A2 Level, or AQA Baccalaureate?

muon · 7 Jan 2009 at 18:11

gamer_boy said:
I am currently taking Further Maths, History A2, English Lit and Physics in Year 12. I also do a Critical Thinking course, which at the moment I find really interesting and engaging. The skills it teaches will hopefully be very helpful when I go onto Law at Oxbridge, or at least that is my aim.

What would you take the Bac in? It depends on what is more worthwhile to you and the university, not the school.

What made you decide not go for a Physics degree? From your subject choices, Physics and Further Maths I can only guess you were an aspiring engineer or physicist? Also are you going to have 5 A-levels + critical thinking? Thats a lot of effort

. Also how did you manage to take the whole of the History A-level in one year? Doing a Maths A-level before year 12 is pretty impressive as well.

Hxc · 7 Jan 2009 at 18:12

Strife212 said:
90% of the advice in here is useless, he has to take Critical Thinking as a pre-resiquite, its not the actual qualification, hes not going to drop a full A level to do AS Critical Thinking ._.

Yes, I am.

In order to take Critical Thinking/Citizenship, I would have to drop Geography A2.

In order to do the Bac, I have to do Critical Thinking

I'm confident I could get high grades regardless of what I did. A in computing is already pretty much sorted, A in Maths shouldn't be a problem, A in Physics with a bit of hard graft and I can do an A in geography. Then hopefully an A in further maths would be nice as well. I'm confident I could do well in Critical/Citizenship and in turn in the AQA Bac.

The AQA Bac is not an A level alternative, the change is me doing citizenship/critical thinking. I do one of those as an AS and in turn do the Bac alongside it. I can't do the Bac without one of those two subjects.

w11tho · 7 Jan 2009 at 18:14

Cambridge would prefer you have have an A2 in Further Maths. If your school doesn't offer it, then perhaps it would be worth looking into it yourself? I'd advise against subjects like Citizenship and Critical Thinking. This is a good guide.

Hxc · 7 Jan 2009 at 18:16

I realize they would prefer that, I'm not sure whether it'd be possible to do Further Maths easily outside of sixth form, but I'll look into it... I can definitely do Further Maths AS in the second year but I can't do A2.

Strife212 · 7 Jan 2009 at 18:18

Hxc said:
Yes, I am.

In order to take Critical Thinking/Citizenship, I would have to drop Geography A2.

Yes but your not dropping it just do do critical thinking, you would be doing the bac as well, that's what I mean.

muon · 7 Jan 2009 at 18:19

Hxc said:
I realize they would prefer that, I'm not sure whether it'd be possible to do Further Maths easily outside of sixth form, but I'll look into it... I can definitely do Further Maths AS in the second year but I can't do A2.

See if you can take it at a local secondary school which does offer it. Best option would be local grammar schools. I'm sure you could learn the material by yourself. Just requires a bit effort.

Also the top universities do appreciate that some schools (theyll know which) don't offer the full A-level and therefore won't look negatively on just an AS-level.

w11tho · 7 Jan 2009 at 18:19

Hxc said:
I realize they would prefer that, I'm not sure whether it'd be possible to do Further Maths easily outside of sixth form, but I'll look into it... I can definitely do Further Maths AS in the second year but I can't do A2.

I think quite a few people run into that problem. Doing the extra work on your own shouldn't be too hard, there are lots of resources available online, and plenty of people willing to help out. Forums such as NRich and PhysicsForums are full of very knowledgeable people who would be willing to help out.

I really would avoid the soft subjects like those you mentioned: they're not likely to add anything at all to your application.

Hxc · 7 Jan 2009 at 18:22

So effectively the AQA Bac isn't worth it to Cambridge, w11tho? (I remember it was you who helped out in another of my threads, many thanks

)

I think I'll stick with Geography then. I'll do my best to somehow do Further Maths A2 but it's going to be odd as I probably should've tried to start earlier. I'll have to get some textbooks and try and work on the AS stuff as soon as possible, and move onto A2 when I can...

w11tho · 7 Jan 2009 at 18:27

I'd certainly stick with the Geography over the Critical Thinking and/or Citizenship. Failing that, drop Geography at AS and spend the extra time going over the Further Maths or STEP papers. Those options would be much more beneficial to you as a potential mathematics student.

Hxc · 7 Jan 2009 at 18:29

The Trinity College website says however that it does not consider computing as an appropriate subject, disapointing but a tad expected.

That would mean I would be left with Computing, Physics, and Maths, plus Futher Maths AS. Hopefully I would have it to A2, but that is not a definite. I feel I could manage the workload of additional outside work so I think I'll stick to doing Geography and work on the rest outside of school.

If I drop geography I'll be forced to do Critical/Citizenship anyway. I'd have to get a special exception made in order to spend it going over STEP/FM.

A.N.Other · 7 Jan 2009 at 19:29

I'm at Oxford and I did the standard British A2s. One of my guys at my college on the same course (Darkmage88 on here) did the IB.

I wouldn't have said it mattered in the slightest, personally, as what really matters is your personal statement and the interview. I'd be happy to answer any questions, if you've got any - e-mail in trust.

From personal experience, critical thinking is a complete waste of space. They did it at out school and I was so pleased I didn't bother with that one. It's something people could either do or not - a way of thinking, really. Citizenship equally sounds like a load of rubbish. So, with your subjects and choices, I'd stick with A2s.

w11tho · 7 Jan 2009 at 19:42

Hxc said:
I'd have to get a special exception made in order to spend it going over STEP/FM.

I think you'd have a legitimate case - the school would have to be pretty harsh to deny you shifting your concentration from one subject to another.

SpaghettiOs · 7 Jan 2009 at 22:14

ghost101 said:
What made you decide not go for a Physics degree? From your subject choices, Physics and Further Maths I can only guess you were an aspiring engineer or physicist? Also are you going to have 5 A-levels + critical thinking? Thats a lot of effort . Also how did you manage to take the whole of the History A-level in one year? Doing a Maths A-level before year 12 is pretty impressive as well.

I took AS Level History last year and so I'm continuing that this year. At our school Further Maths is offered in Year 12 and is an accelerated Maths course, meaning I have Core Maths Units 1+2 Exams at the end of the week, when they would normally be done at the end of this year. It means we get 2 A2 Levels instead of 1.

Yes, its quite a lot of effort, but I'm hoping it will pay off. I only get 4 Free periods in total over a fortnight! I took physics and further maths more out of interest than wanting to continue it. I also hope they'll add to my university application. My form tutor thinks I'm crazy! Although I enjoy the sciences, I prefer the law side. I'm currently considering applying for Law or PPE at Oxford.

taz488 · 7 Jan 2009 at 22:55

OxBridge, pfft, come to Warwick

muon · 7 Jan 2009 at 23:09

gamer_boy said:
I took AS Level History last year and so I'm continuing that this year. At our school Further Maths is offered in Year 12 and is an accelerated Maths course, meaning I have Core Maths Units 1+2 Exams at the end of the week, when they would normally be done at the end of this year. It means we get 2 A2 Levels instead of 1.

Oh okay so youre doing Maths AND Further Maths over your 2 years. I thought you may have done the Maths A-level already seing as your workload looks large enough as it is.

I'd drop critical thinking and spend the time on your other subjects or use the few periods to actually relax. Critical Thinking really is a waste of time.

Yes, its quite a lot of effort, but I'm hoping it will pay off. I only get 4 Free periods in total over a fortnight! I took physics and further maths more out of interest than wanting to continue it. I also hope they'll add to my university application. My form tutor thinks I'm crazy! Although I enjoy the sciences, I prefer the law side. I'm currently considering applying for Law or PPE at Oxford.

I'm surprised you still get free periods. If you do the Maths and Further Maths modules quickly, you'll get some free time next year (unless you take additional Maths modules). C1-C4 and 4 applied modules by the end of the year? Which would mean if you get FP1, FP2 and a couple of applied modules next January, you get spring and summer with no maths. You'd also have 3 A-levels under your belt and know already if you've met the terms of your offer.

Good luck anyway.