[`God]

I've always wondered what will be expected of a student with the GCSE's they can get from A-levels.

For example, I think I will get 4A* 6A, the subjects that I will get A* in will probably be Maths(c), Core Science(c), Religious Studies and Psychology. The subjects I've picked for A-levels are Maths, Further Maths, Physics and Economics. What will be expected of me, presuming that I obviously do work in A-levels and not slag off.

(c) = confirmed.

[Spaz Man]

Well I got 1 A*, 8 As and 1 C for GCSEs and I got A-Level predicitons of AABB for reference.

[badbodydouble]

I got 1 A*, 7 A's, 1 B and 1 D at GCSE and when I started college in September they slapped a grade on everyone (something to do with our grades) showing how they expect you to perform, so for me a B- meant I would get 2 B's and 2 C's. However I think if your college do the same as mine then after a few months they will start to assign you with a grade in each subject that you are working at/capable of because mine are A, A/B, B and C now
I'm sure you'll do well at Maths especially by the sounds of it!


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[Vixen47]

I find GCSEs aren't very reliable in predicting what you would get for A levels. For example, I average on B's during my GCSEs and for my January AS exams I achieved higher grades than those who averaged on A*/A's during GCSEs.

However, I suppose it can be said that GCSE grades can give a general outlook on how well you can do, but really, your A level grades are more dependant on your work ethic outside lessons. I often hear that the general rule for A level grades is that you get a lower grade than you got in your GCSEs and my January exams proved this for me, but I'm just one case - the grades you achieve really do depend on yourself as an individual and the amount of effort you put in outside the classroom. Until you start doing your A levels you can't be sure of many things, particularly your target grades. My target grade for Psychology was an E at one point but I've been getting A*-C in everything I do in and out of lesson. Everything changes.

[badbodydouble]

(Original post by Vixen47)
I find GCSEs aren't very reliable in predicting what you would get for A levels. For example, I average on B's during my GCSEs and for my January AS exams I achieved higher grades than those who averaged on A*/A's during GCSEs.

However, I suppose it can be said that GCSE grades can give a general outlook on how well you can do, but really, your A level grades are more dependant on your work ethic outside lessons. I often hear that the general rule for A level grades is that you get a lower grade than you got in your GCSEs and my January exams proved this for me, but I'm just one case - the grades you achieve really do depend on yourself as an individual and the amount of effort you put in outside the classroom. Until you start doing your A levels you can't be sure of many things, particularly your target grades. My target grade for Psychology was an E at one point but I've been getting A*-C in everything I do in and out of lesson. Everything changes.

This is very very true
In Physics I was getting E's and U's right from the start up until I broke up for Christmas, did a heck of a lot of work to try and understand it all, and ended up with a C in my January exam.
I knew I was always going to find Physics a struggle though because I only just scraped a B in my Maths GCSE and wasn't taking Maths at A Level alongside Physics.


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[fishfan01]

It totally depends on what you're naturally good at, I think, and how much you enjoy the subject.

I got an A* in physics at GCSE with barely any revision (it wasn't a fluke, I was pretty good at GCSE physics and worked hard throughout the year), but at AS, even though I tried harder for it than any of my other exams, I ended up with a D. Pretty depressing. Though I would say that this is more the exception rather than the rule, so I wouldn't want you to panic about this

However, in my other subjects (History, English and RE) I'm still performing to the same grades as I was at GCSE (As/A*s) at A2 I am, it turns out, quite clearly a humanities and essay-writing type person.

I know that if you try hard enough (and are reasonably intelligent) then you can achieve at anything, it's just much harder to do so at A level than at GCSE. But at the same time, if you're naturally good at something, then it won't be really very hard at all

So long as you really enjoy the subjects, and have some natural ability, then I'm sure you'll do as well as you need to in them

[badbodydouble]

(Original post by fishfan01)
It totally depends on what you're naturally good at, I think, and how much you enjoy the subject.

I got an A* in physics at GCSE with barely any revision (it wasn't a fluke, I was pretty good at GCSE physics and worked hard throughout the year), but at AS, even though I tried harder for it than any of my other exams, I ended up with a D. Pretty depressing. Though I would say that this is more the exception rather than the rule, so I wouldn't want you to panic about this

However, in my other subjects (History, English and RE) I'm still performing to the same grades as I was at GCSE (As/A*s) at A2 I am, it turns out, quite clearly a humanities and essay-writing type person.

I know that if you try hard enough (and are reasonably intelligent) then you can achieve at anything, it's just much harder to do so at A level than at GCSE. But at the same time, if you're naturally good at something, then it won't be really very hard at all

So long as you really enjoy the subjects, and have some natural ability, then I'm sure you'll do as well as you need to in them

Darn Physics! I'm going to end up with a D too after the horrendous mess up that was my Unit 2 exam


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[fishfan01]

(Original post by Vixen47)
I find GCSEs aren't very reliable in predicting what you would get for A levels. For example, I average on B's during my GCSEs and for my January AS exams I achieved higher grades than those who averaged on A*/A's during GCSEs.

However, I suppose it can be said that GCSE grades can give a general outlook on how well you can do, but really, your A level grades are more dependant on your work ethic outside lessons. I often hear that the general rule for A level grades is that you get a lower grade than you got in your GCSEs and my January exams proved this for me, but I'm just one case - the grades you achieve really do depend on yourself as an individual and the amount of effort you put in outside the classroom. Until you start doing your A levels you can't be sure of many things, particularly your target grades. My target grade for Psychology was an E at one point but I've been getting A*-C in everything I do in and out of lesson. Everything changes.

This is very true: GCSEs can show you how hard somebody is willing to work to achieve and probably indicate the types of grades they're capable of.

However, the person who got one of the highest GCSE grades in my year (11A*s or something similar) is now predicted BBB, whereas some people who didn't do so well are now headed for an A* or two.

It is also true that some people really do peak at GCSE. There are a number of people in my year who did reasonably well at GCSE (a number of As and A*s) but dropped out just a few months into A levels because the level of work is just that much harder and they couldn't cope with it. Plus, you have to factor in the fact that no matter how much people might want to work hard, there will always be some who will fall into going out too much, and that can totally ruin ones grades. I know so many people who worked really hard up until year 11, then when year 12 came, they didn't want summer to end so they carried on partying. And that just doesn't work.

[fishfan01]

(Original post by badbodydouble)
Darn Physics! I'm going to end up with a D too after the horrendous mess up that was my Unit 2 exam


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Argh, I hate it! :L Is this AS? I wouldn't worry too much; I've heard it was a pretty nasty exam.
Also, if you do get a D (which seems to only really happen to me in real life, so don't worry too much), life will still be okay I managed to get 5 offers for law from good universities with a D in physics AS. It's okay because everybody knows that a D in physics equates to a B in most other subjects because it's so stupidly hard :L

[badbodydouble]

(Original post by fishfan01)
Argh, I hate it! :L Is this AS? I wouldn't worry too much; I've heard it was a pretty nasty exam.
Also, if you do get a D (which seems to only really happen to me in real life, so don't worry too much), life will still be okay I managed to get 5 offers for law from good universities with a D in physics AS. It's okay because everybody knows that a D in physics equates to a B in most other subjects because it's so stupidly hard :L

Yep, AS there's an ice skating trip this month with my college to introduce the A2 topics but I've had to turn it down because I already know I'm dropping it in September... I took Physics because I enjoyed it at GCSE, goodness knows why because I doubt it'll help me much for an Art degree! ^_^
I'm glad that it counts for a B in any other subject though Congrats on your offers!


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[fishfan01]

(Original post by badbodydouble)
Yep, AS there's an ice skating trip this month with my college to introduce the A2 topics but I've had to turn it down because I already know I'm dropping it in September... I took Physics because I enjoyed it at GCSE, goodness knows why because I doubt it'll help me much for an Art degree! ^_^
I'm glad that it counts for a B in any other subject though Congrats on your offers!


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haha, I too turned down a trip - to CERN - about this time last year for the same reason, that I knew I'd be dropping it. I too fell for that old GCSE is fun, but AS will metaphorically kill you, but we won't tell you that until you've signed your soul away to us trick :L
I'm sure any Art teachers will be thinking how good it was of you to try and learn more about the way the world is structured in order to gain a greater understanding of it and thus be able to really reflect what it is to live in the world on paper. And applaud you for such a sacrifice in the name of art. :L
But yes. Definitely a B And thankyou! Good luck with art

[badbodydouble]

(Original post by fishfan01)
haha, I too turned down a trip - to CERN - about this time last year for the same reason, that I knew I'd be dropping it. I too fell for that old GCSE is fun, but AS will metaphorically kill you, but we won't tell you that until you've signed your soul away to us trick :L
I'm sure any Art teachers will be thinking how good it was of you to try and learn more about the way the world is structured in order to gain a greater understanding of it and thus be able to really reflect what it is to live in the world on paper. And applaud you for such a sacrifice in the name of art. :L
But yes. Definitely a B And thankyou! Good luck with art

...I actually went on said trip to CERN in March this year because there were 5 places left so they offered them to AS'ers I won't say how good it was
GCSE was so much fun though, especially the last topic, all about the Universe I guess I'm not solely responsible for my willingness to opt for the insanely hard sacrifice, Brian Cox may or may not have somewhat influenced my decision


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[Big-Daddy]

Surely A-Levels should be easier, since you'll only be doing those subjects which you enjoy?

[fishfan01]

(Original post by badbodydouble)
...I actually went on said trip to CERN in March this year because there were 5 places left so they offered them to AS'ers I won't say how good it was
GCSE was so much fun though, especially the last topic, all about the Universe I guess I'm not solely responsible for my willingness to opt for the insanely hard sacrifice, Brian Cox may or may not have somewhat influenced my decision


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Haha, I know, my sister did go on the trip (doing her GCSEs) and I was pretty jealous - I do find the principles and ideas interesting, so long as I don't have to remember how to solve problems with them :L and it looked like a pretty cool place.

And yes, had Brian Cox is a pretty inspirational guy :L He nearly inspired me to tell my school I was continuing with physics, just so I could go on the trip, just incase he was there :L
Your sacrifice is thoroughly understandable.

[fishfan01]

(Original post by Big-Daddy)
Surely A-Levels should be easier, since you'll only be doing those subjects which you enjoy?

You'd think so. The problems occur when it's realised how much work is required for those subjects and how hard some of it is. This combined with the fact that I believe that some people genuninely don't have the intellectual capacity to deal with some of the harder subjects means that it's not necessarily that much easier at all. More fun, yes. Easier? No way. Particularly once you get to A2; there was so much of a jump from AS, more than from GCSE to AS, I'd say. Not easy at all.

[`God]

(Original post by fishfan01)
You'd think so. The problems occur when it's realised how much work is required for those subjects and how hard some of it is. This combined with the fact that I believe that some people genuninely don't have the intellectual capacity to deal with some of the harder subjects means that it's not necessarily that much easier at all. More fun, yes. Easier? No way. Particularly once you get to A2; there was so much of a jump from AS, more than from GCSE to AS, I'd say. Not easy at all.

My teacher said A-levels is about 20% intellect and 80% practise.

[PatrickC]

(Original post by `God)
I've always wondered what will be expected of a student with the GCSE's they can get from A-levels.

For example, I think I will get 4A* 6A, the subjects that I will get A* in will probably be Maths(c), Core Science(c), Religious Studies and Psychology. The subjects I've picked for A-levels are Maths, Further Maths, Physics and Economics. What will be expected of me, presuming that I obviously do work in A-levels and not slag off.

(c) = confirmed.

You won't really have expectations after GCSEs for A levels until after your first term. A levels are very different and I knew many people who got 9 As/A*s and failed miserably at A levels. People will generally wait to see how well you work before judging what they will think you are going to get. I got 1 A* 6 As and 2 Bs. I had been predicted lower and all through my A levels everyone predicted my Bs and Cs. I received three A's at the end of A levels. Anyone who get's A's at gcses can receive As at A level if they work hard enough

[kaypc]

a levels are all about hard work. you cant just do revision the day before and ace them like you can at GCSE. it doesnt matter what you get for your gcse's as long as you work your butt off you'll do great. i have friends who seriously slacked at gcse's and ended up getting above 90% in their exams.

[Skaði]

I'm not saying this is reflective of all schools, but at my college, it seems that the ones who did really well at GCSE are getting Cs/Ds at A Level, whereas the ones who didn't do quite so well (at least by TSR standards) are really putting in the effort and getting the As. I always wondered if that was down to their GCSE results - the ones who did well thought that because they succeeded in their GCSEs, they would succeed in their A Levels, and so didn't put the work in, whereas the ones who didn't do as well really put the effort in so they wouldn't mess up again - but that's just one theory. Personally I've never found GCSEs a brilliant predictor of how someone will do in their A Levels and beyond: some people do better the more in-depth and focused their subjects become (and because they're not spreading themselves too thin across 10+ subjects at GCSE) and their GCSE results aren't going to really reflect that.

You're always going to get those who do well in every exam they ever do, however. Lucky bastards

[BananaWhale]

I got 2 A's 6 B's and a C at GCSE and I'm predicted AAAb at A level based on my performance so far. But I went to a really crap school but I'm at a very good college now so that's why they've increased.

It's hard to predict A levels from GCSE's because A levels are so much different to GCSE's. For some people they can get amazing GCSE grades and then struggle at A level. I've seen it happen :/

For example, I got an A in physics GCSE, came to college and then had to swap it for chemistry after a month because I was struggling. So GCSE performance is not representative of how you will perform at A level/