A Level choices for a B grade GCSE Level

Gepetto said:
The four individual teachers all think that he has the ability (in each of those four subjects separately) to gain a good pass at A level, but, when questioned further, they all expressed a concern at the combined workload.

Can anyone who's been in this position offer some input? Apparently there is a huge jump between GCSE and A Level
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I did A-levels in the mid-late 90s so things may have changed but personally, I found the workload was actually reduced at A-level due to doing fewer subjects. GCSE was basically 10 subjects plus some other random nonsense getting in the way that was compulsary but not examined (religious studies, financial studies, pastoral care, music appreciation, PE etc), with zero free periods, 3 subjects of homework every night and not allowed to do homework during break periods. Whereas A-levels was 3 subjects, free periods, allowed to do work during break periods, much more focussed on things of interest (i.e. 3rd best subject likely to be far more interesting/motivating than 10th best subject), deadlines for assignment typically next week rather than next day/lesson etc.

In terms of hours I'd say roughly speaking GCSEs probably required about 15hrs/week outside of school, whereas A-levels was around 10hrs. I can't overstate how liberating A-levels felt not having to waste time on subjects that bored me. The official line was (and presumably still is), of course, that A-levels required more work but that certainly wasn't my experience as you aren't spread nearly so thin. Of course, this doubtless varies between schools and my school was quite 'oldschool' in terms of how hard students were pushed up until GCSEs.

In terms of difficulty yes as one would expect A-levels are more challenging but the gap between GCSEs and A-levels is minimal compared to that between A-levels and degree-level. I think most reasonably intelligent, motivated people can pass A-levels.
 
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I got a B at GCSE then an A at A/S, I got an E at A2 due to me being a lazy sod and skipping sixth form to do other things, It's definitely possible to achieve a decent grade at A -level if you achieve a B at GCSE, you have to put the hours in though which is what I failed to do..
 
Gepetto said:
We attended a Sixth Form Evening at our 15 year old's school last night, and would appreciate some advice on whether his A Level choices are achievable. He is in the second year of his GCSE's

He is pretty much at a comfortable B grade level at GCSE, and has picked Maths, Chemistry, Biology and Business/Economics to study at A Level, which, I think, he will find really heavy going.

The four individual teachers all think that he has the ability (in each of those four subjects separately) to gain a good pass at A level, but, when questioned further, they all expressed a concern at the combined workload.

Can anyone who's been in this position offer some input? Apparently there is a huge jump between GCSE and A Level, so if the overwhelming response is "don't do it" we will have to sit down with him and look at the options he has.

Many thanks, Andy
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I was in this position many years ago.

I got 6 A's and 5 B's at GCSE, did Alelve Maths, Chemistry and Biology. End result after 2 years I got rinsed and came out with DDE. The gap between GCSEs and A-levels hosed me. Bear in mind this was nearly 20 years ago. Not sure if they have brought A-levels down since then. But when I took GCSEs it was the 2nd year they had been introduced and the A-levels were still at the same standard when they were followed on from o-levels.

I wasn't lazy but the difference in difficulty back then between GCSE's and AlEvels was literally off the charts. GCSEs were/are way too easy and didn't actually prepare you for "real academia". I still manage toget to Uni through clearing and get a decent degree, but seriously those 2 years in 6th form were like a prolonged booting to the testicles
 
It is very possible to achieve great grades at A-Level, I have plenty friends who had B/C at GCSE and got A`s at A-level...

Thing is, far too many students discover alcohol and drugs at sixth form and well, it all goes down the drain... Since we had plenty of that during GCSE`s where talking throughout lesson about where to get alcohol instead of learning didnt matter much since it was a complete sod, this was barely new... Although ppl selling coke,weed,mdma in smoking area kinda was new...

However, I did pretty bad in Maths but I mean the difference between gcse and A-level maths is just ridiculous... Ive seen plenty of A* GCSE students turn into party animals and failling a-levels.
 
Got As and A*s at GCSE, and then failed completely my AS levels. I resat them, and got DDD at A-Level. Now working a full-time retail job. To be honest, my heart wasn't fully in it, I did it because I thought everything else would be seen as a failure by my family. But now I've got my own place and my family are happy for me and I'm much less stressed. So what I will say is make sure it's HIS decision to do this and not because he thinks you want him to do this. GCSEs are designed for most people to do well so don't think because someone gets reasonably good GCSEs they can handle A level or Uni.

I didn't drink or do drugs and rarely went out, and was pretty depressed. Now I'm much happier, even on near-minimum wage. :)
 
Fulax said:
Economics, on the other hand, is essentially applied mathematics. If his maths skills are good enough for subjects in the physical sciences he'll be able to do economics with his eyes closed.
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This is absolutely not the case at A level.
 
I finished GCSEs in 1999 with something like 6-7 C grade gCSEs. At A-level I got ABCD in Gen studies, Geography, Environmental Science and Business Studies.

At that age I had no clue how my options would affect my understanding at university and the teachers didn't explain how important Maths and Physics would be for my Earth Science degree.

It seems your sons options are a good pick for a good science or engineering degree. He will need the Maths, Statistics and Physics for a degree.
 
Gepetto said:
No offense taken. I could have worded it better! :o

I. personally, would love him to take these subjects, as, I too, believe they provide him with options in the future, but, if he wanted to take an apprenticeship, or a vocational course, I would fully support him in that as well.

The workload does concern me though, with the step-change, and one thing that came up in discussion last night has come up in this thread as well, namely, does he really enjoy those subjects? I think this is a huge factor, and whilst he love Chemistry and Maths, he is not a huge fan of Algebra which forms a large part of Mathematics going forward, and he also finds Physics boring which does concern me slightly.

His teacher indicated that he would find the Economics/Business quite easy, although it does contain quite a bit of work, so the scenario you've mentioned might very well become the case, and depending on what route he chooses, one of the Sciences could perhaps fall away after the first year.
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Stop right there.

Completely forget A-Level Maths if this is true. Only go for it if he will change his mind and make himself enjoy it.

I recommend a change of attitude and take the risk on all four A-Levels, no risk no reward. It sounds easy for me to say but it is true.

Make him do his best at a change of attitude, it'll be the best in the long run.

Just get him to buckle up for the ride, and dedicate his two years to it. Predictions are just predictions and certainly don't go by any ones "I got a B at GCSE then E at A-level" as that no way gives him any idea how he will do.
 
I got a C in GCSE Business studies, which was my lowest grade. My school wasn't willing to let me continue with it but I begged them. When I finished the A level I scored about 570/600 on it which was the highest of my grades. With a bit of hard work even low grades can get turned around at A level if it's something they're interested in.
 
Tefal said:
then he can move vocational, if he cant handle this workload hed be ****ed second year onwards of uni.
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Workload is probably higher at sixth form than at uni, lest you do a subject that requires tonnes of reading, medicine/dentistry/vet or engineering. At uni there is just much more to distract yourself with.

I'm in third year at Bristol comfortably averaging a 2:1 without tonnes of work, and I don't see anyone around me who spends hours and hours working except when exam periods are coming up.

Again however I don't think there's a big step up between gcse and sixth form... so perhaps that's the individual.
 
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Depends what he wants to be?

Biology & Chemistry with another good A-Level could get you most things, but I wouldn't recommend maths too.

He may be better to stick with a safer option (don't ask me what), that he has an interest in, than to take maths because "it's the right thing to do".
 
It can work both ways. E.g. I got grade B in GCSE maths, went on to do it in A level and I got an A. On the contrary, I got grade A in GCSE science, went on to do physics in A level and I only got a C. That was back in 1995 when it was only compulsory to do 3 A levels. I'm aware that people now have to take 4 A levels initially then they can drop it down to 3 A levels in the the upper sixth. Is that still the case?
 
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