[static bobcat]

cause pure math js leads to finance tbh

[static bobcat]

why?

finance is great

[empty tendon]

he thinks it'll like y'know become what CS is now

[static bobcat]

no math is one of the most employable degrees

[static ferry]

Bruhh

[empty tendon]

competition and Ai and stuff

[static bobcat]

thats only in low level jobs

stuff like IB quant private equity

are all safe

also

cs isnt bad rn btw

[static ferry]

Why r u letting ur parents dictate your choices man

[static bobcat]

word

computer science isn't even bad

stuff like machine learning is one of the most employable degrees

[empty tendon]

Yes, but let me tell u how bad was CS in A level
I couldn't do python 😭

I only could do the theory

[static bobcat]

💀

js do maths further maths economics ngl

go into pure math or finance

your dad is buggin

[empty tendon]

fr🥀🥀

[static bobcat]

so js take those 3 subs

[static ferry]

Yeah its that or nothing

[empty tendon]

last time i checked it's usually Finance offered with some other thing

Like Bachelor's in Accounting and Finance

[static bobcat]

do mathematics and finance

not accounting

or economics finance and data science

or maths with statistics for finance

any of those are good

[static ferry]

@empty tendon harsh truth a level is hard, every subject is and switching isnt really an option if youre thinking those are easy. Given you havent studied biology, the jump from ig to a level isnt big but still. You have to study theres no other way around it.

[empty tendon]

Yeah i suppose you're right

[empty tendon]

Btw i just looked it up
Is it also called Financial Mathematics?

[static bobcat]

similar

[static ferry]

So go, study what you have to study. Talking here wont do shit, given your situation you should start looking at the subjects you wanna pick up later like biology and learn about those

[empty tendon]

I did become careless at one point during A level

[static bobcat]

what country/unis are u targetting

[empty tendon]

EU or Asia

[static bobcat]

starting bio and chem this late isnt worth it bro

medicine schools will look down on his application

[static bobcat]

yea do math further maths economics that will get u into like any european maths or finance course

[empty tendon]

yeah
especially from how difficult it is

I can do Math tho i like math :D

[static bobcat]

its also the fact medical school judge harshly

other courses less so

math/finance is your best option

[static ferry]

Wait you said u wanna do 2 years of bio and chem what happened to that?

[static bobcat]

since engineering law cs aren't viable

[static bobcat]

trust do not do this bro

[static ferry]

Because if im thinking right, you have to see how those allign after you sit your current a levels

[empty tendon]

I've been convinced to switch now
Doing chem and bio won't help me tbh

[static ferry]

Oh

[static bobcat]

its js the fact self teaching those is SO MUCH harder

than self teaching other subs

js to not be viable for top european med schools in the end

isnt worth it

[empty tendon]

besides idk how will i prep for AS level practical exams

privately

[static ferry]

Welp prepare to solve for them tralalerograms in maths

[static bobcat]

could js do bricklaying

[static ferry]

Yeah atp rawdogg it

And become some Rich girls husband

[static bobcat]

economics is a light a level and fm is fine if your good at math so

those your best options

[empty tendon]

probably like someone from medicine🥀💔

[empty tendon]

I have B2 in french doe
Can i study in france?

:D

[static ferry]

I heard those people are the dirtiest in bed too

Ok jokes aside

Goodluck mate

[empty tendon]

Tyyyy luvv y'all ❤️❤️❤️

[static bobcat]

yes

france switzerland UK Italy are best for finance

[empty tendon]

Right anyways ty for helping :D

[static bobcat]

your welcome

[pearl ferry]

Gave +1 Rep to @static bobcat (33)

[uneven olive]

You don't gotta lie

No one's getting 2 out of 100 unless it's on purpose

Nvm actually, I know this one guy who actually tried on his math paper, answered all questions and got 0

[static ferry]

Oh buddy youd be surprised because I sucked at logic games

Gates*

And mostly everything in the syllabus

[tight burrow]

youre good at math go for ACCA one a levels i think is enough

[empty tendon]

welp seems like my parents aren't keen on me doing math and finance because i got roasted and compared like crazy

that they won't fund me, so im on my own
I only got 79 dollars cash😭🥀

Idk if i can get a part time job lmao
because of language barrier bcz of where i live rn

[empty tendon]

I told my parents about that it was like an year ago when i was interested in accounting and finance and they said i shoulda told them before starting A level because they spent the money

[empty tendon]

I got 0 in my python school mock exam😭🥀

i was mentally drained after that so i gave up and accepted my fate
and i hated CS so much especially my teacher, she couldn't even teach properly

Nothing is working

My parents are the only barrier stopping me from doing something

They want me to do Engineering

like my cousins

Thanks for the advice tho everyone

I really appreciated it
But I'll be going back to my country and do nothing I suppose

[static ferry]

Hey im really sorry to hear that but is there a way you can get up on ur own without depending on ur parents? I mean do they not know funding retakes for your kid is more expensive than letting him do what he can actually excel at? At this point i might sound rebelious and not that i know ur parents but if i were in ur shoes and the situation was just as agonizing as uve described id try to get out asap