A level results

Well, I got my A level results yesterday and....wow. Did these go a hell of a lot better than I expected.
History:A (483/600). I didn't really expect to get an A, after my fairly poor performance on last years exams. But I managed to pick up an extra 40 marks on my retakes, which pushed me just over the A boundary. I retook one paper I already had a high mark on, and that got me an extra 5 marks which pushed me over :) I also took the advanced extension history paper, and was awarded a merit :)
Geography:B (462/600). Well, I'm very happy with my B. I did well on all of this year's papers, and the one that dropped me down to a B was my abysmal performance on the physical option paper last year. I retook it this year and only got a few more marks on it. Oh well. Still, I'm happy with that.
General studies:A (494/600). I'm pleased that I got an A in GS. It was the only subject I got an A in last year. The only paper I did badly on this year was the prerelease material one, probably because I didn't really read it.
And finally, the dreaded English, which most of my teachers though I would fail fairly badly, like I did last year:
English:A (525/600). Ummmmmm.....wow. Suddenly, English has become my best subject. I retook the paper and the coursework that I screwed up last year and got really high marks on them. I more than doubled my mark on the Heart of Darkness/Eliot paper. I also did really well on this years papers. I only missed an A on one paper, the Angela Carter one, and that was only by one UMS point. So I'm fairly ecstatic with that. If only Pat Smith were alive to see it.....wait, she is. I'll probably drop by when school starts and smack Field-Mears in the face.
In conclusion, then, I heartily recommend the following methods of passing your A levels:
Fail your As' so badly you shock yourself into working hard to make up for it.
Get a teacher who beats you with sticks.
Have an Alison around to threaten to mock you ceaselessly if you fail :)
Guess whos going to York?