Tutu Alaka
Target Grades Don't Define You: Making Sense of Mock Results
November 2025 -- BLOG
Mock results are in, and I can almost feel the collective intake of breath across the country. Some of you are buzzing because you smashed your targets. Others are staring at grades that feel like a complete disaster, wondering if you're just not cut out for this. And many of you are somewhere in between - pleased with some subjects, disappointed with others, and not quite sure what it all means.
Here's what I need every single student reading this to understand: those grades on that piece of paper do not define your worth, your intelligence, or your future.
I've been working with students for over 20 years, and I've seen the same pattern repeatedly. The young person who gets a 3 in their English mock and feels like giving up? They often end up with a 6 or 7 in their final exam. The student who's devastated by their maths result in November? They frequently surprise everyone (including themselves) by May.
Why target grades are predictions, not limits
Let's get one thing absolutely clear: target grades are educated guesses based on your performance up to a certain point. They're not prophecies carved in stone, and they're definitely not limits on what you can achieve.
Think of them like weather forecasts. When the forecast says it might rain, you don't cancel your entire life - you just bring an umbrella. Target grades tell you what might happen if everything stays exactly the same. But here's the thing: everything doesn't stay the same. You learn, you grow, you improve.
I've worked with countless students who were predicted 4s and achieved 7s. I've seen young people written off by their schools go on to exceed every expectation. Your mock results are a snapshot, not your story.
The student who proved everyone wrong
Let me tell you about Hana. She came to us in January, devastated after she was predicted a grade 4 for her English language. She was crushed and worried her hopes of going to university wouldn’t come true.
But Hana found Bauhaus and she refused to accept that her mock results defined her potential. We worked together on targeted revision, addressed her specific weak areas, and built her confidence step by step. Within a few months she resat the exam, got the top grade and secured her place at university.
What changed? Not her intelligence—that was always there. What changed was her approach, her confidence, and her refusal to let a set of mock grades dictate her future.
Using mock results strategically
So, instead of seeing mock results as judgment day, try thinking of them as really expensive tutoring - they've just shown you exactly what you need to work on, with time to actually fix it.
Look beyond the grades to the detail. Don't just focus on whether you got a 4 or a 5. Look at the examiner comments. Where did you lose marks? Was it essay structure? Mathematical errors? Not enough detail in your answers? The specific feedback is gold dust - it tells you precisely what to focus on.
Identify patterns across subjects. Are you consistently losing marks for the same reasons? Maybe it's time management in exams, or perhaps you're not reading questions carefully enough. These are fixable skills, not permanent flaws.
Celebrate what's working. If you nailed the creative writing but struggled with the literature essay, that tells you something important about your strengths. Build on what's going well whilst addressing the gaps.
Create a targeted action plan. Don't try to revise everything equally. Use your mock results to prioritise. If you got a 6 in history but a 3 in maths, guess which one needs more attention between now and May?
The danger of comparison
I know it's tempting to compare your results with your friends, but this is one of the fastest ways to feel worse about yourself. Focus on your own progress. Are you better than you were in September? Have you learned things you didn't know before? That's what matters.
When mock results feel devastating
If your mock results have left you feeling hopeless, I understand. It's horrible when you've worked hard and the grades don't reflect your effort. But please don't let one set of results derail your entire future.
Sometimes mock results reveal that you need a different approach. Maybe the revision methods you've been using aren't working for your brain. Perhaps you need additional support, different resources, or just more time to let the learning settle.
Remember, there are multiple routes to the same destination. If your mock results suggest your original plan needs adjusting, that's not failure—that's flexibility.
For parents/carers: Supporting without making it worse
Mock results day can be just as stressful for families as for students. Here's how to help rather than add pressure:
· Manage your own reaction first. Your child will pick up on your stress and disappointment. Take a moment to process your feelings before you talk to them about their results.
· Focus on effort, not just outcomes. Instead of "I'm disappointed in these grades," try "I can see you've been working really hard, and I'm proud of your effort." The grades might not be where you hoped, but effort deserves recognition.
· Ask before offering solutions. Your immediate instinct might be to book extra tutoring or create rigid revision timetables. Check with your child first: "What support would be most helpful right now?" Sometimes they just need to feel heard and understood.
· Help them see the bigger picture. Remind them that these are practice exams, designed to show areas for improvement. The real exams are still months away—plenty of time for things to change.
· Avoid comparisons. Don't mention how their siblings, cousins, or friends performed. Every young person's path is different, and comparisons rarely motivate—they usually just add pressure.
· Consider getting professional support. If your child is really struggling with confidence or specific subjects, consider one-to-one tutoring or study skills support. Sometimes an external perspective can make all the difference.
Frequently asked questions
· How much do mock results predict final results? Mock results give you an indication of where you are now, but they're not destiny. With focused effort and the right support, significant improvement is absolutely possible between mocks and final exams.
· What if I'm way below my target grades? Don't panic. Identify specific areas where you lost marks and create a targeted revision plan. Consider getting additional support for your weakest subjects. Many students see dramatic improvement between mocks and finals.
· Should I change my post-16 plans based on mock results? Not necessarily. Mock results are one data point, not the full picture. Speak to your teachers and careers advisors about realistic options, but don't make major decisions based purely on one set of grades.
· How can I stay motivated after disappointing results? Focus on specific improvements you can make rather than the overall grade. Set small, achievable weekly targets. Remember that every topic you master between now and May is progress worth celebrating.
· What if my friends all did better than me? This is really hard, but try to focus on your own journey. Everyone has different strengths, circumstances, and starting points. Your worth isn't determined by how you compare to others.
· How do I know if I need extra help? If you consistently struggled with the same types of questions across multiple subjects, or if you felt completely lost during revision, additional support could be really beneficial. Don't wait until it's too late.
· Ready to turn things around? Mock results don't define you—they inform you. Every low grade is a specific problem with a specific solution. Every disappointing result is valuable information about what to focus on next.
The transformation I see constantly? November: "I'm rubbish at this and there's no point trying." May: "I can't believe how much I've improved—I actually know what I'm doing now."
That transformation is absolutely possible for you too. It's not about being naturally brilliant or having perfect discipline. It's about using your mock results strategically, staying focused on improvement rather than perfection, and remembering that your potential isn't limited by one set of November grades.
Need personalised support? Contact Bauhaus today for targeted revision support, confidence building, and strategies tailored to your specific mock feedback. We specialise in helping students turn disappointing results into exam success—because we believe every young person can achieve more than their mock results suggest.
Together, we can turn those mock results from a source of stress into a roadmap for success.
Tutu Alaka is CEO of Bauhaus Education. She's spent over 20 years helping students overcome setbacks and exceed expectations. She believes that where you start doesn't determine where you finish—especially when it comes to mock results.