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A levels to BTEC

Hi, ive just finished year 12 and my AS levels in maths, chemistry, history and IT. I got a U in maths and chemistry, C in history and pass in IT. This means i cant go back to the sixth form i was going to and retake maths and chemistry which i wanted to do. I also went to another college and they wouldnt let me do them there either. Ive just enrolled onto a BTEC level 3 extended diploma in Forensic Science. Would you consider this to be a step down? I know that i can pass the A levels i just need to put work in, i just wanted to know whether you guys think it is much of a step down?
Can you still apply to the course you wanted to at uni? If so then I wouldn't feel it was a step down :smile:
Reply 2
Original post by IfOnlyItWereEasy
Can you still apply to the course you wanted to at uni? If so then I wouldn't feel it was a step down :smile:


I was never really thinking of going to uni but if i was it would have been to do chemistry. But i can get a uni place with the thing ive just enrolled in just not in chemistry.
Where do you hope to get with your a-levels/ BTEC? Again if your course gets where you wanted career wise then it is not a step down. If you are doing the course just for the sake of it, then I'd feel it was a step-down and would be wondering why on earth you are doing it!
Reply 4
I dont really know what i want to do after, ive never really been sure but whilst i was doing A levels my plan was maybe uni for chemistry but i wasnt sure. At the moment i dont really have a plan but if i did it would be do this course and then uni for forensic science degree. But i just feel like im taking a huge step down going from A levels to a BTEC because i know i can do the A levels i just need to actually do some work towards them.
Original post by lukebs97
I dont really know what i want to do after, ive never really been sure but whilst i was doing A levels my plan was maybe uni for chemistry but i wasnt sure. At the moment i dont really have a plan but if i did it would be do this course and then uni for forensic science degree. But i just feel like im taking a huge step down going from A levels to a BTEC because i know i can do the A levels i just need to actually do some work towards them.


Alas, we are only numerical figures. A lot of my friends have been kicked out of sixth form for not achieving their grades (at my sixth form you need at least a D to continue on). Most of them have moved onto BTECS now. You could theoretically resit AS levels as an external candidate, it just means a lot of self-studying and a fortune in examination costs.
Reply 6
Original post by IfOnlyItWereEasy
Alas, we are only numerical figures. A lot of my friends have been kicked out of sixth form for not achieving their grades (at my sixth form you need at least a D to continue on). Most of them have moved onto BTECS now. You could theoretically resit AS levels as an external candidate, it just means a lot of self-studying and a fortune in examination costs.


Yh its the same at my sixth form, you need atleast 2 D's to continute which i have but i would be doing history and IT A2 and some random AS so i think its pretty pointless as it wouldnt get me what i want, not that i really know what i want but i know it isnt that. Would you happen to know how many UCAS points a BTEC level 3 extended diploma is worth? Im seeing in some places it can be worth up to 420?
Original post by lukebs97
Yh its the same at my sixth form, you need atleast 2 D's to continute which i have but i would be doing history and IT A2 and some random AS so i think its pretty pointless as it wouldnt get me what i want, not that i really know what i want but i know it isnt that. Would you happen to know how many UCAS points a BTEC level 3 extended diploma is worth? Im seeing in some places it can be worth up to 420?


Is it QCF qualification? If so then D*D*D* is worth 420 UCAS tariff points
Reply 10
Original post by lukebs97
I dont really know what i want to do after, ive never really been sure but whilst i was doing A levels my plan was maybe uni for chemistry but i wasnt sure. At the moment i dont really have a plan but if i did it would be do this course and then uni for forensic science degree. But i just feel like im taking a huge step down going from A levels to a BTEC because i know i can do the A levels i just need to actually do some work towards them.

The BTEC Level 3 Extended is worth 3 A levels, in applied science you will cover chemistry, biology and physics units also the specialist units like forensic science how is that a step down? You could still get on to a degree in a lot of different areas of science
Original post by lukebs97
Hi, ive just finished year 12 and my AS levels in maths, chemistry, history and IT. I got a U in maths and chemistry, C in history and pass in IT. This means i cant go back to the sixth form i was going to and retake maths and chemistry which i wanted to do. I also went to another college and they wouldnt let me do them there either. Ive just enrolled onto a BTEC level 3 extended diploma in Forensic Science. Would you consider this to be a step down? I know that i can pass the A levels i just need to put work in, i just wanted to know whether you guys think it is much of a step down?


I retook the year after getting CCE in my first year in A-Levels. Then, when I started a new college, I decided to do a combination of A-Levels and BTEC.

This year, I got a "B" in EPQ and a "C" in literature (which I can improve on). I am also on a double distinction for Health and Social Care. Now, I'm entering my final year of college and applying for Adult Nursing.

I don't think it's a "step down" to go from A-Level to BTEC. You can still go to university with either qualification. It doesn't make you "dumb" for doing BTEC. Everyone is capable for different things and the end of the day, when you go to university, you're going to be in the same lecture hall with people who did A-Levels and BTEC.

As long as you have a general idea of what you are planing to do with a BTEC Extended Diploma in Forensic Science, then you'll be fine. There's so many opportunities out there and also research on what courses you can apply to with the qualification. :smile:


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