[James25592]

Hi i'm new to the forum so forgive me if i've started this thread in the wrong section.

I'll try to be as brief as i can, I started college in 2008 with a view to go to uni. My subjects at AS were Human Biology, Psychology and Sports Studies and i was interested in getting into the sport science side of things. At AS level I earned B in Psychology and 2 C's in the other subjects. I tried fairly hard in that year but deep down i knew i could have done better. My second year started, i decided uni wasn't really for me anymore, I was young and immature... enough said really. I finished up with C's in psychology and sport studies and a D in human biology. Even though I decided uni wasn't for me i was so unhappy with myself. I felt stupid almost and the reason was because i knew i could have done so much better. I've never really been a straight A student.... at GCSE i got 3 A's, 5 B's and a C.

So anyway, after that i saved up for a year at my job, went to Australia, New Zealand etc for a year and now i'm back! I happened to meet a Swedish girl over there, got into a relationship and now i'm looking at my options. Now, i've always had a natural ability for maths and i totally regret not taking it at A level. I really would like to take it on a far distance course that you can do on the computer and teach myself. I know i can pass it well if I give my all, but my question is, if i were to take maths as a single A level for the next 1 or 2 years and get a good grade in it, can I then use that grade as part of a university application? I know 2 C's and a D and complete rubbish A level grades but i was hoping that with a maths A level, which is highly respected i could use that to my advantage? I am however reading a lot of things on the internet that uni's only accept grades from the same academic year?? No matter what the case I am certain i will still do this A level, maybe just to prove to myself that i'm not stupid and that when i apply myself and when i'm a bit more mature I can do well.

Also, i went into my college the day i got back (2 weeks ago) and asked if there was anyway i could retake certain papers of my previous A levels, to maybe bump up the D to a C (was only 1% off a C or something ridiculous), but i was refused and told that the syllabus has changed so there is no way. Does anyone know if this is for ALL A levels?
Also finally, does anyone have any advice of where i could go with what ive already got (plus maths if i do well)? Like a foundation year etc how does that all work? So for the length of message but I would appreciate anyone's thoughts!

Thanks

[Juno]

You might be better to look into an access course or doing another set of 3 A Levels. Even if you get an amazing grade in maths this time you'd still have one good grade and the rest not great which will limit your options. You'll finding more courses accepting ABB or whatever you might be able to get this time than ACCD.

Unfortunately it is likely the syllabus has changed since you did your A Levels, so retaking is unlikely. But retaking might not be that good an option anyway, as you said you didn't work that much last time so didn't learn much, and then over time you'll have forgotten most of that anyway. So you might actually benefit more from a new start.

But yeah, find a course you want to do and work out how to get there. It can be done.

[rocket0612]

I agree, an access course is much better than doing 3-Levels and will give you more chance of success.

[James25592]

Have either of you ever had experience of an access course personally? Is it generally a year that it lasts? And do you think it would be possible to do it abroad?

Sorry, my questions are probably really stupid but i've never really looked into Uni and the choices since i decided it wasn't for me. After going away for a year and becoming a lot more grown up and mature i'm trying to think how i can move on in the future, rather than correct my previous faults. In a way, not being able to retake parts of my A levels may be a blessing. Always look on the bright side! Thanks for the replies by the way guys

[rocket0612]

I did one two years ago. You can do it full time in 1 year or part-time over 2 years. I doubt international equivalents are acceptable but you could always check the uni prospectuses you would be wanting to apply to to see what they accept.

[James25592]

Ok i'll look into it! So do you still need fairly good grades to do an access course or is it literally for people who dont have the qualifications at all and its almost a way to "prove yourself"?

[Juno]

(Original post by James25592)
Ok i'll look into it! So do you still need fairly good grades to do an access course or is it literally for people who dont have the qualifications at all and its almost a way to "prove yourself"?

An access course is for anyone who hasn't got the right qualifications for uni - so they might have not done A Levels at all, or got low grades, or even got good grades but just in the wrong subjects for what they then want to do!

And no, it wouldn't be possible to do abroad.

[Beebumble]

I was gonna suggest an access course too but then you said about teaching yourself. Maybe try the open university?