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AH vs Baccalaureate

Next year, I’m planning on taking three Advanced Highers and a fourth, or the Scottish Baccalaureate in Science.

Currently I’m planning on doing physics at Uni. Would Unis prefer I do another Advanced Higher, or the Baccalaureate?

Reply 1

OnlySmartOneHere

Okay. First off, you are aware of how large of a workload that is? Advanced Highers, if you're not struggling with your current Highers, may not be that much more difficult (I've even heard people say the content is easier than Higher) but they take up a lot more time than Highers do or so I've been told. You have to be prepared to give up some free periods to work on your project - at least, that's what S6s at my school do. Considering most, if not all, Scottish Universities focus on Highers rather than Advanced Highers, the workload might not actually be worth it in the end.

The Scottish Baccalaureate involves taking two AHs, a higher and completing an Interdisciplinary Project (IP) though I'm sure you already know this. The IP takes a lot of independent work and is larger than the project you'd do for an AH so would require a lot of motivation to complete. Overall, a Baccalaureate is worth less credit points than AHs which doesn't make it worth it in my opinion considering the work you have to put in and is also offered by so few schools that, in the end, it probably won't give you much of an advantage.

To answer your question, I personally believe taking four Advanced Highers would be better reward (credit points) for less work (no giant IP) than taking a Baccalaureate but you'd be better speaking to the University/Universities you're interested in to actually find out what they would prefer you take. Also, again, I'd like to emphasise that it's probably not necessary to take four AHs. Frankly, I don't know why you would want to put that much work on yourself for something that often isn't even taken into account unless it's a highly competitive degree like medicine. Three would be perfectly fine and even two are good.

Reply 2

jbhjkghj

Thanks for your reply! I really enjoy learning and pushing myself so thats’s the main reason I would be taking a lot of AHs, rather than for a Uni application. I got all As last year at Nat 5 and am on track to do the same with Highers this year so believe I can manage the Advanced Highers.

Regarding the Baccalaureate, thanks for your feedback. I’ve still got a while to decide but I’ll definitely take this into account.

Reply 3

OnlySmartOneHere

Ah, I see. In that case, I still wouldn't underestimate the amount of work for AHs. I got seven As at Nat5 last year and am predicted all As for the five highers I take now but I don't think I'd consider four AHs unless it was necessary for a uni course.

I got very good advice from my maths teacher regarding this sort of thing though. She said that some unis will prefer for you to further your knowledge by taking AHs whereas others may want you to instead show that you can learn other topics well (more Highers) since you've already proven you're good at whatever subject is required if you get an A for it. She advised that I talk to uni admission centres and see what they would prefer I do and that's what I'd advise you to do too.

Hope this helps and good luck with your higher prelims if you haven't already sat them. :smile:

Reply 4

imxa6

Study Forum Helper

Honestly, even if you really love learning - 4 AHs are too much, courses like medicine only require 2, I would take 3 but thats if i am not doing any other highers

Reply 5

shreyansh1911

My friend does 4AH and the science bacc and he's ok with it but he's really smart, to me its like a chore you got too much stuff to do in S6, Uni applications, Studying for AH, and projects but its good experience for uni. Im predicted a C cause the guy I was supposed to interview stood me up, but its okay

(edited 1 year ago)

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