Should I do an AS alongside a BTEC?
Discussions for and about BTEC qualifications, including BTEC Nationals and BTEC Extended Diplomas.
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Should I do an AS alongside a BTEC?I've just finished my 1st year of a BTEC Extended Diploma in IT and got distinctions in all 9 units. Should I take up AS Maths next year with it to improve my chances of getting accepted at a decent uni for business management or would it be pointless? Thanks.
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Re: Should I do an AS alongside a BTEC?I'd consider how convenient it would be for you to do both. I did both an A Level and BTEC alongside each other, and it was fine in the first year with my AS because I still had another year to finish the BTEC coursework. But in my last year of BTEC, the absolute final deadline dates were around the same time as my exam, which meant my A2 revision suffered while I rushed to get everything finished in time. However, I'd ask your tutor whether you'll be completing a Final Major Project (if you don't already know) for your BTEC course, because if not, you should have plenty of time for your AS Maths, providing you keep on top of your other coursework throughout the year.
I definitely think that taking an AS will improve your chances. Quite a few of the universities I considered only accepted BTECs when taken in combination with another course. It'll also, obviously, boost your UCAS points - one of the unis I applied for wanted 300 points, regardless of how many courses I took, so it would be easier for me to get in than other students who just did A Levels or BTEC. I don't think it'd be pointless at all taking the course. I'm assuming you want to get a degree in IT? It'll give you an edge over the countless others who did the same IT BTEC. -
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Re: Should I do an AS alongside a BTEC?Thank you for the reply(Original post by heythereluckyone)
I'd consider how convenient it would be for you to do both. I did both an A Level and BTEC alongside each other, and it was fine in the first year with my AS because I still had another year to finish the BTEC coursework. But in my last year of BTEC, the absolute final deadline dates were around the same time as my exam, which meant my A2 revision suffered while I rushed to get everything finished in time. However, I'd ask your tutor whether you'll be completing a Final Major Project (if you don't already know) for your BTEC course, because if not, you should have plenty of time for your AS Maths, providing you keep on top of your other coursework throughout the year.
I definitely think that taking an AS will improve your chances. Quite a few of the universities I considered only accepted BTECs when taken in combination with another course. It'll also, obviously, boost your UCAS points - one of the unis I applied for wanted 300 points, regardless of how many courses I took, so it would be easier for me to get in than other students who just did A Levels or BTEC. I don't think it'd be pointless at all taking the course. I'm assuming you want to get a degree in IT? It'll give you an edge over the countless others who did the same IT BTEC.
I breezed past the first year which was more IT but the second year is going to be more business related so even if I miss a couple of distinctions I will still end up with atleast DDD, and no there isn't an extended project. Maybe I should of started the A level Maths when I started the BTEC because now I won't be able to do the full A level.
Which BTEC and A Level did you do and are you at uni now?
I forgot to mention but I am wanting to do a degree in business management.Last edited by sz16; 26-06-2012 at 22:45. -
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Re: Should I do an AS alongside a BTEC?You're welcome(Original post by sz16)
Thank you for the reply
I breezed past the first year which was more IT but the second year is going to be more business related so even if I miss a couple of distinctions I will still end up with atleast DDD, and no there isn't an extended project. Maybe I should of started the A level Maths when I started the BTEC because now I won't be able to do the full A level.
Which BTEC and A Level did you do and are you at uni now?
I forgot to mention but I am wanting to do a degree in business management.
I really think you'll be fine. Sorry if I sounded a bit doom and gloom about doing an AS originally, I must have been in a bad mood
It was only the few weeks leading up to the exam/deadline that was stressful, not the entire year. Maybe your school/college will let you take both the AS and A2 at the same time - a guy in my class did this in order to get the full A Level in one year so that he could go to uni in the next academic year.
I was convinced that I wanted to be a filmmaker so I did a BTEC in Creative Media Production and a Film Studies A Level. I applied this year to uni and have my offers, but I've lost all interest in film so I'm thinking about withdrawing and retaking A Levels so that I can do a different degree subject. At the moment, LJMU is the only university I can convince to let me do a subject I haven't studied since I GCSE, but I don't particularly want to go there.
Where were you thinking of applying? -
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I was thinking of applying to Aston for business management as my main choice.
I think a full A level Maths in one year will be too much work. Do you know how many exams and how much content is covered through the full a level?
This was posted from The Student Room's Android App on my GT-I9000 -
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Re: Should I do an AS alongside a BTEC?If you only have a C at GCSE maths then it's probably best you steer well clear of AS maths because the jump is MASSIVE. I got an A at GCSE maths with very little effort and couldn't keep up with the pace at AS to the point where I got Es and Us in all the class tests so I dropped it after christmas hols. I think the only people to get Cs and above in maths got A*s at GCSE without even trying. The one person who had a C in it at GCSE was allowed to do it on a 2 week trial and he went to one or two lessons and never came back lol. Surely you'd be better off doing business studies or economics or something as an additional AS?(Original post by sz16)
The college won't let me do AS maths because I only have a C at GCSE maths. Looks like I'm just resitting GCSE maths then. -
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Re: Should I do an AS alongside a BTEC?Yeah I think you're right. But isn't there some maths in business management?(Original post by littleone271)
If you only have a C at GCSE maths then it's probably best you steer well clear of AS maths because the jump is MASSIVE. I got an A at GCSE maths with very little effort and couldn't keep up with the pace at AS to the point where I got Es and Us in all the class tests so I dropped it after christmas hols. I think the only people to get Cs and above in maths got A*s at GCSE without even trying. The one person who had a C in it at GCSE was allowed to do it on a 2 week trial and he went to one or two lessons and never came back lol. Surely you'd be better off doing business studies or economics or something as an additional AS? -
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Re: Should I do an AS alongside a BTEC?Not the kind of maths you learn at AS/A2. Retake maths GCSE if you like but what could be very worthwhile would be to perhaps look at doing an AS in pure statistics as that would apply to business more (mainly in the areas of risk assessment, interpreting research results, conducting surveys etc.). Statistics is much easier than maths I think and there are some brilliant textbooks that pretty much talk you through everything.(Original post by sz16)
Yeah I think you're right. But isn't there some maths in business management? -
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Re: Should I do an AS alongside a BTEC?I definitely wish I had. There's also not as much pressure on you getting an A in the subject.
For example I managed to get 360 ucas points or there abouts in my BTEC, which saw my safely into any Uni course but I do wish I had done Maths as an AS / A2 just to have as a side grade. -
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Re: Should I do an AS alongside a BTEC?What uni are you going to and what course?(Original post by TheBallWinner)
I definitely wish I had. There's also not as much pressure on you getting an A in the subject.
For example I managed to get 360 ucas points or there abouts in my BTEC, which saw my safely into any Uni course but I do wish I had done Maths as an AS / A2 just to have as a side grade. -
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Re: Should I do an AS alongside a BTEC?I studied BTEC First Diploma in IT Practioners (got a merit) then went onto study BTEC National Diploma in IT Practitioners (got a triple distinction)... I applied for University and got an unconditional offer at Manchester Met, which is accepted.(Original post by sz16)
I've just finished my 1st year of a BTEC Extended Diploma in IT and got distinctions in all 9 units. Should I take up AS Maths next year with it to improve my chances of getting accepted at a decent uni for business management or would it be pointless? Thanks.
My course is IT-based though. -
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Re: Should I do an AS alongside a BTEC?I'm doing a Masters in Information Systems. It had maths included in the first year or two so I had to brush up quickly. Wish I'd have done it at college.(Original post by sz16)
What uni are you going to and what course?
It was only the few weeks leading up to the exam/deadline that was stressful, not the entire year. Maybe your school/college will let you take both the AS and A2 at the same time - a guy in my class did this in order to get the full A Level in one year so that he could go to uni in the next academic year.
