A Level Options

[Johnny Doe]

The A level chaos thread made me think of something but didn't want to derail.

I've just remembered that my school, considered a good school, and I think of fondly. let me take a subject at A-Level, history, which I hadn't done a GCSE. Unsurprisingly, while I got an A and C in my other subjects, I got a E for A level history. It seems like something that shouldn't really be allowed - is it these days?

 

[farmerbarleymow]

The A level chaos thread made me think of something but didn't want to derail.

I've just remembered that my school, considered a good school, and I think of fondly. let me take a subject at A-Level, history, which I hadn't done a GCSE. Unsurprisingly, while I got an A and C in my other subjects, I got a E for A level history. It seems like something that shouldn't really be allowed - is it these days?

Two of my A levels were subjects I couldn't have done at school as they didn't cover them. I don't see why it wouldn't be allowed now.

 

[Johnny Doe]

Two of my A levels were subjects I couldn't have done at school as they didn't cover them. I don't see why it wouldn't be allowed now.

It just seems a little silly that you haven't had the 2 years studying a subject at a lesser level that you would hit the ground running at the higher level

 

[farmerbarleymow]

It just seems a little silly that you haven't had the 2 years studying a subject at a lesser level that you would hit the ground running at the higher level

I found it easy - A levels aren't difficult so it's no big deal, and you've got two years to get your head round the subject.

 

[spanglechick]

History is slightly different because the knowledge isn’t really cumulative- if you do well in other essay subjects you’ll usually be fine. I picked up history A level on the basis of having done Geography at GCSE.

This is also why we can introduce completely new subjects at A level (at my school these include: Politics, Sociology, Film Studies and Psychology).

For most subjects though, you’re building on knowledge from gcse, so we ask for a level six in that subject in order to progress. Level six is akin to a solid/high grade B. Maths and physics add to that a strong caveat that anyone who got below a 7 (low A) will probably struggle a bit because the step up to A level is huge.

 

[spanglechick]

I found it easy - A levels aren't difficult so it's no big deal, and you've got two years to get your head round the subject.

We find there’s quite a big shift in study style for A level though. I wonder what year you and Harry Smiles did your GCSEs. I think the difference in style has got bigger vet time.

 

[farmerbarleymow]

We find there’s quite a big shift in study style for A level though. I wonder what year you and Harry Smiles did your GCSEs. I think the difference in style has got bigger vet time.

Decades ago now.

 

[spanglechick]

Decades ago now.

Well yes, that’s taken as read.

 

[Pickman's model]

i did sociology for six months and was disappointed to get a d

 

[Lord Camomile]

Yeah, two of my A-Levels were in subjects I hadn't studied previously (Sociology and Media Studies)

 

[Sasaferrato]

It just seems a little silly that you haven't had the 2 years studying a subject at a lesser level that you would hit the ground running at the higher level

I did H biology from scratch in a year, got a B.

 

[maomao]

I did Psychology A level in a year, failed, then did it again and got an A. So two years really. Which proves nothing.

 

[Johnny Doe]

I will take the replies on this thread as confirmation that my failure to catch up was more to do with 1990-1992 happening as it did than my school's choice governance

 

[Argonia]

I did Economics at A-level which wasn't available at GCSE level at my school. Got a D. Got an A on the multiple choice paper and a Q on the essay paper - Q for Query. I had a 2 E offer from Oxford after passing their entrance exam and just took the piss out of the exam paper much to the horror of my mother.

 

[farmerbarleymow]

Well yes, that’s taken as read.

I'm not old.

 

[weepiper]

My eldest crashed Higher Biology last year having not done the Nat 5 course and got an A. She's doing Advanced Higher Biology this year on the strength of it. She's also crashing Higher Physics this year. It certainly seems to be a thing that is done at this school.