Chemistry A-level advice needed

[questioner123]

Hi all,

My DD has decided that she wishes to become a vet, however she is going into year 13, and unfortunately does not have chemistry a-level.

She will be applying next year, but needs to find somewhere where she can do a one year intensive a-level chemistry course? She is very bright and is aware that this will be hard, but is currently worried she will not find anywhere that does this. We are in the South-east, in Berkshire.

Any help please or any advice?

I have a stressed DD so any advice will help please!

Many thanks! :-)

Where we live there is a private college MPW Mander Portman Woodward I think. They do have other branches so it might be worth checking out. They specialise in one year courses amd resits etc so might be worth seeing if one nearby.

Does she have work experience? Lots of it and varied? If not I'd suggest she think about applying as a two year process rather than next year or bust. Work experience, A levels and cramming a one year A level isn't likely to yield the top grades required.

it will be hard to find as there are so few chemistry teachers, but probably over two years at your local FE college, get some work experience at the same time.
or as others have suggested, a private crammer.

Several tutorial colleges in London and Oxford will do A levels in a year. MPW, DLD, etc. If you can get to either place (remember it wont be every day of the week, and some courses only require autumn and summer term attendence) you might look in the Good Schools Guide.

We have known DC who have needed to pick up an extra A level learn fast and efficiently and get the results they need.

I’m a medic but know several people without the usually necessary chemistry a level as medicine has foundation years. Have a look at the vet degrees and see if any university have them. They’re excellent and you don’t need chemistry but once you’re in you’re guaranteed a place at je medical school.

The other option is as others have posted, private colleges for 1 year. I did this for chemistry in oxford at oxford tutorial college and the teaching was outstanding. It really was the best you could get. I know of someone who took chemistry at her school in year 13 for vet med but if you did this your daughter would need a lot of tuition.

Chemistry a level is hands down harder than my medical degree. It needs a serious amount of work!

Best of luck to her

With Foundation Courses, is it not the case that you need to come from certain areas, backgrounds, school, all socioeconomic disadvantage?

LOVE that Chemistry A Level is harder than Medicine degree! Phew!

Thanks everyone for your replies. We will look into the tutorial colleges. Apart from Oxford Tutorial College, has anyone got any other recommendations? She has lots of work experience/volunteering lined up over the next year, so fingers crossed everything will work out! :)

The Good School guide list some of the better known ones. You may have to approach a few to get the right syllabus. Also some may offer international A levels which, I think, can be taken at different times...not just summer. (DD did an international Biology A level. No obvious difference except results came out earlier.)