Access courses

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yes, without a doubt mine is equivalent to 3 A levels and 2 GCSEs The a level equivalent is only on the basis of full module completion at level 3, at level 2 it is only equivalent to GCSE.

I am doing Maths at level 2 as that is the only level available at my college, however I am also doing an A-level in maths and have 6 exams in June....aren't I sooooo looking forward to that (NOT!)

And all my work so far has been graded at level 3 for the following modules
English Language
Psychology
History
English Literature
IT

I really enjoy the access course and would recommend it to anyone wanting to go to into higher education. Not only does it "top up" your qualifications if they are out of date now, but they also help prepare you for university in terms of essay writing, exam revision and other study skills.

Reply 21

investor

i was just wondering what would the difference be betweenm say access to maths or physics and a physics or maths A level !!! oh and laura if you can choose your moduals and you want a kinda easier module go for either S1,S2 or D1,D2 unless of course you like mechanics as mechanics M1 is more challenging but slightly harder.

Reply 22

silent ninja

I doubt they are similar. I have been tutoring a friend who is doing access since September and he has lots of Chemistry and Biology modules at level 3 that I help him with (wants to be a pharmacist). The material is not as in depth as A levels, no exams only assignemnts, and its more straightforward in general. A levels are more difficult.

Reply 23

Natmarjus

I finished an access to HE course alst year, I studied science. It was equivalent to 3 a levels. The topics I covered were
Human Phys
Biology
Chemistry
Pyschology
Maths
English
IT

It was 16 hours a week , ahd two exams in each topic as well as assignmetns and essays every week.
Im now at UCL studying Biomed.

Reply 24

investor

16 hours a week WOW

can i ask what kinda maths you did, did it include differentiation and integration ?

thanks

Reply 25

wyrdness

In mine we do about 15 hours of lessons a week . We also get set an assignment (of around 2000 words) and a written end of module exam that we have to pass each term in each of our subjects to continue with the course. In our third term we have to do an environmental or social science 'dissertation' as well (though it's only a 5000 word report. I think they just like using the word to try and scare us). At the end of this course I should have the equivalent of three A levels (psychology, sociology and English Literature) and 2 GCSE's (English language and maths).

However, the problem with Access courses is that they aren't all the same (specialised courses in business or nursing may not have three subjects for example) and different colleges only a couple of miles apart may have completely different standards and methods of teaching too. Generally though they are all aimed at giving you enough qualifications and ability to enter university without worrying about how you will cope.

In fact I feel my Access course is slightly better than A Levels in some regards because instead of being told how to present things to an A Level standard we have always been told to present it as if we were handing it in on a first year uni course. My psychology teacher is particularly adamant on this and is harsh with the marking (which is probably why most of us only get passes) we get marks taken off for bad grammar/ punctuaton/ spelling, presentation (i.e not being suitably bound), not including Harvard style bibliographies and in-text citations and for handing in work late. I found out the last one first hand when I handed one of my assignments in late and it came back as an automatic minimum pass, even though she admitted that if it had been handed in on time it would have been at least a high pass or maybe even a merit.

So yeah, I think my Access course is A level equivalent, even if its set in a more relaxed atmosphere than what those fresh from school students might get.

Reply 26

investor

its just i did an access course at london met and it was a shambles it was basically GCSE stuff for maths - algebra and the odd quadratic and the writing reports etc wasnt to bad but i dunn maybe its because i applied for an accountancy course and you dont really need much skills for those.

but it actually put me of the university because i felt in the 3 months that it had run i wasnt happy with it imagine if i had comiitted myself for 3 yers thanks anyway

Reply 27

silent ninja

Some Access courses are basic, but there are 'proper' ones that can get you on just about anything. There is even an Access to Medicine.

Anyway, i didnt choose Access because i'm keen on a maths or a science related degree, and there just isnt enough high level maths in it. Plus i'm not dead set on which science/maths degree, and A levels leave more options open as they're more flexible.

Reply 28

finnish_777

yes it is eqivalent to 3 As , for you to be considered :biggrin:

Reply 29

lizziegee

My access course was equvilant to 3 A levels and one gcse. I know this is different to what others have posted on here. I now have A level English, Biology and health studies and a gcse in maths!!!!!!!. :eek:

Reply 30

Greylady

Hi!
I'm a bit new to all of this?!
I did an Access course last year and reckon it was more about showing that you could run three subjects to A level standard over a year, and run your life at the same time, and less about 'getting' three A levels.
We were pushed to present work of a higher standard than A level and to think, think, think!
I got a place at Uni though I'm really struggling to revise for my first year exams. (and wasting time on message boards -so I've learned something important this year - hehe!)

PS. I think I'm almost the oldest on my course!

Reply 31

Dragonbaby

Just finishing my access course now. We covered 6 topics, 2 at level 2 (gcse) and the rest at level 3 (followed the same syllabus as the alevel students but slightly less units cos it's in one year, same work though)
Plus we had a 2000 word essay in each subject every month (per unit), or sometimes 2 smaller essays. Except in maths which was 3 exams.
I did most of my a levels after school (left before the end) and no way I worked as hard then as I am now!

But hey I got into University College London so I'm happy!!!
Getting a little nervous now though :frown:

Reply 32

Whisper

I am doing access now Biology, Chemistry and Maths all at L3, I have 3 exams in few weeks. The course is great, I learned sooooo much, would recomend it to all, but important to find the right college.

Reply 33

Lisa23

trantr

I am going to start an Access to HE Health Professions in September, I was wondering if anybody already doing this course could advise on some reading materials that would be of any use to me to start getting my mind into the swing of it?
Thanks

Hi, I did access to health and nursing last year, at the college I went to you could choose your modules but needed to do physiology, and the other one which I chose was health studies, which was like health sociology.

The hardest part about the course for me was the physiology, so a decent physiology/human biology book would come in handy,
Good luck with it
Lisa x

Reply 34

Atomik

How is everybody doing exam-wise (on their Access courses, that is)?

Reply 35

Whisper

My exams are next week, Tue Chemistry; Wed Maths; Thur Biology.
I did not start on my revesion yet, too lasy...

What about IRP (Independent Research Progect)