somebody please explain what is happening to as and alevels?

I'm going to start sixth form in September 2015.
I've been told that all of the exams are going to be linear?
so what is happening to AS levels?
are they being scrapped?

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Reply 1

06shawm

Original post by Imsophie

I'm going to start sixth form in September 2015.
I've been told that all of the exams are going to be linear?
so what is happening to AS levels?
are they being scrapped?

Posted from TSR Mobile

AS levels are not being scrapped, they are now being separated from A level. They will now be two different qualifications. The a-level exam will be taken after two years of studying. How you perform in that exam after two years determines the grade you get.

Reply 2

Imsophie

so when applying to universities you will still apply with as results?
And so do your as grades not count towards your overall grade?

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Reply 3

06shawm

Original post by Imsophie

so when applying to universities you will still apply with as results?
And so do your as grades not count towards your overall grade?

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Yes, so I imagine you will study 4 AS levels in year 12. Once you have completed these and have your grades. You will then have your predicted grades which you will apply to university with. Then in year 13 you will study a-levels. These are totally separate to AS levels. Therefore your grades at AS will have no effect on your A level grades. Your a-level grades will be solely determined by how you perform in your exams at the end of year 13.

Reply 4

JayJay-C19

I don't know why they have to make life so difficult for students all the time. The whole A-Level course was fine the way it was. This is just confusing.

(edited 9 years ago)

Reply 5

Imsophie

okay thanks, :smile:

you've been helpful
so will there be more a level exams because of this...

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Reply 6

06shawm

Original post by JayJay-C19

I don't know why they have to make life so difficult for students all the time. The whol A-Level course was fine the way it was. This is just confusing.

So true. Gove wanted a more rigorous exam system, he has certainly got what he wanted.

Reply 7

Imsophie

Original post by 06shawm

So true. Gove wanted a more rigorous exam system, he has certainly got what he wanted.

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Reply 8

ChildInDisguise

Original post by JayJay-C19

I don't know why they have to make life so difficult for students all the time. The whole A-Level course was fine the way it was. This is just confusing.

Agree. So thankful I've finished it. Or hopefully finished it (gulp).
Every time I think I'll do fine, I have to add hopefully because I feel like I'm tempting fate otherwise O.O

Reply 9

06shawm

Original post by Imsophie

okay thanks, :smile:

you've been helpful
so will there be more a level exams because of this...

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No problem. I am not entirely sure what the exams will be like, the spec's are only at a draft stage and haven't yet been finalised. :smile:

Reply 10

elri

So will people be unable to retake?
Will there still be exams for AS? getting confused

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Reply 11

06shawm

Original post by elri

So will people be unable to retake?
Will there still be exams for AS? getting confused

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I am pretty sure (correct me if I am wrong) that there will be no opportunity to resit within the 2 year period. Also if you do resit, you have to resit everything, you can no longer resit individual modules since modules have been scrapped.

AS exams are not being scrapped. They are just no longer part of the a level qualification.

Heres my explanation using an example:

Old spec for A level biology:

AS + A2 = A level.

AS = Unit 1, Unit 2, Unit 3

A2 = Unit 4, Unit 5, Unit 6

New spec for A level biology:

AS = AS level qualification which takes 1 year

Paper 1 + Paper 2 = AS in Biology

THESE ARE TOTALLY SEPARATE

A level = A level qualification which takes 2 years

Paper A + Paper B + Paper C = A level in biology

Reply 12

elri

Okay thanks for explaining
And I thought the no more january exams was bad :/

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Reply 13

JayJay-C19

Original post by 06shawm

So true. Gove wanted a more rigorous exam system, he has certainly got what he wanted.

It's so stupid though. So many people struggle as it is. Why do they put idiots who have literally no experience in education, incharge of it!? What lunatics do this, honestly.

Reply 14

JayJay-C19

Original post by janicee

Agree. So thankful I've finished it. Or hopefully finished it (gulp).
Every time I think I'll do fine, I have to add hopefully because I feel like I'm tempting fate otherwise O.O

I KNOW. I do this when waiting for results too!

I am just so angry with these reforms. Everyone knows a-levels are challenging as it is.

Reply 15

ChildInDisguise

Original post by JayJay-C19

I KNOW. I do this when waiting for results too!

I am just so angry with these reforms. Everyone knows a-levels are challenging as it is.

Exactly! I have never put in so much effort into anything before!
Literally I almost went insane. Had sleeping problems because I couldn't stop thinking about the amount of work I had.
Then I'd break down. Then I'd get up and do work. Not sleeping and just crying was doing nothing to help me.
Then I'd go into school the next day hating on everything because I hate mornings and mornings are even more hateful when your tired haha.

And now they're making it harder?! That is more insane than I ever was. And that is a lot.

Reply 16

JayJay-C19

Original post by janicee

My proposal:

All secretary's of education should sit the flipping AS and A2 exams of all of the a-levels possible - we'll see how they do. Maybe then they wont come out with such ridiculous aims.

Reply 17

ChildInDisguise

Original post by JayJay-C19

My proposal:

All secretary's of education should sit the flipping AS and A2 exams of all of the a-levels possible - we'll see how they do. Maybe then they wont come out with such ridiculous aims.

I completely agree. They don't understand how much pressure they put on us to do well. It's mentally and physically draining. And there's such a big jump between GCSE and A level. I really wasn't prepared for that. They say it's a big jump but seriously? I didn't put that much effort into GCSE's but A level's almost killed me!