Computer science A Level vs IT A level/Btec

13

Thoughts, feelings and comments very much appreciated

I'm 100% considering taking computer science alevel and maths a level but idk if I should pick IT along with computer science.

Originally I wanted to pick a language, then I realised I didn't want to do any if the speaking projects or watching movies and reading books in another language it just didn't intruige me as much as I thought.

Then I wanted to do physcology but the dread that fills my blood vessels when I think about the amount of content kills me and essentially it just sounds like off brand biology so I'm not really a fan( feel free to prove me wrong)

Then I wanted to do business but honestly it sound boring and not every sixthform/ college is willing to take people for buisness a level if they haven't done the gcse( I haven't done the gcse)

So now I'm considering IT but idk is it the same is it different and how different is it. I've checked prospectus but nothing is the same as getting experience from the people who've actually done it themselves. Is it true you do 9 hour controlled assessments in some cases * insert petrified look*

HELP ME
Thoughts , insights , ideas, feelings everything please and thank you 🙏🏾

Reply 1

Fhello

10

I did BTEC IT Level 3 extended certificate as one of my Alevel choices alongside Maths and Applied science. This is your choice if you want to pick it but i can tell you what we actually did in the subject.
So we did 4 different units, 2 of them were exam units meaning you do an official exam on the unit after u finish learning the content . That was unit 1 Information technology systems which we learnt the content for and then did the exam which was basically like a normal 2 hour exam for it. And unit 2 was the creating systems to manahe informations system unit whete we leanrt how to make a databse using microsoft acess( btw u learn thw more complex stuff for databases in. Uni) but this was stilll quite complicated. Cause from my class only a few people including me got a high merit grade on the exam. AND the exam for this is split into two parts which is part A - 3 houra and part b- 2 hours over two days.
So i dont think its 9 hour exams but it is usually split into two days.
Unit 3 and 4 were socil media in business and developing a website respectively and this was coursework which we did in year 13 .
Sorry for the long answer but if the BTEC IT subject your school does is the one mentioned above then this is whats in it.

Reply 2

Yinbeemie

OP

13

Original post

by Fhello

I did BTEC IT Level 3 extended certificate as one of my Alevel choices alongside Maths and Applied science. This is your choice if you want to pick it but i can tell you what we actually did in the subject.
So we did 4 different units, 2 of them were exam units meaning you do an official exam on the unit after u finish learning the content . That was unit 1 Information technology systems which we learnt the content for and then did the exam which was basically like a normal 2 hour exam for it. And unit 2 was the creating systems to manahe informations system unit whete we leanrt how to make a databse using microsoft acess( btw u learn thw more complex stuff for databases in. Uni) but this was stilll quite complicated. Cause from my class only a few people including me got a high merit grade on the exam. AND the exam for this is split into two parts which is part A - 3 houra and part b- 2 hours over two days.
So i dont think its 9 hour exams but it is usually split into two days.
Unit 3 and 4 were socil media in business and developing a website respectively and this was coursework which we did in year 13 .
Sorry for the long answer but if the BTEC IT subject your school does is the one mentioned above then this is whats in it.

Ah okay thanks for explaining did you enjoy it and would you recommend it ?

Reply 3

Fhello

10

I reallly enjoyed it m, the exam units werent too hard if you pay attention from the start eapecially payong attenrion to the database unit from the starts helps alot. And then in year 13 we did coursework, which the social media one is just alot of research but i particularly enjoyed the website development courseowkr alot because we got to first research what goea in a website and then we deaigned and developed the website.
Note: the website unit is the fourth unit .
So basically the firat three are core units and then for the fourth unit the school/ department picks from a few options and my school picked the website one, just saying cause it might not be the same.
But Yes I would absolutely recomend doing the subject BTEC IT.

Computer science A Level vs IT A level/Btec

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