Active discussions

Help protect children from gaming harms.

Take our survey

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Further education

You'll find discussions about A Levels and universities on our Further Education forum.

Original poster

Confused over A level choices

234 replies

ihearttc · 07/07/2021 20:25

DS1 has just finished Y11. He is a fairly bright boy and is predicted 6s, 7s and 8s for GCSE. He has picked his a level choices…PE, Geography and Biology. These are some of his best subjects and is predicted 8 in both PE/Biology and a 7 in Geography.

He had his induction day at 6th form this week and PE/Geography are ok, the Biology didn’t go well. He thinks the teacher is great (he taught him before) but the others in the class are just not on his wavelength. I’m aware that sounds really shallow and pathetic but 2 of the boys especially are very hard work and he said he was only in there for an hour and wanted to walk out. There are 10 of them and he said there is literally no one he could talk to. He is rather cool and sporty…they are the complete opposite so I can see why he found it tricky.

Anyway…my question is does he suck it up and just accept the fact that he is going to hate a lesson just to do the subject or walk away and chose something else. He wants to do something sport related…either sports science or become a Secondary PE teacher if that’s relevant.

The other option is his other choices are limited due to timetabling. It would have to either be the biology, Media Studies (which he did for GCSE), a BTEC medical science (which seems not at his academic level) or Maths. The obvious one is maths but he is freaking out over hard it will be and he doesn’t want to fail.

Any thoughts if that makes sense at all?

OP posts:
OnTheBenchOfDoom · 08/07/2021 08:39

@spotcheck

He needs to suck it up. More doors will be opened to him with Biology + PE together.
Agree with this. Also he has to learn to be in the same room as people he may not like. What if he changes subjects and then he finds there are others he dislikes too?

Does this come down to feeling inferior to the other students? He has the grades to continue studying so he is on a level footing with them surely? Just because someone aces out a GCSE with a 9 does not mean that they will get an A* at A level. Dedication and a good work ethic count for a lot.

Ds is year 13 and did all the subjects people are saying nerds do. He definitely isn't a Sheldon (quirky) he was praised for peer tutoring other students and is really lovely. I hate that people say you cannot be cool if you do maths/physics etc.

Bryonyshcmyony · 08/07/2021 08:39

If he does the BTEC he needs to hit the ground running and start getting coursework distinctions straight away. If he's the kind of dc who likes to cram at the last minute BTEC won't suit him

Bryonyshcmyony · 08/07/2021 08:36

@ihearttc

Genuine question…would everyone really “suck it up” for 2 years if it made you feel uncomfortable every day? Cause I’m not sure I could.
Of course not! He doesn't have to do Biology if he wants to do sports science. There is more Human Biology in PE A level than Biology A level!
Comefromaway · 08/07/2021 08:36

That's what I said

Extended Certificate = 1 A level

Diploma = 2 A Levels

Extended Diploma = 3 A levels

Bryonyshcmyony · 08/07/2021 08:33

comefromaway
An extended Certificate is one A level

Dd did BTEC Healthcare and 2 x A levels (PE and Psychology!) and got into Exeter do do sports science and is now training as a physio

Bryonyshcmyony · 08/07/2021 08:31

@ihearttc

It’s not a problem…I don’t give a shiny shit who is in the class with tbh. He says he feels really uncomfortable because they are a specific “type” (whichever way I say it seems wrong) and is completely different.

He has had experience of them at school which is the whole reason he doesn’t think he can cope being in a class with just them for 2 years.

It’s a social circle which he will never ever be able to penetrate.

Maybe this is his way of verbalising that he doesn't like Biology A level!
Comefromaway · 08/07/2021 08:29

[quote ihearttc]@Comefromaway

But he will have another 2 academic a levels so that alongside an extended diploma should be ok?[/quote]
It would be very unusual to be allowed to study an extended diploma alongside two other A levels as timetable wise it would be the equivalent of studying 5 A levels. Some are able to do 1 A level alongside it but yes, according to that criteria as long as one of them is a "prefferred subject which I assume is listed further up then that should be accepted)

Comefromaway · 08/07/2021 08:28

Try having a child the other way around. As the mum of a female "Sheldon" type (highly academic autistic girl) she has never had the opportunity to study with others like her and has just had to suck it up. Not only that she has been actively excluded on many, many occasions.

I think your ds needs to learn some tolerance.

Original poster
ihearttc · 08/07/2021 08:25

@Comefromaway

But he will have another 2 academic a levels so that alongside an extended diploma should be ok?

OP posts:
Comefromaway · 08/07/2021 08:24

It's worth noting that they also want Distinctions in all units too. The marking system of the Btec means you get awarded points for each unit depending on size of unit and grade awarded for that unit and it is possible to get awarded DDD as a final grade for example even if you have obtained a Merit for the odd unit.

Original poster
ihearttc · 08/07/2021 08:24

It’s not a problem…I don’t give a shiny shit who is in the class with tbh. He says he feels really uncomfortable because they are a specific “type” (whichever way I say it seems wrong) and is completely different.

He has had experience of them at school which is the whole reason he doesn’t think he can cope being in a class with just them for 2 years.

It’s a social circle which he will never ever be able to penetrate.

OP posts:
Comefromaway · 08/07/2021 08:22

[quote ihearttc]@Comefromaway

In the second paragraph it says Extended Diploma with Distinction plus an A grade in a preferred subject which I’m assuming is PE?[/quote]
The first paragraph referes to the Extended Certificate, the 1 A level equivalent qualification. It is accepted alongside 2 other A levels.

The second paragraph refers to the National Diploma which is the 2 A level qualification, again they will accept that alongside one other A Level

The third paragraph is referring to the fact that unlike some other universities they will not accept an Extended Diploma on its own without having studied at least one A level. Some universities state this as they want proof of the candidates academic ability through at least one traditional A level.

Dozer · 08/07/2021 08:18

I don’t think you’re helping by entertaining the idea that it’s a problem to study/work with people you didn’t like much! It’s just normal reality.

Dozer · 08/07/2021 08:17

The people in the class - unless threatening or very disruptive - shouldn’t be a factor given any weight in subject decisions!

Relative requirements for HE and possible future jobs, subject preferences and prospects of doing well.

Whatever he does next he’ll be surrounded by people, many of whom he’ll have little in common with. Presume he’s had some experience of this already at school.

Original poster
ihearttc · 08/07/2021 08:10

Genuine question…would everyone really “suck it up” for 2 years if it made you feel uncomfortable every day? Cause I’m not sure I could.

OP posts:
spotcheck · 08/07/2021 07:58

He needs to suck it up. More doors will be opened to him with Biology + PE together.

Original poster
ihearttc · 08/07/2021 07:54

@Comefromaway

In the second paragraph it says Extended Diploma with Distinction plus an A grade in a preferred subject which I’m assuming is PE?

OP posts:
Piggywaspushed · 08/07/2021 06:58

This is a fairly ordinary uni 's physio requirements :

courses.uwe.ac.uk/B160/physiotherapy#entry

It requires biology. Some sports science/Physio degrees don't require biology but many do.

(I know he hasn't mentioned physio but he could change his mind...)

Original poster
ihearttc · 08/07/2021 00:00

@clary

He should be ok with the GCSE grades…the only one he might get lower than a 6 is Spanish.

OP posts:
Comefromaway · 07/07/2021 23:37

Your link says it needs to be the Extended Certificate in conjunction with 2 other A levels.

Mumoftwoinprimary · 07/07/2021 23:34

One of the nice things about A levels is that everything changes from school. You get to know kids you never expected to be friends with, you get to learn in a different sort of atmosphere and you get to be a slightly different “you” to the one that you got typecast into in about year 8.

clary · 07/07/2021 23:34

Yh what @Bryonyshcmyony says.

High grades for that course, and they specify GCSEs too! ds2 is hoping to do biological science there and hid offer is AAB and no mention of all 6/7 at GCSE.

converseandjeans · 07/07/2021 23:33

My feeling is that there is still some snobbery about BTEC and that a traditional ALevel would give him more options in the future.

I don't think he needs to have mates in all the classes.

He sounds like he is pretty academic so should be able to cope without a group of mates. Tell him to just keep his head down and do the work.

Original poster
ihearttc · 07/07/2021 23:29

I think it is the extended diploma…it seems like it is from all the stuff on the school website but it doesn’t list the qualification. Will get DS to email tomorrow. It seems more achievable perhaps.

OP posts:
coffeecroissant · 07/07/2021 23:29

My à-level classes were fantastic, because we had a great mix of 'sporty cool' and quieter, more serious types. I would expect my son to suck it up, it will be great practice for working with different personalities later on, whether he chooses a btec or uni. A great deal of nerdy, Sheldon Cooper-types work in sport too!