The Student Room Group

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Reply 1

Although it gets a big slagging off (on this board in particuar) i think it is woth doing as an extra AS/A level, but as on of ur options probaly not. Alot more uni's except it then except key skills. But hey what do I know, as a 'mature student once said on this bored....we r not educational experts.

Reply 2

Unregistered
do you think general studies is worth studying at A-level, half the unis don't even accept it. Is it a waste of time?????????? views please


I did it for AS Level and found it a way of satisfying the AS-Level grade that most good unis are requiring now. It is prob the easiest AS level to get a grade A in, only because it requires lesss work than a subject like, psychology for example.

E.g, Southampton wanted AABc for my course, but because I had a grade A in AS level general studies, theyve given me a conditional offer of AAB - even though i didnt have a fourth 'proper' AS Level.

I could concentrate more fully on my three main subjects, without the hassle of having a fourth AS which I knew I was going to drop anyway.

Hope that helps.

Reply 3

Unregistered
do you think general studies is worth studying at A-level, half the unis don't even accept it. Is it a waste of time?????????? views please


General studies is the biggest load of crap I have ever had to study in my life.

Reply 4

Ralfskini
General studies is the biggest load of crap I have ever had to study since in my life. It should be abolished as a subject.


It's different at different schools. One of my friends has to do Maths and Science as part of her GS course!?

Our lessons are just about debating moral and politcal issues. Its quite enjoyable because I love to argue. And plus you don't have to revise for the exam because it is soo easy..

So I think its a good thing

Reply 5

Elle
It's different at different schools. One of my friends has to do Maths and Science as part of her GS course!?

Our lessons are just about debating moral and politcal issues. Its quite enjoyable because I love to argue. And plus you don't have to revise for the exam because it is soo easy..

So I think its a good thing


My lessons are nothing like that! They are just taking down notes which I dont agree with and an writing essay every week.

Reply 6

It's worth it - the extra workload is minimal and a good grade in GS can make up for a dropped grade against your offer (eg if you're aoofer ABB by a uni and get ABC + and A in GS they're far more likely to take you than if you hadn't got another A at A level) like it or not universities have their students A levels compared for all to see in league tables (and internally) and neither of these measures excludes general studies.

It's also one of the hardest subjects to get an A in with only 12% getting an A at A level and 10% at AS (compared to the overall average of 21% at A level and 15% at AS)

Reply 7

Pencil Queen
It's worth it - the extra workload is minimal and a good grade in GS can make up for a dropped grade against your offer (eg if you're aoofer ABB by a uni and get ABC + and A in GS they're far more likely to take you than if you hadn't got another A at A level) like it or not universities have their students A levels compared for all to see in league tables (and internally) and neither of these measures excludes general studies.

It's also one of the hardest subjects to get an A in with only 12% getting an A at A level and 10% at AS (compared to the overall average of 21% at A level and 15% at AS)


Is that true? Makes my A in general studies look good now lol

Reply 8

Pencil Queen
It's worth it - the extra workload is minimal and a good grade in GS can make up for a dropped grade against your offer (eg if you're aoofer ABB by a uni and get ABC + and A in GS they're far more likely to take you than if you hadn't got another A at A level) like it or not universities have their students A levels compared for all to see in league tables (and internally) and neither of these measures excludes general studies.

It's also one of the hardest subjects to get an A in with only 12% getting an A at A level and 10% at AS (compared to the overall average of 21% at A level and 15% at AS)


I don't agree that it is that hardest subject. The only reason that there is a low percentage of students getting A grades is because unlike most if not all other subjects I know, you do not choose to study it. Certainly, in my case and in the case of many other people I know, it is either compulsory, or you have to choose it OR key skills. All other subjects are selected because you are good at them so your chances of getting a good grade are much greater. Ok, so some people will disagree becaue I accept that you can choose it- but in every school in my area there is no choice whatsoever.

Reply 9

Unregistered
Is that true? Makes my A in general studies look good now lol

And mine :biggrin:

Reply 10

Ralfskini
I don't agree that it is that hardest subject. The only reason that there is a low percentage of students getting A grades is because unlike most if not all other subjects I know, you do not choose to study it. Certainly, in my case and in the case of many other people I know, it is either compulsory, or you have to choose it OR key skills. All other subjects are selected because you are good at them so your chances of getting a good grade are much greater. Ok, so some people will disagree becaue I accept that you can choose it- but in every school in my area there is no choice whatsoever.

I didn't say it was the hardest subject - just one of the hardest subjects to get an A in.

More people study English than GS and the A grade %ages are 19% (A Level) and 14% (AS)...it's reasonable to assume that this means that a good proportion of those students capable of getting an A (16,103 students at A level) in A level english aren't capable of getting the same in General Studies (only 7,075).

Reply 11

Pencil Queen
I didn't say it was the hardest subject - just one of the hardest subjects to get an A in.

More people study English than GS and the A grade %ages are 19% (A Level) and 14% (AS)...it's reasonable to assume that this means that a good proportion of those students capable of getting an A (16,103 students at A level) in A level english aren't capable of getting the same in General Studies (only 7,075).


Yes, but people who choose to study English are good at it, presumably!

Reply 12

Well worth doing. GCSE stuff really (the stuff we've been taught) if you are up to date on politics or have good english there is a good chance of getting an A - YES! :biggrin:. Besides its an extra 60 points or something and that may be enough to push you into a Uni of choice. Plus i think it is brilliant to get grades on something that you dont have to revise for.

Reply 13

Ralfskini
Yes, but people who choose to study English are good at it, presumably!

True...the voluntary side of it does make a difference...but then the actual exam doesn't actually cover (or didn't when I took it) anything other than common sense, general knowledge and the ability to argue a point (along with a smattering of maths, spatial awareness and language skills)...it's worrying (IMO) that A level students in general seem to have such difficulty with these fairly basic skills.

Reply 14

that is the worst arguemnt by pencil queen i have ever witnessed. the reason that general studies gets lower % of A GRADES, IS BECAUSE

1.) IT IS COMPULSORY IN MOST SCHOOLS AND PEOPLE DONT WANT TO DO IT

2.) IT IS NOT TAUGHT, YOU JUST TAKE OCCASSIONAL LESSONS AND THE EXAM

3.) A LOT OF PEOPLE DONT REVISE MUCH FOR IT, BECAUSE IT IS NEARLY WORTHLESS AND TOP UNI'S DONT ACCEPT IT

STOP MAKING UP SUCH CRAP ARGUMENTS, IT IS BLATANTLY OBVIOUS THAT PEOPLE WHO DO "REAL" SUBJECTS DO IT BECAUSE THEY OBVIOUSLY ARE TAUGHT IT 4+ HOURS A WEEK, THEY TRY AHRDER COZ ITS MORE IMPORTANT, THEY ARE GOOD IT AT IT, AND THEY REVISE COZ IT MEANS MORE. *BIG PIECE OF ADVICE QUEEN: SHUT UP*

Reply 15

BABYGUY
that is the worst arguemnt by pencil queen i have ever witnessed. the reason that general studies gets lower % of A GRADES, IS BECAUSE

1.) IT IS COMPULSORY IN MOST SCHOOLS AND PEOPLE DONT WANT TO DO IT

2.) IT IS NOT TAUGHT, YOU JUST TAKE OCCASSIONAL LESSONS AND THE EXAM

3.) A LOT OF PEOPLE DONT REVISE MUCH FOR IT, BECAUSE IT IS NEARLY WORTHLESS AND TOP UNI'S DONT ACCEPT IT

STOP MAKING UP SUCH CRAP ARGUMENTS, IT IS BLATANTLY OBVIOUS THAT PEOPLE WHO DO "REAL" SUBJECTS DO IT BECAUSE THEY OBVIOUSLY ARE TAUGHT IT 4+ HOURS A WEEK, THEY TRY AHRDER COZ ITS MORE IMPORTANT, THEY ARE GOOD IT AT IT, AND THEY REVISE COZ IT MEANS MORE. *BIG PIECE OF ADVICE QUEEN: SHUT UP*


I agree with this.

Reply 16

but wouldnt have put it so bluntly.....

Reply 17

BABYGUY
that is the worst arguemnt by pencil queen i have ever witnessed. the reason that general studies gets lower % of A GRADES, IS BECAUSE

1.) IT IS COMPULSORY IN MOST SCHOOLS AND PEOPLE DONT WANT TO DO IT

2.) IT IS NOT TAUGHT, YOU JUST TAKE OCCASSIONAL LESSONS AND THE EXAM

3.) A LOT OF PEOPLE DONT REVISE MUCH FOR IT, BECAUSE IT IS NEARLY WORTHLESS AND TOP UNI'S DONT ACCEPT IT

STOP MAKING UP SUCH CRAP ARGUMENTS, IT IS BLATANTLY OBVIOUS THAT PEOPLE WHO DO "REAL" SUBJECTS DO IT BECAUSE THEY OBVIOUSLY ARE TAUGHT IT 4+ HOURS A WEEK, THEY TRY AHRDER COZ ITS MORE IMPORTANT, THEY ARE GOOD IT AT IT, AND THEY REVISE COZ IT MEANS MORE. *BIG PIECE OF ADVICE QUEEN: SHUT UP*


Can you shut UP!!! Pencil Queen has been here a lot longer than you, you are in no position to give her any type of *ADVICE*. If you had just left your argument without the unneccessary comments, I would have said nothing as they are you opinions.

But you are mocking (well, trying to) Pencil Queen which I dont like. She has an untold wealth of experience and knowledge in these things so SHUT UP AND KNOW YOUR PLACE!!!!

Reply 18

BABYGUY
*BIG PIECE OF ADVICE QUEEN: SHUT UP*

Why don't you stfu for once?

Reply 19

If you don't want to do it that much then fail your mock and your school won't put you in for it.