The Student Room Group
Competition - post a photo you've taken of nature >>
Competition - post a photo you've taken of nature >>
Competition - post a photo you've taken of nature >>

Btec vs a level

Can someone please explain to me the whole War between btec students and a- Level students.I also want to do art and design btec but I don’t know which is better...should u just do a-Level fine art?
A Levels and BTECs are both Level 3 qualifications. A Levels tend to be more academically focused and are assessed mainly through written exams. BTECs relate more to industry and are assessed through a mixture of written exams and coursework. It's all about what you excel best in and where you see yourself in the future. What is it you'd like to go into?
Basically A-levels students believe they are intellectually superior to Btec students because they do exams and Btec don't, btec are mainly coursework. Which is stupid if you ask me. Doing exams and test is poor way of measuring one intellect all its measuring is your ability to memorise useless informations and how much you can regurgitate information on the test.

If you hate doing exams and academics, and enjoy coursework and doing practical things then btec is more suitable for you. There is no point in trying to do A-levels to look "smart" if you don't think you would enjoy it, you will end up failing or being de-motivated to learn your subject.
(edited 3 years ago)
Reply 3
Avatar for ITGUY19
ITGUY19
8
It’s an age old argument which is better. In hindsight either of them can get you where you want to be. On TSR and in most colleges there is a bit of snobbery towards A levels as it’s seen as the only way or better way.

I did a CTEC (same as a BTEC), just different Exam board alongside core maths. I only did a year at college and went to a decent uni a year early at 17. As part of a degree apprenticeship. I’m on a high wage, I get a free degree upto a masters with my company. I’m also considering a PHD on top. I work in a specialised area of IT. Both A levels or BTEC will let you get where you want to be, you just have to know how to utilise which one you take to it’s full potential.

Very high ranking units except btec including Oxford for Fine art but there is always a bit of a preference/bias for A levels for top RG unis. If you definitely want to work/do an apprenticeship post 18, don’t do A levels as it will be a waist of your time. Only do A levels if you want to go to Uni!
Original post by Mr T 999
Basically A-levels students believe they are intellectually superior to Btec students because they do exams and Btec don't, btec are mainly coursework. Which is stupid if you ask me. Doing exams and test is poor way of measuring one intellect all its measuring is your ability to memorise useless informations and how much you can regurgitate information on the test.

If you hate doing exams and academics, and enjoy coursework and doing practical things then btec is more suitable for you. There is no point in trying to do A-levels to look "smart" if you don't think you would enjoy it, you will end up failing or being de-motivated to learn your subject.

As an A-level student I agree with this post. A-levels are unrealistic and don't prepare you for the future imo.
Original post by Xoinkbreanne
Can someone please explain to me the whole War between btec students and a- Level students.I also want to do art and design btec but I don’t know which is better...should u just do a-Level fine art?


..
Original post by Mr T 999
Basically A-levels students believe they are intellectually superior to Btec students because they do exams and Btec don't, btec are mainly coursework. Which is stupid if you ask me. Doing exams and test is poor way of measuring one intellect all its measuring is your ability to memorise useless informations and how much you can regurgitate information on the test.

If you hate doing exams and academics, and enjoy coursework and doing practical things then btec is more suitable for you. There is no point in trying to do A-levels to look "smart" if you don't think you would enjoy it, you will end up failing or being de-motivated to learn your subject.


I agree with you, but BTEC students DO take exams now since 2016
Original post by ITGUY19
It’s an age old argument which is better. In hindsight either of them can get you where you want to be. On TSR and in most colleges there is a bit of snobbery towards A levels as it’s seen as the only way or better way.

I did a CTEC (same as a BTEC), just different Exam board alongside core maths. I only did a year at college and went to a decent uni a year early at 17. As part of a degree apprenticeship. I’m on a high wage, I get a free degree upto a masters with my company. I’m also considering a PHD on top. I work in a specialised area of IT. Both A levels or BTEC will let you get where you want to be, you just have to know how to utilise which one you take to it’s full potential.

Very high ranking units except btec including Oxford for Fine art but there is always a bit of a preference/bias for A levels for top RG unis. If you definitely want to work/do an apprenticeship post 18, don’t do A levels as it will be a waist of your time. Only do A levels if you want to go to Uni!

You can go to uni with a BTEC wtf
It looks to me that one reason BTECs are treated as worse qualifications is that standards are lower. This document appears to say that over 60% of BTEC grades are D/D*, compared to more like 26% at A level. Consider also that BTEC students have worse prior attainment, I don't think it's unreasonable to say that a BTEC qualification is less valuable than an A level.
Essentially A level students think there superior by there stupid exams that only. Is how much you can remember and not like btec students who get assessed every couple of week son how much they understand the subject. I've done aeronautical engineering lv 3 extended diploma, which is 3 alevels in planes was a an easy breeze for me in most areas as I well love planes and engineering. One big myth is people who got to college are dumb. No i gotten mostly 7 and 8 in my gcse so no I'm not dumb I'm abit above average and I had mates who got A* and a in there gcse the year before me and did a year of 6th form and then done te course and now work at airbus and Boeing as degree apprentices. The thing is this college is 3 days a week and is alot of self studying and work and will teach you what to do. In your field. I mainly did college because I. Hated my school. and I couldnt leave it if I wanted to do sixth form and inwnated to get away from it (bad memories from. Getting attacked and bullied). In the end none are better tha the other, plus grades don't matter and yir mindset does... I can also go. In the superiority most people have with going to uni... Well it's not an elite club if nearly everyone goes...
Original post by Theloniouss
It looks to me that one reason BTECs are treated as worse qualifications is that standards are lower. This document appears to say that over 60% of BTEC grades are D/D*, compared to more like 26% at A level. Consider also that BTEC students have worse prior attainment, I don't think it's unreasonable to say that a BTEC qualification is less valuable than an A level.


Except its not. Many employers don't give a crap about A levels or btecs, if anything they normally skip over it if you have a degree and if you don't have a degree they focus more on your GCSE's if it's a entry level job.
(edited 3 years ago)
Original post by Mr T 999
Except its not. Many employers don't give a crap about A levels or btecs, if anything they normally skip over it if you have a degree and if you don't have a degree they focus more on your GCSE's if it's a entry level job.

I don't see what that has to do with the relative difficulty or value of either qualification.
Original post by Theloniouss
I don't see what that has to do with the relative difficulty or value of either qualification.


You claimed it was less valuable I'm saying in the real world it makes little difference.
Original post by Mr T 999
You claimed it was less valuable I'm saying in the real world it makes little difference.

That's true (although your level 3 qualifications will somewhat determine what degree you get and from where). However, if we're talking about which is a better qualification to have (however small the real-world difference might be), it seems like A levels are worth more.
Original post by Theloniouss
That's true (although your level 3 qualifications will somewhat determine what degree you get and from where). However, if we're talking about which is a better qualification to have (however small the real-world difference might be), it seems like A levels are worth more.


Many Russel group accept btecs, you many not get into oxbridge but you certainly can in the other Russel groups. Btecs if anything is helpful, you been use to doing coursework and have good time management and organisational skills compared with a level students. At uni you do more coursework than exams, so if you have experiences in doing coursework and completing by set deadline it would help.
They cater to different audiences a lot of the time and so it's not really a direct comparison. If you're going to study an academic subject in the future, A-levels are probably the better choice (or at least A-level(s) in combination with (a) BTEC(s)), whereas if you're looking to do a vocational subject, BTECs could be the better choice.

Generally speaking BTECs are more specialised and A-levels tend to be more broad. (there are some exceptions like BTEC IT/Computing) So doing some BTECs might set someone down a narrower path compared to A-levels.
(edited 3 years ago)

Quick Reply

Related discussions

Latest

Trending

Trending

Articles for you