BTEC national diplomas vs. A-levels
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I did Btec I regret it.., not because it's a bad thing but because it lacks exams which can help me as an individual practice memorising... That's the beauty of exams...it also depends on what Btec course you do and what you want to be... There are some Btec courses that would help you a lot and there are some that are useless to your future plans. E.g. A Btec in health and social care is actually very good for those wishing to become social workers but absolutely RUBBISH for those who are planning to become Medical-nurses and midwifes. But all again it depends on the Btec course your doing and what your plans are... I'd prefer it if I did A-levels, but I did Btec instead it's not hard it's very easy but it's a lot of work which makes you think it's hard.
If we are talking about the difficulty of BTEC courses then it depends on many things. First the type of course that you're doing, for example I'm doing BTEC IT and I know a lot of people who moved to different BTEC courses (because they couldn't handle it) and all of them claimed that other courses are much easier.
Another thing that affects the difficulty of BTEC courses are teachers. It is very easy to spoon feed BTEC courses and there are a lot of colleges who do that. This is the main reason why the upper tear unis look down on BTEC qualifications.
I met quite a few A level student who failed maths and therefore couldn't get to their chosen unis (since math is important to IT degrees) and chose to do BTEC L3. Ask any of these guys if BTEC is easy and all of them will say NO.
BTEC qualifications go into much more detail compared to A levels but you are only doing one thing. If you're doing A levels you will cover much broader spectrum of subjects but you will learn less on these subjects. The good thing about it is that you have more options after A Levels. With BTEC qualifications you don't have any options, if you're going to uni you will have to pick a relevant course.
A good thing about BTEC is that since you cover things in more detail, the first uni year end up being easier.
Another thing that affects the difficulty of BTEC courses are teachers. It is very easy to spoon feed BTEC courses and there are a lot of colleges who do that. This is the main reason why the upper tear unis look down on BTEC qualifications.
I met quite a few A level student who failed maths and therefore couldn't get to their chosen unis (since math is important to IT degrees) and chose to do BTEC L3. Ask any of these guys if BTEC is easy and all of them will say NO.
BTEC qualifications go into much more detail compared to A levels but you are only doing one thing. If you're doing A levels you will cover much broader spectrum of subjects but you will learn less on these subjects. The good thing about it is that you have more options after A Levels. With BTEC qualifications you don't have any options, if you're going to uni you will have to pick a relevant course.
A good thing about BTEC is that since you cover things in more detail, the first uni year end up being easier.
Original post by mcray
If we are talking about the difficulty of BTEC courses then it depends on many things. First the type of course that you're doing, for example I'm doing BTEC IT and I know a lot of people who moved to different BTEC courses (because they couldn't handle it) and all of them claimed that other courses are much easier.
Another thing that affects the difficulty of BTEC courses are teachers. It is very easy to spoon feed BTEC courses and there are a lot of colleges who do that. This is the main reason why the upper tear unis look down on BTEC qualifications.
I met quite a few A level student who failed maths and therefore couldn't get to their chosen unis (since math is important to IT degrees) and chose to do BTEC L3. Ask any of these guys if BTEC is easy and all of them will say NO.
BTEC qualifications go into much more detail compared to A levels but you are only doing one thing. If you're doing A levels you will cover much broader spectrum of subjects but you will learn less on these subjects. The good thing about it is that you have more options after A Levels. With BTEC qualifications you don't have any options, if you're going to uni you will have to pick a relevant course.
A good thing about BTEC is that since you cover things in more detail, the first uni year end up being easier.
Another thing that affects the difficulty of BTEC courses are teachers. It is very easy to spoon feed BTEC courses and there are a lot of colleges who do that. This is the main reason why the upper tear unis look down on BTEC qualifications.
I met quite a few A level student who failed maths and therefore couldn't get to their chosen unis (since math is important to IT degrees) and chose to do BTEC L3. Ask any of these guys if BTEC is easy and all of them will say NO.
BTEC qualifications go into much more detail compared to A levels but you are only doing one thing. If you're doing A levels you will cover much broader spectrum of subjects but you will learn less on these subjects. The good thing about it is that you have more options after A Levels. With BTEC qualifications you don't have any options, if you're going to uni you will have to pick a relevant course.
A good thing about BTEC is that since you cover things in more detail, the first uni year end up being easier.
Btec actually makes it harder for you to finish the first year because of the lack of academic knowledge memorising... Especially those that are doing Btec health and social care and want to become nurses and midwifes... Believe me I did Health and social care and it was ABSOLUTE rubbish gibberish pointless course to do for someone like me who wanted to get into nursing. Non of it really made sense for university.
Original post by madmadmax321
check university website for requirements and BTEC'S are not listed or say not accepted in most uni's for the more academic courses.
http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/students/courses/undergraduate/med/medicine.aspx
http://www.bsms.ac.uk/undergraduate/applying/entry-requirements/ (advanced diploma is a higher version)
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/prospective-students/undergraduate-study/degrees-1314/ubahissing05 (check on the other qualifications sections says not excepted yet requires 360-380 UCAS)
http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/students/courses/undergraduate/med/medicine.aspx
http://www.bsms.ac.uk/undergraduate/applying/entry-requirements/ (advanced diploma is a higher version)
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/prospective-students/undergraduate-study/degrees-1314/ubahissing05 (check on the other qualifications sections says not excepted yet requires 360-380 UCAS)
if you want to do the most academic subjects like medicine or dentistry with a btec you will either need to do chemistry/maths a level with btec applied science.Or get DDD or D*D*D* in the related science btec
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I have done AS English and now study BTEC level 3. When I was doing my as level I started to give up because I couldn't see any proof that the work I was doing was actually paying off! Doing BTEC I can see my results in everything I do and I have never thought about giving up. I am now predicted 3 D*s and I think that is purely because the motivation I has was seeing my results regularly. I think people may feel that a levels are harder is because you don't know if the work you're doing throughout the year is actually paying off and then you have to solidly revise for months at the end of year exams. I may have more of a christmas then everyone revising for examples but I have less of a social life during the year because I constantly have an assignment due in.
Original post by jturner12
I can never understand why people are obsessed with comparing A levels and BTEC and gauging intelligence on written Exams.. I think it was Albert Einstein (thought to be very "intelligent"?) that said " Everybody is a genius... but if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life thinking it's stupid"
I hate that quote so f***ing much. A genius is someone whose ideas or actions change the world in a massive way... If everyone is a genius then it ceases to be an achievement to be one.
Original post by jturner12
I would like to see someone doing A-levels get in front of a class of 20 students.. or the public... or the in a work based situation and APPLY their knowledge under pressure while maintaining a good level of customer service.. awareness of health and safety etc.. completely different kettle of fish.. and in my eyes shouldn't be compared...
Sounds like what I do every weekend serving customers at Maccies... It ain't that hard. There's a reason it's minimum wage.
I've done both A levels and a Level 3 BTEC and I can say they are rather different in their approach to education.
The things I've learnt as part of my BTEC course have been more practical a good comparison is A level "IT" to BTEC IT: the former is basically business studies plus (nothing against that, just not my kind of thing) whereas in the BTEC you learn more about how computers work, the components and basic programming.
I can understand how A levels are better for more "academic" subjects like English, History or even Mathematics, however BTECs are only offered in vocational subjects so are perhaps better suited to those with a specific goal in mind.
I found A levels harder and did terribly, but now I'm getting full marks at BTEC.
On reflection if I knew what I know now I would have tried much harder at A level and gone to university then, but hey you live and learn...
The things I've learnt as part of my BTEC course have been more practical a good comparison is A level "IT" to BTEC IT: the former is basically business studies plus (nothing against that, just not my kind of thing) whereas in the BTEC you learn more about how computers work, the components and basic programming.
I can understand how A levels are better for more "academic" subjects like English, History or even Mathematics, however BTECs are only offered in vocational subjects so are perhaps better suited to those with a specific goal in mind.
I found A levels harder and did terribly, but now I'm getting full marks at BTEC.
On reflection if I knew what I know now I would have tried much harder at A level and gone to university then, but hey you live and learn...
Original post by KatieMillman
[INDENT]to know that one is harder, you would have done both which i doubt you have therefore your opinion is invalid as there is no evidence to back it up. Btecs are just as respected as a levels and in my opinion are harder as you have to put what you learn into action through coursework assignments where as in a level exams you can merely get an a through parrot fshion learning for some subjects[/INDENT]
A-levels only require you to learn like a parrot; BTEC's just involve copying from a textbook. Look, I can talk ****e too...
Original post by Sandra1
if you want to do the most academic subjects like medicine or dentistry with a btec you will either need to do chemistry/maths a level with btec applied science.Or get DDD or D*D*D* in the related science btec
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You can NEVER get into medical school with a Btec... Even if you do Btec applied science.
Original post by MrSupernova
A-levels only require you to learn like a parrot; BTEC's just involve copying from a textbook. Look, I can talk ****e too...
tooo funny but tbh btec is a lot of coursework and lot of referencing.
The btec i do is btec applied science which involves alot of isa's which a level science students would have done and we would have to add in extra bits as well.I did a level biology and chemistry at first and then decided to do btec level3 science because they both include similar information that is included in the course...for example in alevel chemistry there is alot of stuff about titrations...btec level 3 applied science has coursework base on doing titrations and how to evaluate it too...the only major difference is that btec level3 only involves coursework base work.
Plus if u actually did btec level 3 then u wouldnt say what you have said...
Also if you want to do medicine you can do btec level 3 Applied science and alevel chemistry...unfortunately you cant get into medicine with just a btec!! hopea this changes
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Original post by Sandra1
tooo funny but tbh btec is a lot of coursework and lot of referencing.
The btec i do is btec applied science which involves alot of isa's which a level science students would have done and we would have to add in extra bits as well.I did a level biology and chemistry at first and then decided to do btec level3 science because they both include similar information that is included in the course...for example in alevel chemistry there is alot of stuff about titrations...btec level 3 applied science has coursework base on doing titrations and how to evaluate it too...the only major difference is that btec level3 only involves coursework base work.
Plus if u actually did btec level 3 then u wouldnt say what you have said...
Also if you want to do medicine you can do btec level 3 Applied science and alevel chemistry...unfortunately you cant get into medicine with just a btec!! hopea this changes
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The btec i do is btec applied science which involves alot of isa's which a level science students would have done and we would have to add in extra bits as well.I did a level biology and chemistry at first and then decided to do btec level3 science because they both include similar information that is included in the course...for example in alevel chemistry there is alot of stuff about titrations...btec level 3 applied science has coursework base on doing titrations and how to evaluate it too...the only major difference is that btec level3 only involves coursework base work.
Plus if u actually did btec level 3 then u wouldnt say what you have said...
Also if you want to do medicine you can do btec level 3 Applied science and alevel chemistry...unfortunately you cant get into medicine with just a btec!! hopea this changes
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No honey you can never get into medical school with a Btec.... Never never never.
Not even if you did an A level along aside with it. Maybe you can get into a low university but your chances of unemployment is 99%.
And no Btec students shouldn't be able to do medical school with "just" Btec... It's no ones fault they can't be bothered to learn.
Original post by notthegreatest
No honey you can never get into medical school with a Btec.... Never never never.
Not even if you did an A level along aside with it. Maybe you can get into a low university but your chances of unemployment is 99%.
And no Btec students shouldn't be able to do medical school with "just" Btec... It's no ones fault they can't be bothered to learn.
Not even if you did an A level along aside with it. Maybe you can get into a low university but your chances of unemployment is 99%.
And no Btec students shouldn't be able to do medical school with "just" Btec... It's no ones fault they can't be bothered to learn.
Okay but btec students do learn alot of stuff....why are people so negative about btec its not bad...at least you are able to go university and do what they are able to do...be a nurse,be a radiographer,be social workers,dental hygenist,pharamcists,be a technition,be a biochemist and a physiotherapist.Btec is not bad you can get into many other things too
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The negativity surrounding BTEC's saddens me.
I have seen both sides of the water having done A levels and now studying a BTEC and the amount of knowledge I have obtained from my BTEC, that will help me in my chosen field is immense.
I mean half, if not three quarters of what I'm learning and have learnt, I simply would not have gained from my A levels alone.
In terms of course content, I honestly believe ultimately it comes down to what your aspirations are. Some job prospects will require you to have been tested as your ability to recall information, where as others..not so much.
Lets just celebrate the variety of education choices and courses we have in the UK and not slate it so much.
I have seen both sides of the water having done A levels and now studying a BTEC and the amount of knowledge I have obtained from my BTEC, that will help me in my chosen field is immense.
I mean half, if not three quarters of what I'm learning and have learnt, I simply would not have gained from my A levels alone.
In terms of course content, I honestly believe ultimately it comes down to what your aspirations are. Some job prospects will require you to have been tested as your ability to recall information, where as others..not so much.
Lets just celebrate the variety of education choices and courses we have in the UK and not slate it so much.
I will give my two cents on the matter.
I recently completed a Level 3 Extended Diploma in Media Production receiving a grade of DDD.
With this I have been accepted into Bournemouth University for a BA in FIlm and Cinema tography
which is one of the best in the UK
across multiple subjects, but especially for film and Television.
Having been a Level 3 Extended Diploma Student, I can safely say that it is not a walk in the park.
The course required me to be extremely consistant academically where the lowest grade in a unit will
decide my final grade for the whole unit. Example of this is if I'd get 3 distinctions in a unit and
a pass, the pass would be my final grade.
Some people do piss about on the course and are carefree but they receive Merits and passes at the most which is
pretty sub par.
The work consisted of countless essays, pre production documents produced to industry standard
and producing the actual content such as Dramas, Adverts, Documentaries, Multi camera TV shows etc.
I would also receive many other assignments not part of the course to create media products for
multiple clients. I have created promotional videos for a variety of companies and have compiled
a showreel of content showcasing a large variety of genres.
I would often come into college extra days and work way outside of my timetable to produce good grades
on my units and to make strong clients and contacts within the industry.
Being on the course also put me in contact with the National Union of Journalists where I received my Press card, many
beneficial contacts and support.
With this established it is quite clear that I have gained a huge amount of experience from being on the course.
The majority of it that is simply just not provided on an A levels Media Studies course which provides
sub par equipment and a huge lack of practical and documentational experience which is something that
is essential for University and working within the industry.
Overall I think it simply depends on what subject you are taking.
If you want to practical as a career such as Media Production, Motion Grpahics, Engineering and performing arts.
I highly reccomend BTEC as it will provide much more than a mere secondary sixth form taught A level.
If you plan on taking a more academic, research or theoretical route for a career. I would reccomend A levels.
As it will be more extensive on the theory side of things.
So choose carefully, but some degrees and Unis will respects BTEC more than A levels and vice versa.
My case is a good example. Degrees involving Media Production will favour those with experience in Media Production.
A level Media Studies simply doesn't provide that.
I recently completed a Level 3 Extended Diploma in Media Production receiving a grade of DDD.
With this I have been accepted into Bournemouth University for a BA in FIlm and Cinema tography
which is one of the best in the UK
across multiple subjects, but especially for film and Television.
Having been a Level 3 Extended Diploma Student, I can safely say that it is not a walk in the park.
The course required me to be extremely consistant academically where the lowest grade in a unit will
decide my final grade for the whole unit. Example of this is if I'd get 3 distinctions in a unit and
a pass, the pass would be my final grade.
Some people do piss about on the course and are carefree but they receive Merits and passes at the most which is
pretty sub par.
The work consisted of countless essays, pre production documents produced to industry standard
and producing the actual content such as Dramas, Adverts, Documentaries, Multi camera TV shows etc.
I would also receive many other assignments not part of the course to create media products for
multiple clients. I have created promotional videos for a variety of companies and have compiled
a showreel of content showcasing a large variety of genres.
I would often come into college extra days and work way outside of my timetable to produce good grades
on my units and to make strong clients and contacts within the industry.
Being on the course also put me in contact with the National Union of Journalists where I received my Press card, many
beneficial contacts and support.
With this established it is quite clear that I have gained a huge amount of experience from being on the course.
The majority of it that is simply just not provided on an A levels Media Studies course which provides
sub par equipment and a huge lack of practical and documentational experience which is something that
is essential for University and working within the industry.
Overall I think it simply depends on what subject you are taking.
If you want to practical as a career such as Media Production, Motion Grpahics, Engineering and performing arts.
I highly reccomend BTEC as it will provide much more than a mere secondary sixth form taught A level.
If you plan on taking a more academic, research or theoretical route for a career. I would reccomend A levels.
As it will be more extensive on the theory side of things.
So choose carefully, but some degrees and Unis will respects BTEC more than A levels and vice versa.
My case is a good example. Degrees involving Media Production will favour those with experience in Media Production.
A level Media Studies simply doesn't provide that.
There's nothing wrong with Btec at all, a person can still get into university with it. The only downfall is, their options are limited within the range of degree courses and also not being able to get into the top uni's like Cambridge, Oxford etc. whereas, A-Level opens a lot of opportunities to pursue academically and gives you a variety of career options and what you need to study in university. Both A-Levels and Btec are difficult, it depends on the person and what suits them best within their work ethic along with their ability to strive for their deserved grades.
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Original post by babyshawte
There's nothing wrong with Btec at all, a person can still get into university with it. The only downfall is, their options are limited within the range of degree courses and also not being able to get into the top uni's like Cambridge, Oxford etc. whereas, A-Level opens a lot of opportunities to pursue academically and gives you a variety of career options and what you need to study in university. Both A-Levels and Btec are difficult, it depends on the person and what suits them best within their work ethic along with their ability to strive for their deserved grades.
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I guess, I mean it's good for people who actually know where they want to go in terms of career path and depending on the subject area. Because of that Oxford and Cambridge are not desirable Unis for me anyway.
I did a Btec and everytime I apply for a job most employers tend to look down on me... They are like..,"A Btec eh...?"
Original post by notthegreatest
You can NEVER get into medical school with a Btec... Even if you do Btec applied science.
You can ACTUALLY get into medical school with over DDD's in a related BTEC course (e.g. Applied Science: Medical Science) by taking a foundation year in university. You could also go into Biomedical Sciences, and then go into medicine with a fast track option and it would only cost you one to two more years extra.
Original post by Zeakyarteest
You can ACTUALLY get into medical school with over DDD's in a related BTEC course (e.g. Applied Science: Medical Science) by taking a foundation year in university. You could also go into Biomedical Sciences, and then go into medicine with a fast track option and it would only cost you one to two more years extra.
Ahahahahah lol stop kidding yourself... Maybe you can but not into Cambridge Oxford UCL or Imperial you can't.
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