I am with Open Study College and I am doing the old specification in AS Biology and Chemistry which is the last chance to do only this year I'm told. As of next year onwards there is the new specification. But one of these specifications as I understand it split AS and A Levels as 2 completely separate qualifications (whereas before AS and A2 where kind of part of a 2 year course)I called AQA to enquire and they messed me up completely and said like I was supposed to have booked by exams ladt year or something.But anyway my huge problem is my OSC teacher has suddenly told me that if I sit the AS and only the AS in 2016 then I won't be able to EVER get a full A Level. I absolutely do not understand what he means by this.. Like where do I start? Is he saying so if I never get a full A Level then I can never go to Uni??? See his response below. If anyone can explain to me what he means exactly Id be grateful. Is he telling me I can never get an A Lvel or go to Uni?Please please reply. Thanks."I'm afraid not. If you wish to achieve the full A-Levels with the old specification then you need to take all 4 written exams and both practical's in 2016. There is no way to do it after 2016.Your only other option would be to switch to the new specification course and take all of the exams and practical's in 2017.I'm not sure about the registration deadline date, that might have been misleadi*ng like everything else. But yes, you do need to register ASAP.I am aware of centres on Bristol, London and Birmingham if that helps?"Then:" As I noted earlier, you can do the AS this year, no problem. That would be the first 3 units. If you do this, however, there is no chance of building this to the full A-Level. You would have to stop at the AS.The old and new specifications are totally separate - you must stop thinking that they are in some way related, they are not. You can not do the AS with the old and then build to the A-Level with the new.You have three options:
1 - Take the AS this year and stop at that point (these would be units 1,2 and 3)
2 - Take the full A-Level this year (all 6 units)
3 - Take the A-Level in 2017 with the new specification.I want to be clear, these are the only options.It would be difficult to take them this year but certainly not impossible, we have very many students who take the full A-Level after just 6 months or so of study. It all depends on how much time you *have available"