What level is best for you? (Choosing A-Levels in general)

Member Name: amazingtrade

Product:	Choosing A-Levels in general
Date:	21/11/01 (1028 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Plenty of choice

Disadvantages: You should get your GCSES the first time round

If your doing your GCSEs or have just finished them then you will probably be wanting to decide want you want to study at college or sixth form. You have a number of options available to you and I some experience in some of these areas as I am doing both AVCE and AS levels at college. I will assume that you have decided what subjects you want to do but if you haven?t I have one big tip, choose something you are good it will make much easier believe me!

If you have failed all your GCSEs (which in my opinion is very hard to do!) then you have no choice but to re-sit them, get a job working in a fast food restaurant or do a GNVQ foundation. Now lets assume you want to go college but don?t get the all important 5 C?S but you come out with say 2 C?s and 4 D?s then you can do a GNVQ intermediate which is more advanced than foundation as it is equivalent to 5 C?s at GCSE level although its better to get your GCSEs the first time round.

If like me you get the results you need for A level (usually 4 or 5 C?s) then you have much more options of study. The most obvious is perhaps AS (the first year of an A level). These are academic qualifications worth maximum 60 points (at grade A). These are good choice if your academic but if you do the traditional ones such as physics and maths then you will be in for a hard time!

If you are clever but not the brightest spark the AVCE (similar to the old GNVQ which this has replaced) is good qualifications worth 2 A levels or 4 AS levels. It is a 2 year full time course which is designed to help get you a job or a university placement. The AVCE is not easy but if your good at the subject you will find it easier. There is a lot work involved as it is mainly assignment based with 2 exams each year.

Finally I will summarise the options:

GNVQ Foundation ? A basic vocational qualification, its designed to help you progress to GNVQ intermediate. The entry requirements normally state you need to be
a human being, be able to speak, and preferable read and write!

GNVQ Intermediate is supposed to be the equivalent of 5 grade C GCSEs although its only one subject say ICT. I don?t really see that have the same worth because what I have seen of its much easier than GCSEs. The entry requirements are usually a couple of C?S and a few D?s etc.

AVCE/AS ? These are level 3 qualifications (GCSE is level 2) required to get into uni. They require 4 or 5 (depending on the college/course) GCSE grade C?S.

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