My Advice on A Levels (A-Levels)

Member Name: alocin

Product:	A-Levels
Date:	17/03/03 (494 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Modules mean less panic in June, Wider range of subjects

Disadvantages: Constant work, Compulsory subjects at my college

I have had the delights of doing A Levels since 2001 and I will be leaving to go to uni later this year (if all goes well). This review is generally about A Levels, college and other fun topics such as applying to uni that 16-18 year olds get to experience. It is aimed at said students as well as parents and those thinking about A Levels.

- College -

I go to North Devon College, which is an FE college and not a sixth form. As such I can?t really speak for those at sixth forms. College is certainly a jump from school ? increased work, no uniforms, call teachers by their first names, lots of work, free periods, more work, greater independence and did I mention extra work? It is great being treated like an adult but it helps if you act like it as well ? just because you have a free period on a Monday morning doesn?t give you an excuse to turn up some time after lunch. At our college the ?Food Hall? is a kind of café we have and it acts like a magnet for students skiving out of class. The teachers won?t go there and drag you back ? you will just miss what is being taught in the lesson. That?s your look out.

-AS Levels -

Ah AS Levels. I am in the second guinea pig year and so the teachers are just being confused by the first year?s results at the moment. I did AS Law, Geography, Psychology and Economics +Business Studies (so much for mixing art and science) in the first year. Added on to this were the college?s compulsory AS General Studies and Key Skills. Key Skills are fairly pointless. Anyone with half decent English skills can pass the communication exam ? its just extra work to do. I managed to avoid the IT exam but I heard it was easy e.g. Which bit of writing on this page is in bold? Non one really likes General Studies but it is linked to our tutorial programme. If you are aware of current affairs and issues you will do fine ? again it just extra work distracting you from your chosen subjects. I found AS Levels in general to be
harder than GCSEs ? you get a lot more work in lessons. Also in my subjects I had quite a lot of coursework to be done. This may take a lot of effort to do but at least you know you have got 1/3 of the marks before you go into the exam.

- A2 Levels ?

I chose to keep on Law, Geography and Economics + Business Studies to A2 Level. That means I chose to do the full A Level in them. I also started AS Critical Thinking to do as well (part of tutorial again ? ?enrichment?). AS is often called ½ an A Level but it is better to think of it as the first year of A Level ? A2 is the second year. You don?t do anything any differently ? it is just more of the same. Having now done my January exams I have already passed Geography and Business ? even if I did not turn up to my June exams I would have a C in both of them. That is the benefit of AS, modularisation and coursework. It means more work as you go along but less panic at the end. I had exams in Jan 02, June 02, Jan 03, and will have more in June 03. I also had assessed coursework in between exams. At least I don?t have to revise work learned 18 months ago for the last exams as in the old A Levels system.

University

If you want to go to uni then it is best to be organised. Your college/school might give you lots of support or none at all but if you are organised then it will get done. From September when UCAS starts up you should get writing practice personal statements. The forms are a maze of bureaucracy and you will need to practice a few times. I applied online which is easier and faster ? you can type your statement and check progress online. I recommend it. For courses such as Medicine you have to have finished by the end of October, and if you will need an interview then that takes time. The rule is the earlier the better. If your form is in by November then you won?t be in the mad panic at the cut-off date. Don?t make things up in your statement as your lies will find you out in
an interview. I never had an interview so I don?t really have any advice for that. Don?t take rejection personally (I?m a hypocrite ? I now have a grudge against Bristol) but celebrate your offers. If your final results aren?t what you wanted then it is not the end of the world. Ring the uni you had as a firm choice and ask if they will still have you. If you don?t reach your insurance offer then there is clearing. I just hope this will not be my fate in August! I have an AAB offer for Law at Cardiff, so wish me luck come June exams!

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