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Something you all know
Former Member
Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
What exactly are A-levels? I mean, yes I know it's in-depth studies of a few selected subjects - starting at age 14 or thereabouts? For two years? But how in-depth, i.e how many hours a week on each, how many subjects do most people do, and don't you have any general studies besides?
Am trying to figure out what level I'll be at in comparison with people at my course - seems most have done psychology A-levels, whereas I've never even had it as a subject, although I'm reading up.
Am trying to figure out what level I'll be at in comparison with people at my course - seems most have done psychology A-levels, whereas I've never even had it as a subject, although I'm reading up.
Post edited by JustV on
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I for example did 3, getting 1 C and 2 D's. I think 3 is about the average number to take but the general results vary.
Each a-level is studied for 5 hours a week which is why not many can be taken all at once. They are time consuming because aswell as the main course backgroung reading and coursework is needed to be completed.
You dont do any additional subjects along side a-levels because the compolsorary age for ending other subjects is 16 and therefor the a-levels you choose are pthways you wish to persue career wise
As to how in-depth, obviously it's hard to compare with what you've been doing, but I can't imagine they are too different. In the second year, I had 8 classes (35 or 40 mins each) a week of each subject. I also did General Studies in the second year, and had 2 classes a week of that, although really hardly did any work all year in General Studies.
I'm also doing a Psychology degree starting in September, and I didn't study it for A-level, and I've never been taught it at any level. Most uni's don't have it as a requirement, which must mean prior knowledge really isn't very important, so I wouldn't worry about it. If they offered you a place, they must of thought you would be able to cope on the course, so I wouldn't worry about it to be honest.
Where are you going??
(next autumn, deferring, suffer from itching travel bug this year)
I just don't quite trust that they gave me my place there on academic merit. My grades are well above average, but since I'll be paying international students' tuition fees (£10200 a year), I'm getting the impression that unis are very keen on letting me in. It seems a bit funny that Durham and Essex gave me unconditional offers, whereas Anglia Polytechnic which isn't even close to those in reputation etc. made my offer conditional because they were the only ones to realize that I don't have a full leaving certificate yet.
Guess I'll be fine though, but expecting to do more work than most during my fresher's year, as my English vocabulary needs a bit of a building up.
Seems the A-levels are pretty much like my in-depth studies in English and Political science anyway, which were five hours a week for two years. But I did some seven or eight other subjects alongside this, so probably more similar to an IB.
So you can actually get away as a student doing to A-levels at five hours each a week? Ten hours studies and living off your parents? How wonderful ;-)
Not really, if only it was that easy