Year 12-13 AS levels and beyond

[HSMMaCM]

Following on from the preparing for AS levels thread.

Hopefully everyone is finishing off AS exams.

DD is handing hers in today after I read it last night and corrected the grammar in the Abstract.
It seems ok but reads pretty much like a scientific paper and is worth 20%of the marks I think.I think a lot of marks come from the EPQ log and I know DD had regular slots for her EPQ lessons/research?The school was set up for it this year although some dropped out.
DD will not get her grade until next summer , so it will not be part of any offer.It will be useful to obtain a good grade if you're taking a gap year though.Otherwise I guess it shows you are capable of independent research and is a talking point at interview ( I'm not sure it's beneficial for Vet. Science as normally Mmi's and lots of discussion of animal cases).

teta, they are only just starting at DD's school. It sounds like quite a lot of work - not sure those that are starting will see it through and as you say, the mark will not be available to form part of any offer

I need to speak to DS about this as he's just signed up to it.

I know nothing about it at all, so need to read up on it quickly!

Dd's school have said no one should be doing the EPQ in year 13 ,hence the reason for such a tight deadline .They reckon it's too distracting.Some of her friends are writing theirs up over the summer ( oxbridge candidates) but will not get the results until 2018.DD has also been told not to do work experience over Christmas /Easter unless absolutely necessary but just to concentrate on her A levels.Her class teacher is very much a traditionalist .

DS survived the DofE expedition but has been bitten by every mosi in England and also has blisters on top of his blisters. However he was with a good group and enjoyed it.

He is starting his EPQ as some uni's have said they will give a lower offer if you have an A in it. It can also help demonstrate that you have gone beyond the curriculum for certain subjects.

Teta my friend's daughter who is doing vet med said the interview was the most important thing and that she was so glad that she had so much work experience because she was able to draw on this when they asked questions about what she would do in certain situations.

This is the info we've had from school.

"EPQ - equivalent to half an A level. Two lessons a week with one with a supervisor. Course continues through to successful completion of the project.
It is expected that students will carry out research into their project prior to September. This programme is particularly suited to those students considering an Oxbridge application or any other
competitive university course, such as Medicine."

I have no idea what subject the EPQ has to be on - can it literally be anything?

Is there a limit on word count??

Need to pin DS down for some answers

5000 words with 10% above or below according to DD.Approx 10 pages.Written work is 40% worth of the marks,presentation - 20%,rest is continual work/log.

Relaxing now after visiting Soton today. (I'm rapidly compiling The Horsemad Guide to Unis of the UK )

DS not overly impressed, so don't think it'll make the cut... I'm actually quite relieved as DS1 is studying (I use the term 'studying' lightly, given his results...) there but it is SUCH a long way to go visit

I'm a bit concerned DS2 is basing his decision on whether he likes the subject talk I know it has to appeal, but am worried he's dismissing some good unis by adhering to this method

Good/bad speakers are everywhere: I have tried to point out that the course won't be taught entirely by the person who gives the talk... Let's hope that sinks in...

DS's answer is that the unis should be putting their best people out there to 'sell' the course.

Sheffield next week

Ooh thanks teta, just noticed your post re EPQ.

At Southampton today. About to listen to a talk on EPQs

Have a good day dingit!

DS's answer is that the unis should be putting their best people out there to 'sell' the course.

But in reality we are in the middle of summer conference season and many academics are away giving talks on their work all over the world. It may well be "weaker" people who are available to give subject talks, particularly on weekends. (Parents of young children often find it hard to attend.) Even leaving this aside, I agree that subject talks cannot be completely representative of the course.

I totally agree esornep, and have also mentioned to him the points you raise.

Horse there is some educational theory that says you understand information better when it is delivered by someone who is not entertaining because you need to listen more, thereby helping with your knowledge construction. Similarly the research supports taking notes by longhand and not by laptop as your brain needs to process the information more in order for you to write notes.

That's interesting ono, I will drop that into conversation with him and let him digest that

Re the longhand thing, yes I totally agree with that one, certainly for me!

Totally can see how the long-hand works. Particularly as we develop motor memory for handwriting and don't think about the actual process of writing, but I certainly have to concentrate when using a laptop so therefore not so much focus on what I am listening to IYKWIM!

Thanks for the tips on Southampton. dd3 really liked Southampton, especially the Physics department.

I didn't go with her but it was good to see her enthusiasiasm when she came home. She said the organisation of the open day was very impressive.

DD is supposed to be on work experience this week. She's done some work for me and is booked to help her Gran move, but apart from that ...

She still doesn't know what to carry on with in September,, or what to do after year 13.

Aargh...day one in the EPQ house and I'm already thinking this is a BAD IDEA! DS has been working on the project proposal form and good grief, the work involved in just saying what you are going to do. I predict lots of swearing and tears (and that's just from me).

On a brighter note, DS passed his driving test so just the small matter of car insurance (and a second mortgage) to sort now

Hello guys - I know a lot of you from last years GCSEs support threads, after which I went cold turkey on MN for quite a while but just saw this thread in Active and thought I'd pop in.

Guess quite a few of us will be passing one another IRL at open days - we were at Southampton this weekend, DD is planning on doing EEE, v impressive department - enthusiastic students and staff there on a Sunday. Liked the campus, halls looked fine ... And she's into sailing so apart from being at the other end of the country looks good! Sheffield this weekend.

See you're discussing EPQs - she started hers a while back but got an extension to finish it over this summer and start of next term as it's an 'artefact' - designing and building a robot. Quite a lot of the marks are for the write up - planning etc - but she does have to build the thing so I can say goodbye to my table for a couple of months!

Now scanning backwards through the thread ... Re hills, we took a look at Sheffield last year too, IIRC the uni was pretty flat... If your DC doesn't like city hills then the place to avoid is Bristol! We were there the other week (I've lost track) and we were up and down to Clifton halls and students union like yo-you, DD got a good blister, perfect prep for DofE the following week (she got the Scottish midges).

Anyone with a child doing A level music? DS is at the end of year 12 and wanting to do a music degree, but can't write a decent music essay to save his life. He just keeps getting told to add more detail but can't seem to get it. We're at a loss and he's doing much better in his other essay based subjects. Help anyone??

Currently sat up waiting to drop dd off for a trip at 3am. What a lousy set off time.

I might be able to help a bit with the music essays as dd had the same problem and asked for help. Get back to you next week choirmum (when she returns).

ono, congrats to your DS on the driving test!

HSM, DD doesn't know what to drop/carry on with and is now again thinking about what she should study at uni as DH keeps saying un helpful things about different degrees. And she is worrying about what grades she will get for her AS's as an old (very clever and hard-working) friend got a much lower grade for a subject DD does in the schools internal exams than expected. The teacher has already said that the ante has majorly been upped for this subject and this is one DH is trying to suggest she takes at degree level

Errol, we will be in Sheff this Sat too. Not so much sailing there, but they did have a very strong rowing club back in the Dark Ages!

Hey Errol, good to have you back!
Great to hear you had such an encouraging visit to Southampton - it's so good when DC find a Uni and course they like the look of isn't it - we felt like that about the Wildlife Biology course at Uni of South Wales. And like your DD with the sailing we liked the area too with lovely countryside for walking and hostelling etc.
Thanks too for the encouragement about Sheffield campus actually not being that hilly in itself! I've still got an eye on that one for DD as I've heard good things and is relatively near us and close to the Peak District, and we have a good friend who lives there who DD could potentially even stay with. We hope to visit for their open day on September 10th.
Also isso hard to know how they're going to do in their AS'sand A2's at this stage I think? DD thinks AS's didn't go too well so results could be a bit mixed I think? She feels she can do better this year and is setting off on Y13 studies in good spirits with good intentions - they've started those courses in last few weeks, though this week have been working on their personal statements.
Regarding personal statements and DD's first draft it all seems a bit academic and I do feel she could include more personal background about places (habitats/ecosystems) we've visited/experienced and some of the wonderful animals/wildlife we've seen - for example she's been snorkelling in the red sea, also seen so much in the Scottish Highlands. Surely including some of that would make it more interesting and personal? But apparently it's all got to be very grown-up and all about academic interests, further reading etc.?!
I think there's a tension too between school and home learning/ experience which seems very familiar - I just want her to include something from the richness of experience she has had in her wider life.
So we have a slight difference of opinion around this, and the usual tension too between giving constructive feedback and being encouraging!
Apparently it's a first draft - hopefully she will at least make room to talk about her upcoming trip to Finland - she's off on Saturday!