Pre-u over A levels?

[sue52]

Has anyone's DC taken the Pre-u exams. Are they like old fashioned A Levels before the introduction of the AS level? DD is looking at a school that offers it and I don't know anything about them.

I believe they are similar to "old" a levels. My DS school only does Pre u bar two or maybe three subjects. His school is highly selective and the boys only do three because it was found that if they did 4 they were only getting A's instead if A * 's because they are so much more work than normal A levels. Some claim that universities don't like them but this year nearly 40% went onto Oxbridge so this is not their experience.

I've just been looking at universities with DD3 and none of them seem to have Pre-u. listed as an alternative qualification that they will except instead of A2's.

Thanks and mumeee. Happygardening Do you know if the students just take one exam at the end of the upper 6th? I was just getting to grips with the requirements for the IB when DD sprang this on me, so I'm getting a bit confused.

The headmaster of a school we explored with DS was very clear that he thought the pre-U was much more rigorous. Sudden death in the subjects taken.

DD does have Oxbridge in her sights but I don't want her shoot herself in the foot with other universities. She was planning to take 6 AS levels and then 4 or 5 A2s but from what happy was saying that might not be possible with the pre-u.

I believe it is only an exam at the end. DS's school doesn't seem to have problems getting boys into any university with the Pre U including the Ivy League (this is contrary to what someone posted the other week on MM)

DS1's old school now offers Pre-U in 2 subjects. The school is in the top 20 in the country academically and wouldn't be offering the courses if they weren't acceptable to the best universities.

sue52 - why does she want to take so many AS and A2s? No university is interested in that many. The majority state that they are interested in only 3 or 4 subjects (standard is 3 A2s with one further AS so 4 altogether over the two years) so your DD would be giving herself a hell of a lot of work for absolutely no benefit. Check the ucas website for information - click on the Course Search button and you can access exact entry requirements for every degree course - that will tell you how many AS/A2 courses are necessary and whether specific universities will accept Pre-U.

this is the entry requirements section from UCAS to take English Lit at Cambridge. It clearly states that the "preferred number" of A2s is 3, and, if you scroll down, gives details of the acceptability of Pre-U (acceptable either on its own or combined with other qualifications)

Hope that helps.

Eviltwins she has taken an early A2 and is taking an AS this year (11) so if she takes 4 ASs next year that will lead to 3 or 4 A2s in year 13 giving her 4 to 5 A2s and 2 to 3 A2s. She enjoys taking exams ( doesn't get that from me) and is quite keen on the sound of the Pre-U.

DH teaches pre-U physics. He says that it is "fucking hard" - closer to the first year of a degree than an A level. But yes, extremely well regarded by top universities and more and more widely recognized abroad as well.