Tuesday, February 17, 2015

What does new A Level mean to current students - those taking GCSE in June 2015 and June 2016.


The key changes to A level

    A levels will be fully linear, with students sitting their exams at the end of the two-year course. From January 2014, there is no longer a January assessment window. This change applies to current A levels as well as the new ones in development.

Basically it means as student you just have to get it right in Sixth Form (Y12 and Y13) if you have aspirations for that top university course.
 
    AS levels will be stand-alone qualifications and will no longer contribute to an A level grade. Their purpose will be to encourage curriculum breadth and they will remain broadly at their current standard. The AS level may be designed to be co-taught with the first year of the A level.
 
Well Cambridge says  - AS Levels are good for you.
 
 
 
Are the A-level reforms being rolled out across every subject at the same time?

There is a three-year roll-out plan with different subjects reforming at different times. If you're unsure as to how your subjects will be affected it's best to speak to your future sixth form or college.
Will I still be able to take four subjects at the start of year one?
Most sixth forms and colleges will only be funded for students to take three subjects.
( Couldn't verify this bit)
 
 
Is an AS level still the equivalent of 50% of an A-level?
No, the AS qualification will be worth 40% of an A-level. This means that when you
apply to uni under the new UCAS tariff an A-level A grade will be worth 48 points and the A grade in AS will be worth only 20.
 
Is an AS level still the equivalent of 50% of an A-level?

No, the AS qualification will be worth 40% of an A-level. This means that when you
apply to uni under the new UCAS tariff an A-level A grade will be worth 48 points and the A grade in AS will be worth only 20.
Can I still take AS exams if I want to do the A-level version?
Some sixth forms and colleges will be offering AS examinations at the end of the first year. This qualification is easier than an A-level and the grade you receive will count towards the UCAS points for your uni application. If you do well in your AS exam and decide that you would like to continue and study towards A-level, your achieved AS level will not count at all towards your A-level.
You’ve probably already decided on your where you’ll be studying after your GCSEs but now is the time to ask if AS examinations will be offered to students and how many.

Why should I check?

Not sure if all sixth for providers will offer AS Levels.
If I take an AS level exam but do really well and decide that I want to do the A-level will I be at a disadvantage at all?

Most AS and A-level courses are being designed to be “co-teachable” so that both groups of students will learn the same things in year one. The key difference is that those students who have opted for the A-level course will not be assessed at the end of year one.
If I don’t achieve my grades can I retake my A-level exams?
Because exams will no longer be modular it will be a lot harder to retake exams. We advise that you check the course specifications and ask your teacher.
How will it impact on my uni application?
Currently predicted grades for university applications are based on AS results. With AS exams now being phased out unis are very likely to focus more in future on GCSE results, their own testing systems and of course A-level predictions.
Will I be at a disadvantage if I don’t have AS grades on my uni application?
Only the University of Cambridge has commented that it strongly advises applicants to take AS exams while other universities have commented that students will neither be an advantage nor a disadvantage.
How do I show I’m a top student on my university application without a grade to prove it?

GCSEs

Excellent GCSEs are now not only a gateway to further education studies, they’ll now indicate to universities your aptitude and potential capability as an undergraduate.

Teacher reference
Undoubtedly the teacher reference will become even more important with teachers being encouraged to clearly indicate consistent and measurable improvements made by you in your studies from day one of your A-level course.

No Time to Fool around
Realistically this means that you can’t afford to slack off at the start, every day counts and although you won’t be assessed officially until the end of year two, your effort and performance will be consistently monitored.

Mock exams

Although mock exams are commonplace in schools and colleges, it's questionable how seriously some students take these.  It’ll be worth making the most of these opportunities as the results of these exams may be used to create your predicted grades which universities will want to see. They’ll also want to know that you’re performing consistently.