Failed first year module?

[magiccirclemanifest]

Hi everyone,

Just completed an exam today and I think I've failed or at least got a very bad pass. I'm not over-reacting either because a lot of things happened in the exam room today that made me completely lose my focus and not finish my answers at all (i.e. invigilator loudly taking the register after the exam has started, someone next to me having issues with his laptop and even more talking, people leaving early from the exam as they are done and more talking from the invigilator to tell them they can go etc.)

I have mitigating circumstances for my A Levels which are not good at all (BBB) and I also go to a non-RG uni, so my main aim for this year was to get at least get 2:1s in every module because I know that I needed to at least salvage some chance of getting a vac scheme/TC for the next application cycle, which I'll be in second year for. This is looking more and more unlikely for me unfortunately, and I feel that writing these additional mitigating circumstances just looks l'm making excuses when that is far from the truth.

I'm definitely feeling that pressure of becoming a commercial solicitor because not only is being one the only job I found interesting and have ever wanted to do, but coming from a lower socio-economic background, I feel this intense self-inflicted pressure to get a training contract and pass the SQE so that I can have job stability.

What can I do to make myself look like the best candidate possible for the next application cycle, or should I skip it altogether and just apply in my third year? Even after applying in third year, will they question me on first year grades?

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

I think you should hold off making any decisions on what to do in the next recruitment cycle until you have your results.

A fail will be viewed very differently than a pass. A pass will be viewed very differently if it is an anomaly against a set of otherwise strong results than if it is one of several lower grades.

I don’t think speculating the outcome is necessarily helpful at this stage. Instead, my advice would be to focus on your other exams and assessments and try to ensure you can do as best in them as possible.

If you are struggling with concentration in an exam (eg when people leave, which is very common), you may want to speak to your university about investigating a neurodiversity condition and/or potential adjustments to your assessments.