Advantages of still doing an AS in subjects which have changed to linear exam??

[changename54]

One of DS' chosen 4 subjects in Sixth Form has changed to "linear exam format". I believe this means that the A-level is a stand-alone end-of-course exam i.e. the AS is no longer 50% of the mark.

The school will not be entering the whole class for the AS level, so if he wanted to do it, it would have to be as a private entry.

Just wondered what other schools are doing and if there is a consensus on the best way forward?

My feeling is that having four AS levels will make his decision as to which subject to drop for A-level easier. I also wonder how universities will assess candidates that have an AS level against those that don't?

However, if it's a private entry does this mean the school won't properly prepare him for the exam (so he's likely to do worse in it anyhow....)??

Would be very interested to hear other people's view. Thanks.

I've got my finger in both pies as well with DC in Year 10 and 12, and I'm scared tbh.
More scared for my Year 12 DC, as the school doesn't seem to give them accurate advice and then it's up to me to persuade DC not to drop a vital subject. A subject she will need for all her potential uni courses.
School says it's not essential. Well, it looks essential to me if three quarter of all unis won't let her start the courses without it

I'm the OP and glad I started this thread, as it does seem that it's worth discussing.

I've now had feedback from the school. Their view is that it's not worth doing AS exams in the subjects that are changing to the new format and they hope that only a minority of their students will register as private entrants. Those that do it as a private entrant will be given help by the school, as best they can, to try to "plug the gap" in the syllabuses, but they can't say yet what this help will consist of.

The new AS exams are technically worth tariff points, but apparently worth less than 1/3rd of what they used to be. (Is this right?) All universities make offers on the basis of three A2 results; nobody makes offers for three A2s and an AS, therefore it's not worth doing. On their reference they will have a standard paragraph stating that the school does not submit pupils for the new AS exams. They feel universities will not be able to discriminate against schools that have this policy.

If DS drops Economics at the end of Y12 and therefore has no AS to prove what he studied that year, the reference in the Private Statement will refer to "having completed a Y12 course in Economics which covered x, y and z" or some such.

This all sounds reasonable to me, so ATM happy for DS to take the school-line of no AS. But I would be interested to know if those in teaching/universities think this is the best way to proceed.

I don't thnik it will matter either way. I am glad mine are doing 4 AS levels but the universities are not going to discriminate against those without AS levels so I would be quite relaxed about it either way.

I suppose we could all jsut revert to what I did - 3 A levels only o0ver the 2 years. If you aren't going to get an AS out of your 4th subject why not just do more sport and music and voluntary work in the sixth form and concentrate on the 3 traditional A levels with exams in the second year?

I would say it was the best way to proceed. Your DS's school sounds mainstream and sensible.

Under the new tariff system AS are worth 40% of full A levels (currently 50%). Certainly not a third...