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Original poster

Are students disadvantaged by choosing double award science over triple?

56 replies

Sara121 · 04/02/2016 12:36

Hi.

My daughter is in the process of choosing her GCSEs. She would be very capable of doing the three sciences individually however would prefer to choose core plus additional so that she can do an extra humanity subject as at this point she has no idea what she wants to do. We are concerned that should she decide to go down the science route for A level, her lack of triple science at GCSE may work against her if she decides to apply to a Russell Group university. Officially this shouldn't be a problem but informally I have heard that at certain universities it would work against her. Does anyone have any experience they could share? thanks.

OP posts:
balletgirlmum · 04/02/2016 13:50

I emailed the head of chemistry at dss's academically selective school to ask whether dd (who currently attends a different more arts focuses school) could apply for their 6th form studying a level biology/chemistry if she only had double science GCSE.

He said it would be no problem whatsoever.

Micah · 04/02/2016 13:12

Blimey Russell Group really have done a number on marketing haven't they?

[misses point]

BertrandRussell · 04/02/2016 13:10

It would be outrageous and discriminatory if it did.

PurpleDaisies · 04/02/2016 13:05

I did three science a levels and went to a Russell group uni with double award science. There is a bit of catch up at the beginning of a level but by Christmas there's no difference between double and triple science students.

PurpleDaisies · 04/02/2016 13:04

The short answer is no not at all. Universities do not discriminate on the basis of double science instead of triple bdcause not all schools offer it.

grumpysquash · 04/02/2016 13:02

Where I live, sixth form entrance is very competitive, with one very excellent state 6th form taking the best students. The teaching staff recommend that if there is any chance that a student will want to do science A levels, they should do triple science, as double does not cover the breath of the syllabus and does not prepare them as well. Also, the applicants all get ranked based on performance and double science ranks lower than triple. So for us it could make the difference between getting in and not.

On the other hand, if your school has a 6th form, and DD wants to stay there, and if they are happy to teach A level science after double GSCE, then I think it's not a problem.

FWIW, by the time they do Uni entrance, they will have predicted grades, so double/triple at GSCE is less relevant so long as the grades are decent.