Access to HE 2012-2013

Sh*tsh*tsh*t. I feel really stupid, like a damn thick idiot. I passed the English test with flying colours and missed out on the Maths test by one question which I somehow got wrong. I feel like such an idiot for rushing it and because I don't have a functional skills qualification in maths already, it doesn't matter if I have a C in Maths, I have to wait until next year before I can retry at this college, which feels unfair but I can understand, because the computer room was full of people (around 30+) taking the tests so obviously there's no shortage of applicants. :/

Luckily, it's not the only college I applied to, I applied to another one yesterday which I still to hear back from and I definitely won't screw up on such a simple test again, although I don't particularly like this college, the staff are rubbish and apathetic and I've heard many things about them not turning up to lectures etc despite the college being the most popular in the city, but hopefully it'll do. If something somehow happens, I'm definitely not giving up, though. Not because of a crappy maths test which I made a stupid error on.

That sounds weird, since in my college people that dont do well in the litteracy or numeracy tests can do the tests again a few weeks later. It makes sense, since we're returning to education... I'm sad to hear that didn't happen to you.

Anyway, don't be too hard on yourself as it is quite normal to let anxiety spoil the tests results, it happens a lot.

I believe you should definetely try other colleges and maybe do some research, maybe there are other options not far away that might be worth a look.

About the college you've been hearing bad stuff about, it is still probably worth it and if it is that popular it is not that bad, probably.

Good luck and don't give up!

Thanks for your kind words.

Yeah, that's the thing. They said at the beginning before the tests you could do that, but when I explained what happened, one of them told me I couldn't do them again until next year.. I could apply again in about a month or so and see what happens, particularly as the computerised tests weren't saved or anything, whether they'd just decline my application or put me in for the tests again, I don't know, but they could only say no.

And yeah, I'm looking into that. There's only two colleges in my city, both of which I've already applied but I'm thinking of applying to a college in Birmingham which is nearish but would still probably be a bit of a hike, especially as I don't drive, but it offers the Science pathway I want, which is another problem with the other college I've already applied to, no Science pathway, although they do offer Level 3 Human Biology but that's about it..

You're welcome.

If that other college doesn't offer the course you really want to do, then I guess it is worth it to have to commute to Birmingham. Off course it is more time consumming and then there will be the need to pay for travels, luch, etc, but if that means you may be able to pursue your dream then it's worth it. Moreover it will be just one year, so although it may seem a lot of time, it will run by extremely fast, so yeah, go for it!

But are you sure that other college in your town doesn't have an Access pathway for your desired degree?

Btwm, what do you want to study in uni?

Just applied. There's two colleges to hear back from, now.

And yeah, unfortunately, they only offer a Combined Studies pathway (according to the AtoHE website and looking at their offered modules), which isn't acceptable for most science based courses at uni I think since there isn't much depth or specialisation, but I could apply for a Foundation Year if I don't have the right subjects, just like A-level students who don't have the right subjects do.

How does an Access course that starts in January work? Do you work throughout the year then apply to uni in September or something?

Moreover it will be just one year, so although it may seem a lot of time, it will run by extremely fast, so yeah, go for it!

Just wanted to say about it being 'just one year', I started in September and lesson wise we are now half way through the course. We've got as many proper lessons left as we've already had! It is absolutely flying by and there have been days where we've finished early or not really needed to go in.

Can I ask how many hours a week an access course is? Or how many days you are in college? I know every course will be different, but I would like some kinda idea.

Can I ask how many hours a week an access course is? Or how many days you are in college? I know every course will be different, but I would like some kinda idea.

Can I ask how many hours a week an access course is? Or how many days you are in college? I know every course will be different, but I would like some kinda idea.

Mine will be three days a week, monday, wednesday and friday, 15 hours a week. It is considered full-time though and is from January to December. Hope this helps.

Just been receiving acknowledgements from other colleges I've applied for, I probably won't hear anything else until after Christmas, but I did get a letter saying I should re-apply to the college where my anxiety messed up the aptitude tests basically just telling me to re-apply whenever my skills get better, although there's nothing wrong with my skills. Lol.


It probably helps to in on your days off too. That's what I'm planning to do. I can't concentrate on work at home at all. lol.

Just been receiving acknowledgements from other colleges I've applied for, I probably won't hear anything else until after Christmas, but I did get a letter saying I should re-apply to the college where my anxiety messed up the aptitude tests basically just telling me to re-apply whenever my skills get better, although there's nothing wrong with my skills. Lol.


It probably helps to go in on your days off too. That's what I'm planning to do. I can't concentrate on work at home at all. lol.

That's really nice that they're happy for you to re-apply. Are you going to? My fear when applying to my access course is that I would muck up and not be allowed to re-apply. I'm a big fan of second chances.

I don't go in on my days off because I'm so far away (4hr round trip) but I do spend my breaks in the library doing home work. I love the internet lots and spend hours on it so I tend to stuff on the internet, even when I'm posting here I've got webpages open researching stuff etc. It's probably not most peoples idea of good studying but I can read something for ten or fifteen minutes then check my social sites for five minutes or so and I carry that on all night.

I applied for an access course a few weeks ago and finally got a letter through the post asking me to attend an interview, which will include a literacy and maths test. I'm a little worried about them seeing as I've been out of education for almost 8 years. But at the same time I'm really excited for the interview, it's on February 2nd. I'm hoping to also have a along side the course as to still have some money coming in. I don't have any level 3 qualifications so I'm hoping that I wont have to pay for the course.

I've done those tests a few weeks ago! I was also very anxious, in fact, I was panicking! No need to, though. The literacy test is very easy, you just have to very attentive to the details. I remember there was an exercise (both tests were done in a computer) in which you had to identify the spelling mistakes. It said the customers could pay by "check". Lol. When the right thing to say was "to pay by cheque". Stuff like this. Very easy, you just have to focus.

The numeracy test was a little harder for me, I have been out of education for years as well, and my background is in social sciences... So there were some exercises that I honestly had no clue, but then there were others that were actually very simple. Stuff like interpreting excel graphs and saying how many 10 km are in miles and stuff like that. I was given a scientific calculator to use during the test. So, I didn't find it extremely easy, but I would say it's quite doable overall. And believe me, if I did manage to succeed in the numeracy test, then you surely will as well, because I was really rusty and couldn't even remember to use the calculator properly... I mean I could do the basic stuff only!

So, yeah, you just have to focus a lot and don't panick. I was told that if the results of the tests weren't good enough, I could come in a few weeks later and do it all again. So, they are definitely understanding.

The interview was very laid back. I was asked what I wanted to do in Uni and the teacher explained some things related to the course and college. No big deal, real. Then we (I was interviewed with another girl) were told we were in!

"Welcome on board!", she said.

Oh, she also advised us, prior to welcoming us on board, that the course would be very demanding and that we had to work hard and we couldn't afford to skip classes or get out earlier, just in a case of emergency or illness.

About the tuition fees, how old are u? Do you have 5 GSCE at grade C or above?

Hope this helps. If u need any help, feel free to ask.