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Further education

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

Original poster

Can you take A-levels with 4s or 5s at GCSE?

91 replies

HarveyLouis · 12/07/2026 08:26

Is it possible,, or advisable, to take A-Level Geography or A-Level 3D design if you get a 4 or 5 in the relevant subject at GCSE? DD currently in year 10 and is looking at 6th form options. She is on course for 3s to 5s at GCSE and has an EHCP for dyslexia and ADHD. She may want to take a Business BTEC but not sure of other choices. Geography is her strongest GCSE subject but there don't seem to be any vocational options in Geography. We were suggesting Travel and Tourism to her as a possibility but her favourite 6th form doesn't offer it. She needs to apply to as many colleges as possible and her EHCP will be sent to them. I have no idea what happens at this stage really, do we pick a preference or does she wait until results day to make her final choice? To add, we don't think she is on course for uni, potentially an apprenticeship at 18. Getting Cs in A-levels would be an achievement for her.

OP posts:
ThingsgetbetterwithalittlebitofRazzmatazz · 14/07/2026 05:37

BCA are absolutely brilliant for this sort of course, I know it's quite a journey for you but they arrange the btec courses so they are in college 3 full days per week, which makes the travel a bit less than if they were in all 5 days. My 17 year old is thriving there and now looking at uni.

My 16 year old is starting college this year and has opted for farnborough tech. This time last year we were very uncertain whether she would find a college course that she would be interested in and was accessible for her, but she is now looking forward to her course so we just need to keep everything crossed that she's managed to get what she needs on her gcses.

I would recommend going to all the open days and seeing what feels like a good fit - this helped a lot more than looking at the websites for us.

thestraycathouse · 14/07/2026 05:55

My daughter has ADHD. While she is bright underneath she massively struggles to apply it and will most likely be come out with 3/4/5.

Vocational is most definately the right path for her. Probably childcare / hair and beauty / animal care.I would say with those grades A Levels would be a big struggle for your daughter and honestly would probably knock her confidence and make it a miserable 2 years.

Livingthedream1978 · 14/07/2026 06:35

Have you considered that she may be entitled to help with transport due to her EHCP? That may mean it’s easier for yoh
to get her to one that is difficult to access due to public transport.

I would also see whether the course required daily attendance as a 2 hour journey each way may be doable a couple of days a week,

TeenToTwenties · 14/07/2026 06:44

Agricultural colleges have a wider catchment due to being in rural farming areas.

Quite a few students at Sparsholt arrive in taxis, I assume they have EHCPs mainly but don't know. We used a combination of patent driving and college bus, but we are retired so nothing better to do!

The fastest to get to may not be the nearest in distance.
Would weekly boarding be viable? (It wouldn't work for DD, but of course depends on reasons for EHCP and general personality).

TeenToTwenties · 14/07/2026 06:46

Livingthedream1978 · 14/07/2026 06:35

Have you considered that she may be entitled to help with transport due to her EHCP? That may mean it’s easier for yoh
to get her to one that is difficult to access due to public transport.

I would also see whether the course required daily attendance as a 2 hour journey each way may be doable a couple of days a week,

Will be minimum of 3 days, probably 4 if resits are needed).

TeenToTwenties · 14/07/2026 06:51

On DDs animal care they had 1 day practical a week and then other days were theory / assignment work. But the theory and practical were linked which made learning much more tangible. DD's best lesson was 'walking the dogs' but that didn't happen often.
As you go up the levels, more work was needed outside of college. So level 1 it could all be done in lessons, level 2 was maybe a couple of hours at the weekend, level 3 I am sure would have been much more at home.

clary · 14/07/2026 07:38

HarveyLouis · 13/07/2026 22:55

Thanks for the link. There are more apprenticeships showing than when we have looked previously, there must be a good time of year to check. They all want GCSE Maths and Eng grade 4 and above, one wants an A-Level grade B and they mention previous skills and experience. They don't necessarily sound like they are aimed at a just turned 16 year old who has never had a job. We will keep an eye on them.

Really appreciate all the advice and suggestions, it has given me a lot to think about.

For sure you need to look at the apprenticeships and see what level of qual the YP will gain. If they want GCSE maths and English then chances are they are aimed at a 16yo. Your DD will get grade 4 in both of those I infer?

If they ask for A levels then they are aimed at an 18yo and as a rule will lead to a degree-level qual. IME those are a lot rarer (more commitment needed from the employer for a start) and very competitive. But I know plenty of YP who at 16, with very little actual work exp, but lots of other positive skills, got a good apprenticeship – examples that come to mind include barbering, doctor's receptionist, hands-on role in an engineering firm, a role in animal care.

They are of course going to talk about skills and experience they want, but they don't, I am sure, expect every 16yo to have a pt job.

clary · 14/07/2026 07:41

So to explain what I mean - the arborist apprenticeship below wants GCSEs and is a L2 offer – which means it's equivalent to GCSE level. A level 3 apprenticeship is equiv to A-levels and usually needs some previous exp. For your DD to take on a L2 app would be totally fine IMO. Someone who has A-levels (which are a L3 qual) is not going to want to do a Level 2 apprenticeship.

https://www.findapprenticeship.service.gov.uk/apprenticeship/reference/VAC2000037586?gl=11s07fs4gaMTEwNzA2Njc5NC4xNzgzOTc4MjM0gaK76NWV4V41czE3ODM5NzgyMzQkbzEkZzEkdDE3ODM5Nzg3MzAkajE1JGwwJGgw

Original poster
HarveyLouis · 14/07/2026 07:44

She may have to retake Maths and English.

OP posts:
clary · 14/07/2026 08:05

HarveyLouis · 14/07/2026 07:44

She may have to retake Maths and English.

Ah OK. In that case, a year to focus on retakes while maybe taking a lower-level course at college might be ideal; when she passes she can maybe look ahead at apprenticeships or a higher-level course.

I only want to be realistic and supportive @HarveyLouis when I say that a YP who has to retake maths and English language – and who goes into GCSEs expecting this – is perhaps not a great A level candidate. Yes there are outliers; mate of DS's had a shock 3 in Eng lang bc of an exam disaster. He was allowed into 6th form and retook in Nov and got a much more likely 6.

Kepler22B · 14/07/2026 08:12

I would be looking for level 2 qualifications as an option. They are 1 year and then lead into the traditional 2 year level 3 (equivalent of Alevels).

This would give her a year to mature a bit more (important for a summer born), and a bit more space to settle into a new environment and do any retakes that are needed and also a year to think about the direction she is more interested in.

Sparsholt looks amazing but probably would require her to board - it might be an option for the future though as they do level 4 (and higher) qualifications that might suit her if she is still interested in that area.

I know not considered traditional girl subjects, which means lots of 15year olds dismiss out of hand, but would she think about a traditional trade - plumber, electrician, gas engineer? There is a growing demand for women doing these jobs and might have similar skills - hands on, problem solving, not stuck in an office etc… she could plan to link to environment and become a low carbon heating technician (heat pumps, solar panels etc) which is a growing industry with not enough trained people. And will make a massive difference to protecting the planet against climate change.

clary · 14/07/2026 08:32

great post from @Kepler22B yes I also thought of a more active role for her as being an idea. And yes women are increasingly in demand as tradespeople.

Hence the link to the aborist! sounds like a job where you climb up trees all day :)

TeenToTwenties · 14/07/2026 09:15

There are also Horticulture courses.

DD having done Animal Care then did an Internship in a Gardens and is now going to do a 1 year studentship there hopefully. Still caring for things but less anxiety for her. (No suitable animal care jobs locally she can get to.)

TeenToTwenties · 14/07/2026 09:17

Honestly DD, (dyspraxic, dyslexic, processing issues, anxiety) seems to learn so much better in a hands on way. The level of writing skills needed at Level 1 and 2 was OK, you could be dodgy in SPaG and provided you could get your point across it was OK.

allthemind · 14/07/2026 09:23

I think it is great you are encouraging her to find the right fit of vocational subjects. Not everyone is traditionally academic and that is fine, not everyone needs to do A levels and there are plenty of different options in life. It sounds like you know this but A level Geography would be a very poor fit. I don't think a school would let you do it with less than a 6.

My son has just finished it. He got an 8 in Geography GCSE, 1 mark off a 9, and he found it too much. The course work was a nightmare for someone like him who procrastinates. The writing was too much for him as he has to type and he never managed to finish a paper. I'll be surprised if he gets a B. Hope you find the right courses for her.

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