BTEC Sport or A level Sport Studies?

8 replies

Bnanda · 29/08/2017 10:43

Ds wants to take Sport for A level and his school offers both. The results are slightly better for the BTEC - 70% Distinction (A), A level 1 x a*, 3 x a, then a few Cs Ds and an E!

Would an A level have more weight with unis?

Does anyone have any knowledge?

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BubblesBuddy · 29/08/2017 12:07

I think it depends what his other qualifications are likely to be. What other A levels is he doing? A friend of DD did this A level along with Maths and two other sciences for medical school at Bristol and the university was happy with it. It was a fourth A Level though. If it had been her third Level, then maybe not.

I would look at the course he may want at university too. A level may be better for an academic course at a high ranking university but BTec for a more practical course. Where is he aiming for and what does he want to do? Look at the entry requirements the universities put onto their web sites for each course to get an idea.

BubblesBuddy · 29/08/2017 12:08

third A level .......

Original poster

Bnanda · 29/08/2017 12:10

He is of middling ability, a couple of As, lots of Bs, a couple of Cs. He is doing BTEC business, Philosophy and Ethics A level.

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Original poster

Bnanda · 29/08/2017 12:11

Probably not aiming at a top uni!

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Bnanda · 29/08/2017 12:12

Sorry, his school, good comprehensive, only lets you do three a levels unless exceptional gcse results.

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BubblesBuddy · 29/08/2017 12:25

Therefore, do the course he will get the best result in. He is not taking a facilitating A level, so high level academic courses will be out, but what is he interested in doing at university? There may be sports/business courses that are worth looking at. Or apprenticeships in that field. I assume he has chosen these subjects with a view to career rather than an academic university course. Lots of university courses are not very competitive to get on, however. They actively recruit, so look at ones with lower entry levels and you should find something.

BoneyBackJefferson · 29/08/2017 12:33

PP have already mentioned uni, but If I remember correctly BTECs are modular, so he may prefer that type of course to full on A level exams.

It would also be worth taking into consideration the change in A levels and AS levels, in that many courses no longer have the safety net of an AS level.

pericat · 29/08/2017 20:32

You may also want to consider which sports your dc likes/is good at.

A level sports includes an assessment of sporting ability in a now much reduced list of sports.

The sport my ds is passionate about is no longer on that list so he has decided to do the Btec instead next year (as long as he hasn't changed his mind since then!).

Flip