GCSE Maths VS Functional Skills Maths Level 2

My plan is to study an Access course in Humanities, although I'm not 100% sure whether to do that, because I feel like A Levels would be better-respected by universities, but my anxiety over getting rejected by a uni cos I have an Access diploma instead of A Levels might be misplaced?? Can anyone give me an opinion on that? I really want to study Arabic at SOAS but I know that I will need to study really hard to get the grades they want (AAB!) and I think I should get a GCSE or A Level in a language to boost my application (I don't know if I will end up applying but yeah).

Advice would be realllllly appreciated thank you!

<3 <3

All of my offers are for Russel Group and 1994 universities. I also know of people who got into Cambridge via Access courses.

That said, I don't know if you'd be able to apply for an ab initio language degree without an A-Level to show evidence of your language learning ability.

Also, most unis no longer accept any kind of equivalent qualification in place of GCSE Maths and English. It might be valuable for you to spend a year doing GCSE Maths and a language before doing an Access course.

1994 universities?

SOAS's page for Arabic says 'Subjects Preferred: A good pass in a foreign language at A-level, or equivalent, is preferred'. Is 'preferred' code for 'we will ignore any applications without this'?

Thanks for the reply.

1994 universities?

SOAS's page for Arabic says 'Subjects Preferred: A good pass in a foreign language at A-level, or equivalent, is preferred'. Is 'preferred' code for 'we will ignore any applications without this'?

Thanks for the reply.

If you click on the link about alternative qualifications on this page: http://www.soas.ac.uk/nme/programmes/baarabic/ you'll see that they accept Access (minimum of 30 distinctions). I would definitely phone or email them about the maths and to double-check that they are happy with whatever Access course you might be considering.

Generally, GCSE maths is a much better option than functional skills, which many universities will not accept. If you are currently unemployed, why not attend the functional skills lessons? Even if you decide to do GCSE instead, you will at least have had some useful practice before September.

I know SOAS accept Access diplomas but I'm still concerned they'll reject me because I don't even have a language GCSE.

'Why not attend the functional skills lessons?' Because I'm worried that having studied Functional Skills will somehow affect my GCSE Maths funding. :P You're right that it's a good idea for me to practice Maths in advance though.

I know SOAS accept Access diplomas but I'm still concerned they'll reject me because I don't even have a language GCSE.

'Why not attend the functional skills lessons?' Because I'm worried that having studied Functional Skills will somehow affect my GCSE Maths funding. :P You're right that it's a good idea for me to practice Maths in advance though.

All of my offers are for Russel Group and 1994 universities. I also know of people who got into Cambridge via Access courses.

That said, I don't know if you'd be able to apply for an ab initio language degree without an A-Level to show evidence of your language learning ability.

Also, most unis no longer accept any kind of equivalent qualification in place of GCSE Maths and English. It might be valuable for you to spend a year doing GCSE Maths and a language before doing an Access course.