I am a PhD Chemist from industry (21 years), retrained as a teacher from 2011 (PGCE 14+). Taught supply 2012-2015 then took up my current post lecturing and tutoring to 17-20 year old international students in Physics, Chemistry and Study Skills at University. Having studied abroad in France (PhD), I was a foreign student myself so am well-placed to understand how language affects study. My key interest is how literacy affects learning progress. Now I look back at A level Science and ask myself whether we expect too much of 18 year old UK students in terms of literacy, as most exam questions appear to me to based on adult understanding of language, rather than tailored to a child of 18 years. No surprise that foreign learners find A level very difficult to understand as language goes, questions twist and turn, many words are unnecessary and confusing and they struggle to show what they can do. Sometimes, I myself have to stop and ponder what is being asked, which cannot be a good.