The Student Room Group

Sixth Form

Hi, so i've recently been accepted into my sixth form choice and unfortunately, i have to resit my maths gcse since i was only 6 marks away from the passing grade. I'm doing double Health and social care and sociology but am not really satisfied. If i get the passing grade in november will i be able to pick up another subject? i do want to go into health care since its been a life long dream to help others
Original post by ohwowowwow
Hi, so i've recently been accepted into my sixth form choice and unfortunately, i have to resit my maths gcse since i was only 6 marks away from the passing grade. I'm doing double Health and social care and sociology but am not really satisfied. If i get the passing grade in november will i be able to pick up another subject? i do want to go into health care since its been a life long dream to help others

Why are you "not really satisfied"?

You're doing the equivalent of three A levels right now. When you say you want to "pick up another subject", is that with the aim of doing the equivalent of four A levels? Or would you be looking to swap one subject for another?

You say you "want to go into health care". Is there anything specific you want to do in that area?
Reply 2
Original post by DataVenia
Why are you "not really satisfied"?
You're doing the equivalent of three A levels right now. When you say you want to "pick up another subject", is that with the aim of doing the equivalent of four A levels? Or would you be looking to swap one subject for another?
You say you "want to go into health care". Is there anything specific you want to do in that area?

I'm not satisfied in the terms of im not completely confident i'd be able to go into healthcare without science at A level. I'd like to be able to become a Theatre nurse or a nurse that is always on her feet.
Original post by ohwowowwow
I'm not satisfied in the terms of im not completely confident i'd be able to go into healthcare without science at A level. I'd like to be able to become a Theatre nurse or a nurse that is always on her feet.

To be a theatre nurse, you first need to have completed a nursing degree and become a registered adult, child, mental health or learning disability nurse.

I'd you were unable to pick-up the science A level you're hoping for, your question becomes, "Can I meet the entry requirements for a nursing degree with a BTEC Level 3 National Diploma in Health and Social Care (worth 2 A levels) and an A level in Sociology?"

The answer to that question is a simple, "Yes".

For their BNurs Mental Health Nursing, University of Manchester's entry requirements include the following:
"Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma

We consider the National Diploma for entry. Entry requirements are based on achievement of the full National Diploma with grades DM plus an additional A Level at grade C. Either the BTEC National Diploma or A Level must be in a science or science related subject (eg Chemistry, Biology, Psychology, Health and Social Care, Applied Science)." (source)

(They say the same for BNurs Children's Nursing and BNurs Adult Nursing, by the way.)

Or how about Nursing (Adult) BSc at University of Leeds? They say:
"BTEC
...
Diploma: DD in Health and Social Care or Applied Science, plus one A Level at Grade B, or BTEC / CTEC at Distinction" (source)

Those are both decent unis, and your qualifications meet their entry requirements for a nursing degree (with the right grades, obviously).

Are you still "not completely confident i'd be able to go into healthcare without science at A level"? :wink:
Reply 4
Original post by DataVenia
To be a theatre nurse, you first need to have completed a nursing degree and become a registered adult, child, mental health or learning disability nurse.
I'd you were unable to pick-up the science A level you're hoping for, your question becomes, "Can I meet the entry requirements for a nursing degree with a BTEC Level 3 National Diploma in Health and Social Care (worth 2 A levels) and an A level in Sociology?"
The answer to that question is a simple, "Yes".
For their BNurs Mental Health Nursing, University of Manchester's entry requirements include the following:
"Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma
We consider the National Diploma for entry. Entry requirements are based on achievement of the full National Diploma with grades DM plus an additional A Level at grade C. Either the BTEC National Diploma or A Level must be in a science or science related subject (eg Chemistry, Biology, Psychology, Health and Social Care, Applied Science)." (source)
(They say the same for BNurs Children's Nursing and BNurs Adult Nursing, by the way.)
Or how about Nursing (Adult) BSc at University of Leeds? They say:
"BTEC
...
Diploma: DD in Health and Social Care or Applied Science, plus one A Level at Grade B, or BTEC / CTEC at Distinction" (source)
Those are both decent unis, and your qualifications meet their entry requirements for a nursing degree (with the right grades, obviously).
Are you still "not completely confident i'd be able to go into healthcare without science at A level"? :wink:

Thank you, that does help immensly.

How about Nottingham Trent University
Original post by ohwowowwow
Thank you, that does help immensly.

How about Nottingham Trent University

Well, qualification-wise, that's a good choice because they're just looking for "UCAS tariff points from up to 4 qualifications" - so they don't care whether those qualifications are BTECs, A levels, T levels, or whatever. Right now Nursing (Adult) BSc (Hons) at their Clifton Campus is in Clearing, so they're only looking for 80 UCAS points rather than the usual 112. (If you're not sure how you qualifications map to UCAS points, you can use the UCAS Tariff Calculator. (What you've called "double Health and social care and sociology" above is probably a "Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma".)
Reply 6
Original post by DataVenia
Well, qualification-wise, that's a good choice because they're just looking for "UCAS tariff points from up to 4 qualifications" - so they don't care whether those qualifications are BTECs, A levels, T levels, or whatever. Right now Nursing (Adult) BSc (Hons) at their Clifton Campus is in Clearing, so they're only looking for 80 UCAS points rather than the usual 112. (If you're not sure how you qualifications map to UCAS points, you can use the UCAS Tariff Calculator. (What you've called "double Health and social care and sociology" above is probably a "Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma".)

Just so I can get my options out there in case I decide Nursing isn't for me, would there be a chance of biomedical science? If I took any additional training at NTU? I'm sorry if this seems bothersome I'd just like to be more open with my options in health care or medicine
Original post by ohwowowwow
Just so I can get my options out there in case I decide Nursing isn't for me, would there be a chance of biomedical science? If I took any additional training at NTU? I'm sorry if this seems bothersome I'd just like to be more open with my options in health care or medicine

For Biomedical Science BSc (Hons), NTU normally want "120 UCAS Tariff points from up to four qualifications (two of which must be A-level equivalent including Biology grade C". (source) It's in Clearing right now at 80 UCAS, but a requirement for "A-level equivalent Biology" remains, albeit at grade D. They don't clearly state what qualifications they's consider equivalent to A level Biology, but I'm sure it won't be a Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma in Health and Social Care, or an A level in Sociology. So that's a no-go I'm afraid. :frown:
Reply 8
Thanks, is there anything else I can be? I'm currently doing double hsc and sociology but it's extremely tiresome. I was thinking of dropping but since I can't do applied science....
Original post by ohwowowwow
Thanks, is there anything else I can be? I'm currently doing double hsc and sociology but it's extremely tiresome. I was thinking of dropping but since I can't do applied science....

Originally you said "i do want to go into health care" and then later you said, "I'd like to be able to become a Theatre nurse or a nurse that is always on her feet."

Then you started contemplating other scenarios "in case I decide Nursing isn't for me" and now you say that you find both Health & Social Care and Sociology "extremely tiresome" - which doesn't bode well for a career in nursing, or in health care generally. :confused:

Deciding the job / career you want based upon your qualifications is backwards. There are hundreds of other things you might be interested in. What do you want to do?
Reply 10
Original post by DataVenia
Originally you said "i do want to go into health care" and then later you said, "I'd like to be able to become a Theatre nurse or a nurse that is always on her feet."
Then you started contemplating other scenarios "in case I decide Nursing isn't for me" and now you say that you find both Health & Social Care and Sociology "extremely tiresome" - which doesn't bode well for a career in nursing, or in health care generally. :confused:
Deciding the job / career you want based upon your qualifications is backwards. There are hundreds of other things you might be interested in. What do you want to do?
Sorry if I sounded weird or anything I've just been stressed :frown:

Yes I do want to go into healthcare since its my dream to help people but I would like to become a theatre nurse or up my experience within the hospital. I'm still new to the entire idea of alternative ways to reach your desired career since Ive always been shown traditional routes so sorry if i sounded contradicting to myself.

I will keep researching different careers and alternative pathways so thank you for all your help!

Quick Reply