DP has just declared that A'levels are harder than a degree.

[supersop60]

And that's what employers are looking for.
AIBU to think he's a twit?

The CURRENT Alevels are much harder than in the past and harder than some of the bits I did at university. Not all of course, but looking at material covered in my first year and what my friends now reach in AS curriculum, and the A2 requirements, first year looks not that difficult.

DD found A levels very hard. She is in 1st year of her degree and is often surprised at how much easier it seems... so far!

Depends on the university. There is a degree and a degree. Oxbridge? No - much harder than A-Levels. A former polytechnic, I would think A-Levels might be harder. With regards to employers, I think it depends on the degree and subject.

That’s interesting @cherish123

So would medicine at a polytechnic still be easier than a levels?

I did an A level a couple of years ago just because I had an interest in the subject. I did find it trickier than my degree, but then I was doing it by distance learning, with a full time job and a family.

Bloody chuffed with what I got, too

I think the support is much better at degree level - Access to library and tutor support which makes degrees seem easier

A-Levels can be harder to pass because it's vital the student interprets the question correctly (shouldn't be an issue, but often is), is aware of the range of skills each paper is testing and generally jump through the required hoops. Degree examination works in a different way. Degrees are at a higher level, no doubt about that, and the material studied is far more challenging, but the national exam system, which includes A-Levels, does present a range of challenges that can be very demanding. It's more a studies skills thing that a subject thing.

I have A Levels, a first degree and a Masters. And yes, my A Levels were harder.

I’m a teacher I have A levels, degree and post grad ... I found A levels harder - I did an academic degree not drama! However I think the A levels were more intense then anything I’d previously undertaken, by the time I did my degree I was definitely more used to that level of work. I also think my maturity may have played a big role

Depends on the A-levels and the degree
I did fairly tough a-levels (maths, physics, German and DT) however my degrees were definitely harder than my a-levels. My career path has a massive drop out rate though as it's a really tough course.
My friends degree however may as well have been part time she found it so easy, mind you I think her a-level choices were easier too so I suspect it's all relative.

You can't study medicine at a former polytechnic 🙄. @Pentium85

I found A levels more work and more stressful than my degree (Cambridge) but employers have only really looked at degree.

University was only 3 8 week terms a year and no parents nagging you, much more fun than A Levels.

@cherish123
Brighton (formerly Brighton poly) has a medical school
As does
University of Central Lancashire (Lancashire poly / Preston poly)
And
Plymouth uni (Plymouth poly)

I did my A Levels in 1978 at a boarding school. Nicely spaced out, even with a practical dissection exam. Two years of fairly enjoyable taught study (except for the bloody biochemistry). I then took one of the subjects forward to a four-year degree at a medieval-founded university. Eight three-hour final exams in a week broke me, despite the hard work and research I'd done previously. I had the only migraine of my life, forcing me to not complete the paper in my best area of study. Although this didn't count against me in an average of those completed papers, the loss of those good marks just tipped me into the next level down and that has limited future study and work. I believe that they now take coursework into far more account and A Levels are tougher, but at the time it was far more brutal doing my degree finals than doing my A Levels, and with no opportunity to resit, unlike A Levels.

@cherish123

Thanks for attempting to make me look stupid, but it’s you who is incorrect.

Hahaha good one... Degrees are harder and if they aren't either you are just lucky you are in a topic and environment better suited to you or you are on what my uni lecturers called a "mickey mouse degree".

I knew students who had two hours a week for their music degree and spent the rest of the time making music/composimg/reading /goofing about and getting high. My degree was 8am-6pm most days with lectures, workshops and seminars. The evenings were all making prototypes, cad models or course work.

The subject matter was easier because I loved it and had a talent for it but it was not easy. I loved my course and miss it but it was intense with the work load. The stuff the bsc students was on was insane in terms of maths putting a level maths to the test. I'm glad that I moved to ba as while I did OK at a level maths, I didn't want to relive that and go beyond.

If you do a course you aren't in love with the subject, you are going to struggle.

Employers aren't interested in a levels unless you did a silly degree when you have decent subjects for a levels.

Funny enough most of the jobs I got weren't for either but my experience running fundraising marketing projects that I volunteered on.

I did history, sociology and English language for A levels, I have a degree in law.

I found the A levels (except for sociology which was piss easy) intellectually harder than the degree, the degree was just a lot of work. This was all in the mid 90s, I recently sat another A level out of pure interest and thought the standards required had significantly slipped though!

Personally I would prefer to employ someone with good A levels in decent subjects than mediocre a levels and a degree in a tin pot subject. Unfortunately many professional qualifications require a degree or equivalent to even enter the exams. This should now be seen as outdated. Many degrees are practically worthless in the job market these days.

It depends on the a level, the degree and a person's particular strengths. A level is pretty much he's the info, remember this and replict in exams etc. If you are good at remembering stuff then that's great and probably easier than a degree which requires a lot of coming up with your own analysis and thoughts and opinions. However it also depends on the subjects, some degrees are more intense than others. Some subjects require so so so much reading critically, which if that isn't a strength of yours then the degree may be harder. But it's also possible the degree is in the one subject you love more than anything else is easier for someone than at a level doing multiple subjects and enjoying some more than others.

In my experience employers definitely prefer people with degrees for a majority of jobs. Not all employers and all jobs but a large proportion of them.

I've heard this: my DD said her A Levels were harder than doing her degree and she came out of Uni with a 1st in Education Studies.

I don't think it's a hard and fast rule. It depends on the person and the studies.

It is true historically it was a fact that A levels were harder than degrees. This was back when GCSEs first came in which due to the big gap that existed between them and A levels it made them harder for scholars to be prepared to bridge the gap which I am sure they will have adapted over the years. Most employers depending on job level will look for people with degrees as it is a marker to show that a person is capable of learning even if they lack in common sense 😂🤣😅😂🤣😅 person with lots of letters post name but never use 😂🤣😅

Having done both A' levels and a Degree (Bachelor of Education) I would say I struggled far more with.the A'levels. I'm not sure it's because they are any harder though. My degree was a four year course, with lots of hands on teaching practice and thoroughly enjoyable subjects. It was extremely challenging at times - especially the sheer amount of lectures and assignments, lesson planning and being the Student Teacher in a class of cheeky pupils. However, I hated sixth form as I definitely chose the wrong subjects to study - they were far too book/essay based for me. Therefore I definitely found A'levels more of a challenge.

It is true historically it was a fact that A levels were harder than degrees - I disagree. I found A levels (in 1992) fairly straightforward compared to my degree (Cambridge).