As or Btec to make up tarrif points

[Mumofthreeteens]

As previously posted ds As level results were BEUU. The school are keeping him on and he will continue with the B & E and they have asked for him to do 2 As levels. He is thinking of Spanish and is debating whether or not to do a As or a Btec in business studies. He did btec business at gcse and got a double distinction.

Firstly should he just do As as they carry more points?

If you were a uni (definitely no 1994 or RG for him!) would you prefer to see As rather than a Btec?

As the Btec is coursework, would it be better to study that and then concentrate exam wise on the others.

He hasn't studied Spanish for 3 years now as the school didn't do it before. Is he being unrealistic to think he can expect to get a decent grade without even doing the gcse? He did get an A in gcse French and an A in A level last year.

I need to get back to the school with his re enrollment forms and subject choices today.

Thanks. Any help/advice most appreciated.

Glad to hear you've solved the immediate problem and school is keeping him on for the next year. Does he have to do 2 ASs? Could he just do 1 and resit some of the AS modules in the 'E' subject?

I don't know anything about btechs I'm afraid and I'm hoping someone more knowledgeable about how universities operate these days will be along shortly. But my understanding is that the more prestigious unis ask for grades but many just go on points. If you son already has an A in French at A level, then he already has 120 points. I was advised that at my ds's school, roughly 60% of kids will go on to get the same grade at A2 that they got at AS, 20% will get one grade lower and 20% will get one grade higher (as a very rough guide). So, if your son keeps the same grades at A2 then he will have 100 from his B and 40 from his E. So 260, plus whatever he gets from the extra AS or two he does. So that seems fine to me?

But as I say, I'm new to all this so may have misunderstood!

My ds is being allowed back, but he refuses to repeat a year and they don't allow anyone to take a subject forward to A2 unless they got at least a D at AS. They only allow resits in June, not January, but were keen to point out that, from their experience, AS resits were often at the detriment of A2 modules so overall gave little improvement. DS is going to be doing 2 A2s and another AS - then he'll have to leave, with 2 A2s an 2 ASs. Not sure where that will get him!!

Hi Longing It is all so complicated nowadays isn't it? Ds says he'll do the Btec and as it is coursework based will aim to get the highest mark possible.

He says he got assessed by the Spanish teacher last term who said he'd pass the gcse. He will have to work very hard at the As level. Luckily where we live we have an Argentinian friend who teaches Spanish and a Peruvian friend so maybe during the holidays he can work on it with them.

School say he can retake his E to up his grade.

Your ds is going to have a lot of work to do next June with resits and A2s. Does he want to go onto uni? I am just in discussion with Ds now about trying to apply to somewhere that has a good name and reputation rather than any old ex-poly.

I asked ds if he'd be better off just doing the biology As and A2 but I think it is all about funding and he has to follow their rules. He also doesn't want a remark done as he now just wants to just drop it.

Tried not to smile/scream just now when he said that he would work hard and not muck about in the As/btec courses as he doesn't like the others in the year below! obviously his classmates were just too much fun before. what hasn't helped also is his first serious relationship with a fellow pupil. At least she has left now as she was in yr 13.

What a miserable end to the summer holidays.

We're putting uni on hold. DS was going to apply, but there's nothing he particularly wants to do and I'd need to see evidence of greater motivation and drive before I parted with any money for a uni course. I'm focusing now on making sure he leaves school with some qualifications at least next summer. If he turns things around and wants to go the year after then fine. But at the moment it's not on the cards.

I think it depends on what BTECH students do. DD3 is doing the BTECH extended Diploma in IT and wants to do a computer cours at uni. Most of the UNIs she has looked at including some RG ones recognise the BTECH.

You can look up the tariff points at ucas.com.

You have to look at the fine print on course requirements for each course and university.

Some universities put restrictions on where the points should come from, eg from A2, not including general studies.

can he retake the year.if he wants to go to university i cant help thinking hewould be better placed with a good set of a levels.he does not want to end up with a mickey mouse degree and a huge debt

BTECS are accepted at most unis the same as A levels. You do need to get the subject right as you are effectively studying one area (eg Business) when for A levels you would be doing three subjects so it can limit your options at universities,

Some good unis will also take 2 AS grades instead of one A2, I know Leicester and Aston do this on some courses and they are both quite respectable.

creamteas - that's good to know. Thanks

You have to look at the course details fine print, cream teas.

No one should start on these courses without researching the full implications. A lot of universities will not include them at all in their admissions criteria, even "points" universities.