[Kirst]

Are A levels better than BTEC. I'm doing all this hard work revising all the time with a levels my friend does BTEC and is always out. If this is the case than i would of thought A levels would have more of an advantage but this doesnt seem to be the case.
So what i am actually trying to ask: What are the advantages to doing A level than BTEC

To be specific to me:In year 1 and will likely to be doing business management. My friend is in year 2 and has got into uni to do bussiness management

[the man from space]

Since BTEC is a vocational qualification without any exams, its therefore seen as not testing students and therefore the top universities only because its not exam based which suggest that by doing BTEC's your limiting your university choices

[ryansboro]

(Original post by the man from space)
Since BTEC is a vocational qualification without any exams, its therefore seen as not testing students and therefore the top universities only because its not exam based which suggest that by doing BTEC's your limiting your university choices

Talking rubbish.

[FinalMH]

(Original post by ryansboro)
Talking rubbish.

who? you?

[bestofyou]

as someone who studied a BTEC take my advice and stay well clear of it unless you are looking at engineering and are doing an engineering based BTEC. Anything else and do your A-levels

however, that said, even for engineering A-levels are a beter option.

Basically I found with BTECs is that they are not in anyway hard but are not easy at the same time. They basically require you to spend a lot of time right the way through the year researching for coursework or actually writing up the coursework. A-levels on the other hand require you to pay attention in class throughout the year and put the work in when the exams approach. For example:

if someone was to show a graph of students' effort throughout the year it may look like this:

A-level student -
works at 40-50% of full effort from September to mid/late-November
works at 80-100% of full effort from November - Winter tests
works at 40-50% of full effort from January to mid/late-March or Easter
works at 80-100% of full effort from late March - Summer tests

BTEC Student -
works at 60-70% of full effort from September - June

So as you see, BTEC needs a consistant work rate throughout the year, A-levels students tend to do the required school work then hit a sudden spike in extra study when approaching the exam period.

Of course some BTEC students do nothing all year and fail (keep in mind these are usually the ones too cool for school and go to college because they think they will get it easy and tend to fail or copy other peoples coursework and pass. And some work pretty hard the week before all their work is due and get a decent grade. The same for A-levels, so will work consistantly at a high rate and do very well, others will do nothing and fail.

But take my advice and do A-levels, or even better a cambridge pre-u or an IB which are better than A-levels.

[LuisSuarez7]

I took a BTEC in Engineering and regretted it when I went to uni. I attended a good redbrick uni and really struggled to cope with the work and the fact that I hadn't done any revision for 2 years. It seems better in the short run i.e. no pressure of exams, but A-Levels definitely prepare you better for University

[Leo*]

I personally would only recommend the BTEC in Engineering or the BTEC in Business. My girlfriend took BTEC business and is averaging around 80% this year at Manchester University, so I can only take that as indicator that it must have been rather good.

[ryansboro]

(Original post by FinalMH)
who? you?

No, you, obviously.

You can get into many top Universities.
York, Leeds and Lancaster being examples.

[FinalMH]

(Original post by ryansboro)
No, you, obviously.

You can get into many top Universities.
York, Leeds and Lancaster being examples.

lol. This depends on the definition of 'top universities'. I did BTEC and am currently at university so I can some what give actually reliable opinion on the matter. Just because a university accepts the qualification does not instantly mean a university actually gives them an offer.

For example, University of Oxford accepts students with BTEC in IT on to the computer science course (with A level Maths) However this doesn't imply someone actually gets on the course. (For the record according to unistats no one has)

So before you give this all mighty response, wait until you actually go to university and see if you cope compare to your A level counterparts.

In terms of international tables neither of the universities you mentioned are in the Top 50. Some of there courses may be leading but its highly unlikely they accept BTEC students even if they accept the qualifications.

"I'm not saying it is impossible but just unlikely"

[littleone271]

I took maths, stats, business studies and biology for AS in year 12 and I hated it. It wasn't that it was too hard.. I think I was just sick of the place and the way it was all organised and I had no idea what I wanted to do because none of what I was doing was really being applied to how things are done in the industry.

I left after year 12 and I'm just about to finish a BTEC extended diploma in forensic science. I think BTECs are in many ways better than A-levels because they give you a lot more practical experience and I prefer the learning environment at college to sixth form. It's not all about what could potentially get you into the best university when choosing a course. I think it's important to choose a course(s) based on how interesting you find it and the paths it can create for you.

To the people saying that people who did BTEC's are at a disadvantage at university - I strongly disagree. I was talking to my lecturer the other day and she was telling me how much better off I'd be because most A-level students are spoon fed whereas due to complications on the course I've had to do more coursework in a year than I'd ever be expected to do at university and I've had to be very independant.

I've taught myself entire units from home. Apart from the complications because obviously those weren't planned and I would have quite liked to avoid them, I've had to do an independant scientific investigation project. I had to choose what I wanted to investigate, do tons of research, develop a method and carry it out completely independantly which involved going into college on my days off and working at the back of lessons in the labs. I've written 5,000 words in one night before. I can process pretty much any crime scene and I will have done more chemistry practicals than any A-level chemistry student.

I wouldn't be in a good position to study medicine because I havn't learnt enough chemistry theory but I think even after university doing this course should make me more employable in the area of forensic science than a student who did A-levels. I'd have much more experience and a lot more to write on my CV anyway.

Edit: Why am I being negged? As somebody who did AS's, didn't like it and am soon to be completing a BTEC extended diploma I do know what I'm talking about. If you disagree with anything I've said then quote me and I'll reply.

[ryansboro]

(Original post by FinalMH)
lol. This depends on the definition of 'top universities'. I did BTEC and am currently at university so I can some what give actually reliable opinion on the matter. Just because a university accepts the qualification does not instantly mean a university actually gives them an offer.

For example, University of Oxford accepts students with BTEC in IT on to the computer science course (with A level Maths) However this doesn't imply someone actually gets on the course. (For the record according to unistats no one has)

So before you give this all mighty response, wait until you actually go to university and see if you cope compare to your A level counterparts.

In terms of international tables neither of the universities you mentioned are in the Top 50. Some of there courses may be leading but its highly unlikely they accept BTEC students even if they accept the qualifications.

"I'm not saying it is impossible but just unlikely"

Urm I know people who are currently studying at the universities I have mentioned and they did a BTEC...

[FinalMH]

(Original post by ryansboro)
Urm I know people who are currently studying at the universities I have mentioned and they did a BTEC...

and? what? They are not at top university and are not at universities that have renowned departments...

Still going to university in the top 30 is still achievement in its own right. I just don't understand how you can justify something when you know deep down you know BTECs students can't compare to A level students. Look at yourself as an example, you failed to achieve good GSCE first time so had choice of re-taking or doing BTEC. you choose....

[Id and Ego seek]

(Original post by FinalMH)
Still going to university in the top 30 is still achievement in its own right.

Uh, I really don't like these league tables past top 10. I mean top 30 filters out Leeds, Essex, Reading and Kent, which are fantastic schools. If you sort the tables by the two things that matter - Research Assessment and Graduate Options - you'll find the universities that just don't make the top 30 cut are dominating the lists.

Agreeing with your points.

[gavinlowe]

(Original post by FinalMH)
For example, University of Oxford accepts students with BTEC in IT on to the computer science course (with A level Maths) However this doesn't imply someone actually gets on the course. (For the record according to unistats no one has)

[...]

"I'm not saying it is impossible but just unlikely"

Indeed. We accept the IT BTEC, but we'd strongly advise you to take A Levels or another academically oriented course, as we believe they give better preparation for university study. However, we would accept a suitably talented candidate who took the BTEC.

[JongKey]

(Original post by ryansboro)
Urm I know people who are currently studying at the universities I have mentioned and they did a BTEC...

That poster is obviously talking about universities like Oxbridge, LSE, UCL, Imperial etc. A BTEC would be a great disadvantage for unis like this, let's not beat around the bush.

[ryansboro]

(Original post by FinalMH)
and? what? They are not at top university and are not at universities that have renowned departments...

Still going to university in the top 30 is still achievement in its own right. I just don't understand how you can justify something when you know deep down you know BTECs students can't compare to A level students. Look at yourself as an example, you failed to achieve good GSCE first time so had choice of re-taking or doing BTEC. you choose....

Maybe our interpretation of what a 'top university' is differs...

Have you even done a BTEC?
The only reason why I can see A Level students have the upper hand is because of the exams that prepare them for University studies. Just because someone is doing a BTEC does not mean that they cannot handle the pressures of exams.

What do you know about my GCSE grades?

[FinalMH]

(Original post by ryansboro)
Maybe our interpretation of what a 'top university' is differs...

Have you even done a BTEC?
The only reason why I can see A Level students have the upper hand is because of the exams that prepare them for University studies. Just because someone is doing a BTEC does not mean that they cannot handle the pressures of exams.

What do you know about my GCSE grades?

if it does differ then you're living in dream world... Some times you have to be realistic about things.

Yes I did do a BTEC in IT and am currently at university. I'm PS helper not going to lie

Seriously just exams? Maybe when you actually go to university you will change your opinion...

you posted them on another thread, complaining about how bad you did....

[FinalMH]

(Original post by JongKey)
That poster is obviously talking about universities like Oxbridge, LSE, UCL, Imperial etc. A BTEC would be a great disadvantage for unis like this, let's not beat around the bush.

Well he obviously believes Lancaster/York/Leeds is on par with them

[ryansboro]

(Original post by FinalMH)
if it does differ then you're living in dream world... Some times you have to be realistic about things.

Yes I did do a BTEC in IT and am currently at university. I'm PS helper not going to lie

Seriously just exams? Maybe when you actually go to university you will change your opinion...

you posted them on another thread, complaining about how bad you did....

Maybe my opinion will change. That's true.

The GCSEs I have achieved are respectable. Not straight As, no...

[ryansboro]

(Original post by ryansboro)
Maybe our interpretation of what a 'top university' is differs...

Have you even done a BTEC?
The only reason why I can see A Level students have the upper hand is because of the exams that prepare them for University studies. Just because someone is doing a BTEC does not mean that they cannot handle the pressures of exams.

What do you know about my GCSE grades?

(Original post by FinalMH)
Well he obviously believes Lancaster/York/Leeds is on par with them

No I don't?