Extra UCAS?

Too cut a long winded explanation short, I have 270 UCASpoints and was wondering If there is anything I could do in the near future toboost my UCAS total as I am finding that lacking those extra 10-30 points is restrictingmy options quite a lot.
I finished sixth form two years ago. I am currently working infull time job, Monday-Friday, 9-5. Going part time isn’t an option and I needto keep this job so it’s virtually impossible for me to go back to sixth formand do another A-level.
However, I was wondering if colleges do courses that run inthe evening? Would there possibly be any that start say in January that I couldattend to boost my UCAS?
If anyone knows of anything that could help me with this itwould be much appreciated

Reply 1

Mr.Econometrics

Original post by Wakaman94

Depends on what you plan to do with the extra UCAS points. Restricting your opportunities in regards to what exactly? Some firms within certain sectors ask for x amount of UCAS points from your top 3 A-Levels studied within 2 years, whereas others don't ask for UCAS points at all. Your best shot would be to self-teach, in my opinion.

Reply 2

Holmstock

Original post by Wakaman94

What A-levels did you get, what area are you wanting to specialise in, what are you aiming to do (get a better job/go to university and do a degree?), and what time frame are you looking at? It would be hard to find an evening course that would provide another A-level by August 2015.

Reply 3

Professor Purple

Original post by Wakaman94

You should do an A-Level at home, trust me (from experience) if you get the right study guides and use online resources you can do it.
Resitting specific modules from current A-Levels can easily been done at home too, just remember to ask your old college to enter you for exams as an external candidate (youll have to pay)

Reply 4

Wakaman94

Original post by Mr.Econometrics

I currently want to do primary education, but due to the fact I'm generally lacking the UCAS I'm having to look at courses in education studies where I'd have to take a PGCE afterwards and having to look at Universities I don't particularly want to go to.

Reply 5

Wakaman94

Original post by Holmstock

Psychology and PE both at B's also got AS-levels in those and English language. I'm aiming to go into primary education.

Reply 6

Mr.Econometrics

Original post by Wakaman94

Best to contact the universities you want to go to directly, and ask them what your best course of action would be. Universities preference on retakes/A-Levels not done within 2 years tend to vary from institution to institution.

Reply 7

Wakaman94

Original post by Professor Purple

I am considering this, would I have to do an A-level in a subject I have an AS-level in though or could I just pick anything?

Would my old sixth form just allow me to do this without any issues?

also how many ucas points do you think youd get from getting a E/D in an a-level

Reply 8

Holmstock

Original post by Wakaman94

....

also how many ucas points do you think youd get from getting a E/D in an a-level

UCAS points:

Full A-level (A2 plus AS) is:
A* 140, A120, B100, C80, D60 E40.

AS only is:
A60, B50, C40, D30, E20 (any AS subjects taken on to A2 will only count as part of the full A-level points).

So, for instance, B at A-level for Psychology and B for PE, with say AS-level English Language at grade C would be
100 + 100 + 40.

(edited 9 years ago)

Reply 9

Holmstock

Original post by Wakaman94

As said elsewhere, you need to have a look at where you would like to study, and contact them direct to discuss supplementing your UCAS points with relevant subjects.

For instance, course X120 at the University of St Mark and St John (3 yr full-time B Ed, and highly rated) states on the UCAS website at http://search.ucas.com/course/entryrequirements/267450/primary-education-with-qts?Feather=7&Vac=1&AvailableIn=2015&Query=X120&MaxResults=1000&page=2&ret=providers#coursedetailsmenu
that you would need 300 points from 2 A-levels, which sounds impossible (the maximum from 2 A-levels would be 280 points).

If that university would accept a resit in the English Language A-level, so that you had 3 B's, then you would have the 300 points you need, but from 3 A-levels, and not all taken at the same time.

Alternatively, you might find (depending on your aptitude at Maths), that self-teaching AS Maths would be straightforward to manage with your full-time job, probably be useful to you in your career, and one where you can realistically estimate your likely result once you have studied the syllabus and done practice papers. An A at AS level would give you another 60 UCAS points.

To take an AS or A2, you need to be registered at an exam centre, and as you say, your school might be able to help, by allowing you to register as an external candidate. It is usually easier to do this if you are taking the same board and the same modules as their current sixth form. It is not so easy to do this as an external candidate if there is a coursework or practical module to be taken. There are deadlines for registering as an external candidate, you would need to check these.

However, as others have said, before deciding on what AS/A2 to do, it is vital that you check the view of the institutions that you would like to apply to.

Use the UCAS course search and ring/email some admissions tutors to check what their advice to you would be.

(edited 9 years ago)

Reply 10

Kill3er

Take a look at the Extended Project Qualification. It's pretty much all coursework and can mostly be done at home. You would need somewhere to enter you for it though. Also, as said above - you would need to look at the universities policies and entry requirements.

Also, maybe check to see if there's a university access course. I know some university's have them, and they lower entry requirements by 40 points (2 grades)