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Higher education

Talk to other parents whose children are preparing for university on our Higher Education forum.

Original poster

Dropping an AS level NOW!

10 replies

skyblue11 · 11/03/2013 20:19

DD is really struggling with 4 A Levels, her results for the christmas exams were E Biology, E Business and C Psych, English lang no exams yet. She was tested and has slow processing skills so we feel she would be better dropping Business to concentrate on 3 decent A levels eventually and not having anything at AS just because I don't think she would be able to cope. She currently has a student tutoring her at Bio to help.
Thoughts please?

OP posts:
creamteas · 11/03/2013 20:25

I think dropping an AS sounds like a good plan overall. Apart form access to a tutor, is there a reason for choosing Biology over Business?

What does she want to do after A levels?

A very small minority of uni courses ask for an As on top of 3 A levels, but for the vast majority of places it will make no difference.

Original poster
skyblue11 · 11/03/2013 20:30

Biology is better to have she thinks, she is struggling with them all tbh.
After A levels no idea.....

OP posts:
IDK · 11/03/2013 20:45

She was tested and has slow processing skills

DS also has processing problems. When he was finally diagnosed he got extra time in exams which helped with his grades. Does your DD get extra time or other assistance?

You are assuming that all is rosy with English. It was DS's worst AS which was a shock because he is good at English. He had to change plans on results day: he dropped English and kept on the other subject that he thought he was going to drop.

Original poster
skyblue11 · 11/03/2013 21:08

She gets extra time in exams yes, everything else is tricky though, so much homework and revision which is very hard for her.
She needs at least D's to carry on at A level and TBH are they worth anything? I think it may take her 3 years with the remaining time at college in order to get them.

OP posts:
Original poster
skyblue11 · 11/03/2013 21:13

Forgot to say not sure about English, no exams as yet

OP posts:
boomting · 11/03/2013 22:09

Biology is substantially harder than business, and she will be much better off with a B in business than a D in biology, so unless there are solid reasons why she wants to stick with biology (i.e. her preferred uni course requires it) then I'd err towards business.

creamteas · 11/03/2013 22:26

If she is likely to need to repeat the year, is a switch to a BTEC possible? This can suit some DC better.

mumblechum1 · 12/03/2013 08:10

Agree biology is a hard subject. DS got all A* in sciences at GCSE then bombed in ASs, getting a U for Chemistry and a C for biology.

Your dd will almost certainly get a better grade in business. As most Unis just seem to care what grades/points you get, not the subjects (except medicine etc, obv), I think she should go for easier options.

alreadytaken · 12/03/2013 09:05

she has a student tutor in Biology. If that will continue she may do better to stick with Biology.

amumthatcares · 12/03/2013 14:53

My DD started 4 x AS subjects including maths which she loved (got an A in at GCSE), but she absolutely hated it at A level and it was distracting her from her other subjects, so dropped it in the first year. I was worried that 3 A levels wouldn't 'be enough' but dropping the subject enabled her to focus on her other 3 subjects and she is doing well. She doesn't regret dropping it at all Smile

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