Importance of A-Levels

Someone mentioned earlier bout firms not looking at a-levels if you re-sit them rather than get them the first time round. Think I read that as well on a couple of sites.
If most firms are like that, even looking into re-sitting a module would be a waste of time wouldn't it? I'm at 300 points currently, and retaking one would easily push me to 320, but if it's a waste anyway...
hmm, looks like it's do well at uni and hope for the best? would it make any difference where the degree is from?
 
Wait a sec, if you took 4 AS levels and 3 A Levels, are you allowed to count the points from the AS level you dropped? Got a B in physics which isn't actually that bad, could bump up my ucas score.
 
Wait a sec, if you took 4 AS levels and 3 A Levels, are you allowed to count the points from the AS level you dropped? Got a B in physics which isn't actually that bad, could bump up my ucas score.

I would have imagined that you did a years work and got an AS, therefore you should be credited and have it added to your overall UCAS.
 
A level results are extremely important when applying for graduate placements. A lot of companies will use A level results to distinguish between candidates or have minimum A level requirements. They are often more important that the university you go to.

I got 6 UCAS points yet a 1st in engineering. My company weren't interested in my A levels.
 
Ive found that A-levels are still important, and getting 320 points is essential. As is getting a 2.1 from your degree.

They matter simply because they are what got you accepted into your university.
If you got rubbish grades, you probably went to a rubbish university. If you got 300+ points, you got a proper education.

Employers know that a 2.1 from Greenwich uni is not the same as a 2.1 from Nottingham uni.

The BTEC-Alevel equivalency is BS too. They may be seen by UCAS as holding the same points, but the world certaintly doesnt see them like that.
 
Eh, so i got A level equivalent of AAA? So as long as you get 3 distinctions out of 16 modules you get AAA :eek::D

Got 2:1 at uni in business computing


nope!

those subject grades have to be put into a btec calculatroy thing which then gives you a final grade in threee simple letters

to get a DDD ( AAA ) youd have to get a distinction in almost EVERY subject/module

if you did the 16 unit award its something like

pass - 2 points
mertit - 4 points
distinction - 6 points

then theres tiers eg

32 points - 40 would be pass pass pass

90 - 96 or something would be the DDD

its pretty complicated lol , i had a table that worked it out but cant find it no more
 
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Yeh as people have said A-levels retain a degree of importance even after you graduate. I agree that it's ridiculous to filter out applicants using A level grades - there could be any number of reasons why a student underachieves at school. Gaining a 1st should negate the need for 320 UCAS points, in my opinion.

Getting UCAS 240 points, and going to a medicore university and achieving a 1st, may be an achievement. But it still makes you less well-rounded than the person that got 320 points, and got a 2.1 from a top university.
 
The BTEC-Alevel equivalency is BS too. They may be seen by UCAS as holding the same points, but the world certaintly doesnt see them like that.

How does the world see them then?

I take it with my BTEC national 'AAA' in computing I would have more chance going for a technical job than a more general job in english, french, biology etc as i did not do anytihng to do with them in my computing degree

Also I chose a met uni as I didnt think i would be good enough for a 'proper' uni. Once I saw facilities of my campus and where i would be living i was certainly not going to change my mind. Jobs arn't all about technical skills, if you are good at something but have the social skills of a peasant then you wont get the job!
 
The BTEC-Alevel equivalency is BS too. They may be seen by UCAS as holding the same points, but the world certaintly doesnt see them like that.

apart from oxford/cambridge you could get into anywhere with a DDD in an engineering BTEC

i got an offer from shefield that if i got DDM i could go there unconditionally , manchester etc gave the same offers to mates

once youve got a good degree from those places you would easily find a job

its 2007 everyone stopped been so snobby years ago
 
Getting UCAS 240 points, and going to a medicore university and achieving a 1st, may be an achievement. But it still makes you less well-rounded than the person that got 320 points, and got a 2.1 from a top university.

Only to pretentious, elitist muppets. If anything, the person who got the 1st has obviously applied himself and is just as capable as the 2.1 student who went to a better establishment. All that would indicate to me is that there were some extenuating circumstances for the student who gained the 1st during their A-Levels. I'd even argue that they were more rounded as they've had to fight to get where they are.
 
im pretty sure theres nothing worse than an a level student going to do engineering at red brick unis with his AAA in sciences and maths and not even having a clue about anything practical

they then get a job and start dishing out complete unpractical orders and planning things that are near impossible for the poor workman at the other end to do

atleast the BTEC teaches the practical stuff aswell as the basics in all sorts of other subjects that will be needed at uni
 
Someone said the AS counts too? I did very very poorly in the AS i dropped and got an E, but if you add those 20 points to my 300, I have 320, lol.

No swearing - Z.
 
Most major employers insist on minimum Alevels of BBB or they wont even read your CV nevermind ask you to interview.

I remember the FT wanting something daft like AAB before you could apply.

The problem with degree's is that you can't easily compare them against each other like Alevels.

If two people did the same board for an Alevel, then you can say "person who got the A" is better at maths per say than the "Person who got a B".

You'd be suprised just how much difference there is between degree programs in the same subject. I mean look at the quality of staff differences, some lecturers at Man Met for example don't hold PhD's!

To be honest if I was an employer and the person didn't have a degree in a hard science subject from a top university I'd trust their Alevel results more than any degree result.

Davem
 
nope!

those subject grades have to be put into a btec calculatroy thing which then gives you a final grade in threee simple letters

to get a DDD ( AAA ) youd have to get a distinction in almost EVERY subject/module

if you did the 16 unit award its something like

pass - 2 points
mertit - 4 points
distinction - 6 points

then theres tiers eg

32 points - 40 would be pass pass pass

90 - 96 or something would be the DDD

its pretty complicated lol , i had a table that worked it out but cant find it no more

Yeh though something like this sounnded more correct. So i got 54 meaning something on the lines of BBC or BCC
 
Getting UCAS 240 points, and going to a medicore university and achieving a 1st, may be an achievement. But it still makes you less well-rounded than the person that got 320 points, and got a 2.1 from a top university.

You aren't factoring in the degree subject at all...

Just using the Guardian list as a handy guide, Sussex comes 25th overall, not fantastic you might say, yet it is ranked first for chemistry.

Look at the rankings for agriculture and forestry.

So yes, the 'top' universities may lead the list overall and indeed for the majority of the more traditional subjects, but going to what you label as mediocre universities doesn't automatically write you off as an inferior employment prospect.
 
Most major employers insist on minimum Alevels of BBB or they wont even read your CV nevermind ask you to interview.

I remember the FT wanting something daft like AAB before you could apply.

The problem with degree's is that you can't easily compare them against each other like Alevels.

If two people did the same board for an Alevel, then you can say "person who got the A" is better at maths per say than the "Person who got a B".

You'd be suprised just how much difference there is between degree programs in the same subject. I mean look at the quality of staff differences, some lecturers at Man Met for example don't hold PhD's!

To be honest if I was an employer and the person didn't have a degree in a hard science subject from a top university I'd trust their Alevel results more than any degree result.

Davem

Even though universities are increasingly considering other measures to distinguish between A-level students given how so many come through with straight A's these days?
 
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