The Student Room Group

Year 12- Help!

Hi, I am currently in year 12 studying health and social care, however I want to do BTEC applied science. I was wondering if I can do applied science in 1 year ( I have heard of fast track were you can do courses within a year). I am willing to try my best and will be fully dedicated to getting this done but Im not sure if it’s possible and if sixth form allows it. I’m very confused and have been stressed for a long time now.
Original post
by Queen2008.
Hi, I am currently in year 12 studying health and social care, however I want to do BTEC applied science. I was wondering if I can do applied science in 1 year ( I have heard of fast track were you can do courses within a year). I am willing to try my best and will be fully dedicated to getting this done but Im not sure if it’s possible and if sixth form allows it. I’m very confused and have been stressed for a long time now.

Only your own Sixth Form will be able to tell you whether they allow it. The awarding body (Pearson Edexcel) have no restrictions that you must study all units across two years. The problem you are likely to face, however, is timetabling. Your teachers are probably not going to available at the times you need then in order to two two years' worth of units in one year. Talk to the relevant person in your Sixth Form tomorrow and ask.

By the way, why do you want to abandon Health and Social Care after just one year and switch to Applied Science?

Also, I assume you're doing BTEC National Extended Diploma in Health and Social Care, which is typically taught over two years and is worth the equivalent of 3 A levels. An alternative course in the BTEC National Foundation Diploma in Health and Social Care, worth 1.5 A levels, and for which you may well qualify at the end of year 1 (depending on the order in which you've done the units). You could then potentially study a BTEC National Foundation Diploma in Applied Science (also worth 1.5 A levels), and so end-up with two BTECs, each worth 1.5 A levels. Would that be of any interest? If so, speak to your school about that option too. Whether or not this would be applicable would depend on what you do after your BTEC(s). Is university on the cards? If so, to study what, where?
(edited 10 months ago)

Reply 2

Original post
by DataVenia
Only your own Sixth Form will be able to tell you whether they allow it. The awarding body (Pearson Edexcel) have no restrictions that you must study all units across two years. The problem you are likely to face, however, is timetabling. Your teachers are probably not going to available at the times you need then in order to two two years' worth of units in one year. Talk to the relevant person in your Sixth Form tomorrow and ask.
By the way, why do you want to abandon Health and Social Care after just one year and switch to Applied Science?
Also, I assume you're doing BTEC National Extended Diploma in Health and Social Care, which is typically taught over two years and is worth the equivalent of 3 A levels. An alternative course in the BTEC National Foundation Diploma in Health and Social Care, worth 1.5 A levels, and for which you may well qualify at the end of year 1 (depending on the order in which you've done the units). You could then potentially study a BTEC National Foundation Diploma in Applied Science (also worth 1.5 A levels), and so end-up with two BTECs, each worth 1.5 A levels. Would that be of any interest? If so, speak to your school about that option too. Whether or not this would be applicable would depend on what you do after your BTEC(s). Is university on the cards? If so, to study what, where?


Yes I really hope my sixth form allows it. I think I am just anxious to hear them say no. I do wish they allow me because I know I will get it done. Yes I understand what you mean, but I could also teach myself too like during my free time when I don’t have a lesson on my timetable and I have some of my friends that do applied science so I think I could also ask them for help at times. The reason why I want to move in to applied science is because I find science interesting and I want to pursue something in that field hopefully in the future. I originally wanted to switch in January but I was told it was too late to change options because I had missed a lot of content. However if sixth form allow me to do applied science in 1 year I am willing to catch up on my own alongside the lessons. I would even revise during my summer as long as they allow me. The 1 year of applied science course foundation also seems like I good option but then I think it will limit me to when it comes to careers and unis, do you think so? Yes I am going to go university hopefully. Originally I wanted to go into medicine or dentistry but I couldn’t because I didn’t have the grades for a level biology and chemistry. Going into the medical field and related was really interesting to me but I realised I can’t now. So my other options were pharmacy, dental therapist and hygienist, probably even radiology or ophthalmology. Thank you so much for reading and helping! I really appreciate it.
Original post
by Queen2008.
Yes I really hope my sixth form allows it. I think I am just anxious to hear them say no. I do wish they allow me because I know I will get it done. Yes I understand what you mean, but I could also teach myself too like during my free time when I don’t have a lesson on my timetable and I have some of my friends that do applied science so I think I could also ask them for help at times. The reason why I want to move in to applied science is because I find science interesting and I want to pursue something in that field hopefully in the future. I originally wanted to switch in January but I was told it was too late to change options because I had missed a lot of content. However if sixth form allow me to do applied science in 1 year I am willing to catch up on my own alongside the lessons. I would even revise during my summer as long as they allow me. The 1 year of applied science course foundation also seems like I good option but then I think it will limit me to when it comes to careers and unis, do you think so? Yes I am going to go university hopefully. Originally I wanted to go into medicine or dentistry but I couldn’t because I didn’t have the grades for a level biology and chemistry. Going into the medical field and related was really interesting to me but I realised I can’t now. So my other options were pharmacy, dental therapist and hygienist, probably even radiology or ophthalmology. Thank you so much for reading and helping! I really appreciate it.

If in January you were "told it was too late to change options" then I think you should prepare yourself for the same answer now.

The option I outlined, where you end up with a BTEC National Foundation Diploma in Health and Social Care and a BTEC National Foundation Diploma in Applied Science, worth 3 A levels between then, will limit you university choices and isn't really appropriate for the courses you're targeting.

Have you considered re-doing Year 12, but studying Applied Science?

Reply 4

Original post
by DataVenia
If in January you were "told it was too late to change options" then I think you should prepare yourself for the same answer now.
The option I outlined, where you end up with a BTEC National Foundation Diploma in Health and Social Care and a BTEC National Foundation Diploma in Applied Science, worth 3 A levels between then, will limit you university choices and isn't really appropriate for the courses you're targeting.
Have you considered re-doing Year 12, but studying Applied Science?


Yes, but I spoke to my form teacher and she said that. I feel that if I tell her about the fast track course and maybe also if I speak to another teacher hopefully they let me, because some of my freinds have told me that there is a fast track program where it helps you completes 2 years worth of work in a year. I don’t want to complete year 12 again because my freinds are all going to the same university and planning to do the same thing so I want to be able to go with them. I just wished they could let me.
Original post
by Queen2008.
Yes, but I spoke to my form teacher and she said that. I feel that if I tell her about the fast track course and maybe also if I speak to another teacher hopefully they let me, because some of my freinds have told me that there is a fast track program where it helps you completes 2 years worth of work in a year. I don’t want to complete year 12 again because my freinds are all going to the same university and planning to do the same thing so I want to be able to go with them. I just wished they could let me.

Well, the "fast track program" sounds like exactly what you need. Good luck! :smile:

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