Don't do A levels.

What are you talking about? Firstly, doing maths will tend to cover a portion of physics (or the other way around), and also if you can't do one you're unlikely to be good at the other. If anything they're great to take together because they tie into each other so much.

I have been accepted to do both a BTec and A-Levels, what would you suggest I do? BTec would be in public services and a levels would be in history, maths, gov&pol, law.

Not true, pure maths a level does not tie into physics unless if you choose the option of mechanic maths. Excuse you, I relatively good at maths getting a high B while in physics a U.

I don't want to wrongly advise you, because it really depends on you. If you've always been good at doing coursework and don't really test well, go for the BTEC.

It depends on what you want to do, as well. If you don't know what you want to do in uni yet at all, then maybe A Levels are the better option.

For me personally though, A Levels just aren't worth the stress. I'm finishing A2 now, and I have friends who go to college and seem so stress free, and also have a lot of time while getting good grades.

Another option would be mixing A Levels and BTEC. I don't mean the BTEC equivalent to 3 A Levels, by the way. I have a friend who does two A Levels and a BTEC, and got a D* in her BTEC. It also meant less exams for her. So for her, that's only two grades more she has to worry about, rather than 3. The one subject makes such a difference, I feel.

I have another friend who is just doing one A Level, and two BTECs (IT and Business) so she made sure she met all her BTEC deadlines, kept on top of all of her coursework, got D* and D in her BTEC courses. Now, while I've been stressing about 5 exams, she just has 1 that she's been revising for since she finished her coursework in April/May. While it seems late to start revision, it's just one exam. It also means she has more free time, whereas I've been revising almost every single day, and the days I don't revise I like to stay home and relax because I'm so exhausted.

It's really up to you. For me, I would do the BTEC, or combine A Levels and BTECs

So 2 years ago I made the choice to go through with A levels, My best friend chose the route of B-Tec level 3 extended diploma. Initially I laughed at him and thought he had made a stupid foolish decision.

By the end of the first year I was getting weighed down by the 7 days a week constant revision from maths, physics, business studies and that coursework from art. Meanwhile my friend was merrily on his way with his 3 days a week of relaxed work and practical outdoors filming.

And we arrive at the now. I have not been able to go out with friends on many occasions due to work. Nor have I had any significant free time to pursue my passion and hobbies. I have been locked away revising information that I will likely never need again just to get the grades for a university course of my choice.

My friend meanwhile has already finished for the year, during which he has pursued and integrated his course into his passion for BMX. He has had more free time in the last two weeks than I have had in the entire year.

And he just got his results back. Now at GCSE you must bear in mind he was a B/C student, I was slightly higher with pretty much straight B's. However he just got given D*D*D*, which is the equivalent of 420 ucas points or 3 A*'s at A level. Meanwhile after 7 days a week of far more difficult and challenging work constantly throughout the year, I have barely attained a prediction of BBB.

I don't see how it is fair that 3 days of much easier and far more enjoyable work a week. Can almost DOUBLE the amount of ucas points of far more stressful, much more difficult A levels.

Now obviously I am happy for my friend, I am currently contemplating my life and why I didn't choose the same option as him. But how... HOW is this fair?

I have done just over 2x the work of easily 5x the difficulty and I am getting HALF THE REWARD?.

Now obviously I cannot change the entire UK education system. But I warn anybody considering A levels to read up on this and consider how much pain you will go through for such little reward. Do BTEC's.

But A levels aren't that hard? Why are you studying so much?

Although I have not done A-Levels myself, you have to understand everyone has a differently ability of learning and some feel it is harder to learn than others.

Not trying to say this in a rude manner or cause any offence but it is similar with things in the everyday life as well, some people will always learn faster and not have to do as much hard work...

I know, but studying so much is not healthy. I'm at uni and I don't study that much. Maybe the approach is wrong.

Did you ever consider that maybe, just maybe, the problem isn't the entire education system but it is rather yourself?

I know plenty of people, who need only put in 5 or so hours a week into A-Levels to get A*A*A. Since, apparently, anecdotal evidence is all that matters.

No, there are problems with our education system.

It's one of the best in the world...

But there are issues with it and there need to be some reforms.

One very obvious one is that not all students receive the same standard of teaching, not all of us are prepped the same. That may not seem like a big deal, and yes we are capable of teaching ourselves, of course we are (taught myself all of GCSE biology, absolutely not a problem) BUT it is unfair. I don't ask to be spoonfed but having a bad teacher causes unbelievable stress for students, at A-level it makes you feel like death. Honestly, there are things that need to be looked at.

This is insulting tbh