Confused over A level choices

Glad it's worked out for him!

I do like an update! Great news OP. Really pleased that it worked out so well for him.

I think if he wants to do Biology and is good at it, it would be a shame to give it up and narrow his future opportunities over what might be just a wobble.

He may be worried about not keeping up, or being bottom of the class, I guess. I would be telling him that he deserves to be there just as much as anyone else and that he should forget about his classmates and keep his eyes on the prize. This is about his future, not about them. How will he feel later on if an opportunity isn't available to him because he hasn't got A level biology? Will he think - argh I should have just done it? Tell him, don't let other people make you feel you're not good enough, and don't let them stop you from pursuing your goals.

I'd also be telling him that his idea of what it will be like is almost certainly much worse than the reality, there will be nice kids there for him to be friends with, and that come September it will all work out OK. And that you've always got his back if not.

(Btw we had the same scenario, DS didn't feel comfortable in his biology class, but luckily his school is big enough that he could swap to another. So I do understand the worry.)

I know that about UEA because dd really wanted to do physiotherapy afterwards so we had to find out if the degree she chose had enough sports science/anatomy/physiology to be accepted onto a physio masters. UEA doesn't nor does Bath Uni Health and Exercise Science. Both degrees good for teaching or public health education

Swansea also excellent
And if he's bright and looking at Loughborough then also look at Birmingham and exeter (just double check that a single A level equivalent BTEC would be OK with PE and Geog A levels)

May have changed, but he's talking about Cardiff met as Cardiff uni doesn't do sports science

UEA is pe education ONLY not Sport and exercise science

Disclaimer this info is from. When dd applied 4 years ago

I'm so annoyed on your behalf that you can't do psychology

No, ucas points are meaningless except for some lower ranking ex polys - not to discount those places as some v good for sports science (Liverpool John moores for example and Nottingham Trent (although we hated NTU when we went to visit)

She also did an epq in an area of sports psychology

I mean they didn't say yes we'll make you an offer but said she'd be considered. She got 5 offers

Ucas points are irrelevant. You need to find the exact modules he'd be studying on the btec and email the unis and say hi I want to do sports science here (I did this on behalf of dd who was in a pickle at the time) this is the BTEC I am doing along with these two A levels, will I get an offer? Bath said no iirc all others yes

OP - you will find that Mumsnet is hugely conflicted when it comes to A levels. If he has even an inkling of what he wants to do at uni then email the ones he's interested in and ask. That's what dd and I did after she ploughed As biology.

Yes, a good number of universities don’t care about UCAS points so wouldn’t consider BTECs as equivalent to A levels even if they attract the same UCAS points. In all honesty, there is no way getting a D in BTEC is half as difficult as getting an A in A levels, and universities know that

You only have to read the entry requirements for a few Russell Group university sports degrees to see that they do not agree with your post. I can't believe you actually advise students?

I mean, I only have to look around dds social circle - one just graduated with a First in Sports and Exercise Science from Birmingham - excellent university all round but especially for Sports Science - he didn't do one single A level. He did a BTEC extended diploma (equivalent of 3 a levels). And its actually rather difficult to get Distinction stars across the board.

Can't believe I'm having to explain this to a teacher?!

Yes, a good number of universities don’t care about UCAS points so wouldn’t consider BTECs as equivalent to A levels even if they attract the same UCAS points. In all honesty, there is no way getting a D in BTEC is half as difficult as getting an A in A levels, and universities know that.

Having said that having a BTEC instead of A-levels is NOT an issue for a lot of people. Have you checked the requirements for the university courses he is likely to apply for? That is the key thing, ensuring he studies the essential subjects the course may require. If they have not named any “essential subjects” any mix of BTECs/A levels is likely to be fine as long as he gets the minimum grades the course requires.

It is my understanding that it is science and maths oriented degrees where applicants would be asked to have A levels in essential subjects in addition of BTECs. This is not snobbery at all, it is just that the more practical scope of BTECs do not provide enough opportunities for students to prepare for a more academic than practical course in these subjects.

Note also the references in the Cambridge web text to VCE A-Levels and applied A-Levels, neither of which exist any more. Evidently this text hasn't been updated for several years. The entrance requirements page does explictly state that T-Levels aren't accepted for engineering courses (but nothing about any others), which suggests BTECs aren't likely to be.

Some colleges might be slightly more relaxed than others but looking through a few Cambridge course requirement documents shows several that clearly will not accept BTECs unless they are taken in addition to three A-Levels.

This is probably all academic (pun intended), as the OP's son may well have no intention of applying to Cambridge. But Cambridge won't be the only institution where this might be an obstacle.

@Bryonyshcmyony

VCE A Levels, Applied A Levels, GNVQs and BTECs don’t provide an appropriate preparation for most Cambridge courses, where the emphasis is more academic than vocational. As such, these qualifications can’t, unless otherwise stated, be used to replace the required or highly desirable A Level subjects listed for each course.

However, if any required/highly desirable subjects are covered, a six unit VCE or Applied A Level could be taken instead of a third A Level or as an additional fourth broadening subject. This combination of A Levels and VCE or other qualifications may be acceptable for some courses.

Potential applicants taking these qualifications are advised to seek further advice from a College Admissions Tutor as early as possible.

www.undergraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/applying/entrance-requirements

pathways (e.g if they want to go to university to explore courses and instititions), as some will be restricted if you've taken a BTEC instead of an A-Level. In most cases this will be a matter of cutting off the option to apply to a small number of eliteist universities, but there are some (very few) courses that won't accept BTECs in general

Which? Even Cambridge accepts BTECs, according to its website.

Sorry, I've forgotten many details from earlier in the thread and I don't have time to read it all again. Something I would always advise students to do is look at possible post-school pathways (e.g if they want to go to university to explore courses and instititions), as some will be restricted if you've taken a BTEC instead of an A-Level. In most cases this will be a matter of cutting off the option to apply to a small number of eliteist universities, but there are some (very few) courses that won't accept BTECs in general. Schools & colleges don't always advise well on this, as they might be too focused on the number of UCAS tariff points rather than eligibility for specific courses.