Access Course - How hard is it to get 30 level 3 credits at Distinction?

Original post by J_Gold

Hi, I've just started an access course and I hope to go to Keele University next year to study American Studies. The entry requirements state '30 level 3 credits at Distinction'. I was just wondering if anyone could shed some light on what this means. I know distinction is the highest possible grade you can be awarded kind of like an 'A' or an 'A*' but i was just wondering what chance I have of achieving this goal.

Thanks for your help! :smile:

I did a health science access course this year gone, so it's a different experience to yours , but we had some psychology and sociology essays. For each assignment, you have an assignment brief which details what is needed to achieve a distinction. Read through these and ask your tutor for further guidance, get what you can from them especially at the beginning of the course, it's to your benefit to get distinction grades at the start.
You have to get used to referencing and most essays require a beginning, middle and end. And towards the end of an essay, before a conclusion, a a decent bit of evaluating and critical writing helps, though your tutor should explain what is required most likely.

Another thing is good organization. Start an assignment as soon as you can - easier said than done. But try aiming to finish assignments a week before the deadline like I did, it certainly helps. And spend the night before the deadline proofreading.
Hope this helps :smile:

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Reply 2

bibliboo

The credit system itself will make sense after you do a few assignments. Just do the work as best as you can.

If a six credit module, for example has three assignments and you get distinctions in two assignments and a merit the other, this rounds up to a distinction for the overall module. Meaning the above example nets you 6 credits at distinction. Best of luck.

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Reply 3

username2178331

15

Its easy, just remember stick to the brief, don't deviate from it. Cover everything that's being asked and nothing more, get your drafts in early, get them checked and then resubmit with any alterations!
I got 45 credits at distinction.

Reply 4

callum_law

6

Original post by amibee

Its easy, just remember stick to the brief, don't deviate from it. Cover everything that's being asked and nothing more, get your drafts in early, get them checked and then resubmit with any alterations!
I got 45 credits at distinction.

Drafts? Drafts?! Lucky bastards!

I was quite a lazy student and I was doing a lot of my assignments the night before, sometimes on the day it was due in. It wasn't a particularly healthy way to go about completing them, but I still managed 45 credits at distinction. The course is quite easy, as long as you're not completely daft.

Reply 5

username2178331

15

Original post by callum_law

Drafts? Drafts?! Lucky bastards!

I was quite a lazy student and I was doing a lot of my assignments the night before, sometimes on the day it was due in. It wasn't a particularly healthy way to go about completing them, but I still managed 45 credits at distinction. The course is quite easy, as long as you're not completely daft.

You didn't get the opportunity to ask a tutor to look over an essay before you submitted it?! Perhaps we did have it good, but yes as you say its a walk in the park.

Reply 6

Redfrost

21

Original post by J_Gold

Hi, I've just started an access course and I hope to go to Keele University next year to study American Studies. The entry requirements state '30 level 3 credits at Distinction'. I was just wondering if anyone could shed some light on what this means. I know distinction is the highest possible grade you can be awarded kind of like an 'A' or an 'A*' but i was just wondering what chance I have of achieving this goal.

Thanks for your help! :smile:

30 should be fairly easy with access it depends on how much effort you put in/detail you go into Id imagine it depends on the college though. I got 45 distinctions 3 years ago in biology, physics and sociology and im not amazingly academic i got b's at gcse and c d and e at a level (in fact i dropped physics back then as i didnt grasp it). I just made sure i put effort in if you do the same you'l be fine!

Reply 7

Gentleman Jim

2

Yes, it's entirely possible. I got 45 Distinctions on an Access business course last year. A few pieces of advice that I found useful when writing assignments:

Set a word limit for each paragraph. (It's very easy to go over and be forced to cut things. This will save you time.)

When writing an essay I found it easier to write out and insert sub-headings in the essay to make sure it followed a logical structure. Then I would come back and remove them before submission. This just kept me more organised.

Make sure you understand exactly what the question/ assignment is asking you. A number of people on my course still did not understand the different sorts of information being asked even towards the end of the course. (ie explain, evaluate etc/ knowing when to include personal opinion and when to elaborate)

Build the assignment around the criteria. Do not write an essay and then just try to fit the criteria in somewhere. Others on the course seemed to forget this and started including a lot of superflous information. Stick to what is being asked; this is what gets you better marks.

I do not know about the content of your course or your ability but if you work hard and stay on top of things while receiving constructive feedback then you should have a chance to do well.

Reply 8

jimmy_looks_2ice

There's no universal answer to the question. It depends on how capable you are at this level, how hard you work, how much time and energy you have to study, and how motivated you are. Follow the tips here and you should be on your way. You'll find out how you measure up against the grade levels once you get your first marked assignments back.

Reply 9

Some people on here are making it sound very easy but I've also read many who've found it very difficult so take nothing for granted.

Reply 10

jimmy_looks_2ice

Original post by skeptical_john

Some people on here are making it sound very easy but I've also read many who've found it very difficult so take nothing for granted.

I think it's one of those things where it's easier "when you know how". I worked hard but comfortably got distinctions. I can't say concretely how hard others on my course worked, but it appeared that some did really try hard but were stuck at getting passes and the occasional merits. I see that as natural, though. Not everyone can get top grades; the qualification would be suspect if they did.

Reply 11

Original post by jimmy_looks_2ice

I think it's one of those things where it's easier "when you know how". I worked hard but comfortably got distinctions. I can't say concretely how hard others on my course worked, but it appeared that some did really try hard but were stuck at getting passes and the occasional merits. I see that as natural, though. Not everyone can get top grades; the qualification would be suspect if they did.

Yes, I'm investing a lot of time early on my course in how to score well. Where as if you're just reading as much as possible about the subject content you could drop easy marks. There is always a technique to performing well.

Reply 12

jimmy_looks_2ice

Original post by skeptical_john

Yes, I'm investing a lot of time early on my course in how to score well. Where as if you're just reading as much as possible about the subject content you could drop easy marks. There is always a technique to performing well.

Good move. Hard work is always a crucial factor. Take a typical group of 20 Access students - there's always going to be a spectrum of intelligence levels and levels of diligence. The guy I knew best on my course probably could've got all or mostly distinctions, but didn't since he didn't put enough effort in.

Reply 13

username2178331

15

Original post by J_Gold

Hi, I've just started an access course and I hope to go to Keele University next year to study American Studies. The entry requirements state '30 level 3 credits at Distinction'. I was just wondering if anyone could shed some light on what this means. I know distinction is the highest possible grade you can be awarded kind of like an 'A' or an 'A*' but i was just wondering what chance I have of achieving this goal.

Thanks for your help! :smile:

As other people have said they knew some people who did find it difficult, I did too. I knew a few who just passed and subsequently they weren't able to progress to a university degree. It is all about preparation and answering the questions correctly (and there definitely is an incorrect way of answering a question even if what you have said is accurate and true) if you find yourself needing any help, as someone who has been through access (2 years part time) just send me a message on here and ill be happy to give you some specific guidance.

Reply 14

lauramcgee

2

I studied Acess to HE, Chemistry & Biology two years ago to gain a place on a Vet Nursing degree. I had a stupidly easy offer of 1 module at Distinction in biology (by the time the offer came through, I already had two). However I really struggled with the Access course. Chemistry was not my strong point and I lost count of the tears in the library the day before the exams and wrecking my head with assignments which I didn't understand. I was working 40 hours alongside this at the time on night shifts so I had plenty of time (paid by work lol) to revise and get assignments done. Fast forward two years and I'm starting a chemistry degree. Lets say I enjoyed the challenge. It all depends on who you are, what your weaknesses are, and how much you want to achieve. I ended up coming out with 42 credits at distinction and 18 at merit, with distinctions in all bar one of my chemistry modules when I really thought biology would be my strong point. If its still the same as when I did it, 9 credits were available in modules such as Reflective Practice, Research and another pretty pointless but compulsory module.

We also go first and second drafts, however with exams we learnt the trick that if you checked the assessment criteria on the front cover of the exam it usually gave you a clue as to the answer, this worked in biology but not in chemistry so if you do get completely stuck thats at least a starting point. Good luck!

Reply 15

I do wonder how access really compares to a levels when an a-level has 4 hours a week for two years per subject compared to my 2.5 hours for one year. Unless things move very fast it feels like access student are going to be somewhat behind at uni?

Reply 16

Mint_Tea

1

I'll be starting at Keele this September. I managed to get all Distinctions and this is coming from someone who isn't particularly bright. For me once I got the brief i'd start to work on it straight away be it just reading up information or jotting down notes. Make yourself a time table and stick to it and always keep in mind your goal. It wasn't a breeze, but it wasn't hard and I still had time to socialise a little and work the weekends. Good luck with your studies.

(edited 8 years ago)

Reply 17

SuperCat007

17

Original post by skeptical_john

I do wonder how access really compares to a levels when an a-level has 4 hours a week for two years per subject compared to my 2.5 hours for one year. Unless things move very fast it feels like access student are going to be somewhat behind at uni?

In all honesty I think Access students are behind at uni, I can't speak for other subjects but certainly for science. You just can't pack as much into a 1 year course and hence, there is some content missing. But that doesn't mean one can't catch up at uni, it just means some extra, hard graft.

Reply 18