Intensive One Year A level Courses (State Colleges?) in London

Hi, I've been trawling through threads and college websites, but can only find one non private (non expensive) college, doing one year A level courses in London (Westminster Kingsway College).

Does anyone know of any others, and how good they are? I've got my sights set quite high, and want to get A's/A*s….. To get into one of the top unis, doing psychology (looking at Bath, Oxford)….

I was going to do an access course, but they are not recognised internationally, and I'd like to keep my options open, I'm considering applying in the US or Canada.

I've just turned 30, so would prefer to do a course with a mixed age group…but would consider being around teenagers if it was for one year….

Thanks! :smile:

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Reply 1

skeptical_john

you can always take them privately, would save a lot and you could just spend some money on private tuition

Reply 2

Haribo22

Thanks, if I take them privately, how do I show a prospective uni what my predicted result will be, so I an apply to start next year september? Especially for oxbridge…I think you need to apply in january…?

Reply 3

SuperCat007

Original post by Haribo22

Don't know about colleges in London. But I imagine it will be harder to find now the exams have changed. So you'll be doing at least 6 exams next May/June which is a lot.

Also you'll still be around teenagers at uni, they aren't so bad so it may just be something you have to learn to live with.

Reply 4

skeptical_john

Original post by Haribo22

You may need to do some searching for that question I recall it being spoken about that on here before.

Reply 5

skeptical_john

depending on how advanced your knowladge is in the subjects you could always take a couple of the exams through cambridge (CIE) in October. You would then have some results to show a uni and take the rest in the summer.

Reply 6

Haribo22

Oh really...what are the changes if you don't mind me asking..?

Reply 7

SuperCat007

Original post by Haribo22

Oh really...what are the changes if you don't mind me asking..?

Well since 2013 there aren't January exams so you have to sit them all in the summer. The new syllabuses from this September will have no AS exams, only A-level exams after 2 years.

Reply 8

Haribo22

Original post by SuperCat007

Well since 2013 there aren't January exams so you have to sit them all in the summer. The new syllabuses from this September will have no AS exams, only A-level exams after 2 years.

Thanks, I didn't realise. Do you happen to know if GCSEs are also only sat once a year too?

Reply 9

SuperCat007

Original post by Haribo22

Thanks, I didn't realise. Do you happen to know if GCSEs are also only sat once a year too?

GCSE's have always been in the summer only.

Reply 10

Haribo22

Original post by SuperCat007

GCSE's have always been in the summer only.

Thanks for letting me know… Ah damn, I will do a search to work out how to do the predicted grades thing when self studying…
Thanks for your help.

Reply 11

SuperCat007

Original post by Haribo22

Thanks for letting me know… Ah damn, I will do a search to work out how to do the predicted grades thing when self studying…
Thanks for your help.

It is more difficult if you've been out of education for a while. But I self studied psychology this year and applied to uni, I predicted myself an A, but I did have really high AS scores to back up that prediction. I guess if you predict yourself top grades you need a reference which can back up what you're saying in your predictions.

Reply 12

Chrollo-Lucilfer

I didn't catch what you were studying. But I can tell that some subjects can be self taught, some easier than others.

I plan on studying a levels there next year. But I'm self teaching myself maths and further maths a level this year. Then sitting it privately next year when I start science a levels.

Reply 13

Schadenfreude65

Original post by Haribo22

Thanks, I didn't realise. Do you happen to know if GCSEs are also only sat once a year too?

I believe you can still sit maths and English GCSEs in November.
http://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/mathematics/gcse/mathematics-4360

See under 'Key Dates' on the right hand side of the above link.

Reply 14

bigmansouf

studying privately is very good
last yr i did a alevel course for one year didnt complete it due to lack of funds and other reasons.

I was in a class with 16 years olds