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Cost and options for doing an A level outside of school? (with science practicals)

Basically as the title says, I'm going into year 13 this september with predicted grades ABE. The E is in biology and I really don't think I can get bio up enough without sacrificing my other two subjects. In order to get into uni, I'm thinking of doing A level chemistry after I finish year 13. What are my options for doing this (eg, online or in person) and roughly how much would they cost, including practical endorsements and exams? It's so hard to get a decent from just google.

Reply 1

Original post
by JackBun
Basically as the title says, I'm going into year 13 this september with predicted grades ABE. The E is in biology and I really don't think I can get bio up enough without sacrificing my other two subjects. In order to get into uni, I'm thinking of doing A level chemistry after I finish year 13. What are my options for doing this (eg, online or in person) and roughly how much would they cost, including practical endorsements and exams? It's so hard to get a decent from just google.
If I may, what course are you interested in at University? Does it require chemistry, or do you just need the grades? What are the general grade requirements at different uni’s, or do you have specific in mind?
(edited 3 months ago)
Original post
by JackBun
Basically as the title says, I'm going into year 13 this september with predicted grades ABE. The E is in biology and I really don't think I can get bio up enough without sacrificing my other two subjects. In order to get into uni, I'm thinking of doing A level chemistry after I finish year 13. What are my options for doing this (eg, online or in person) and roughly how much would they cost, including practical endorsements and exams? It's so hard to get a decent from just google.

I believe it's quite expensive - something to the tune of 1-2k per science?

This is probably provider dependent. You might be able to do it for less at your school if you're under 19 at the start of the academic year.

As above why are you looking at chemistry specifically? Also, what are your other two subjects?

Reply 3

Original post
by BankaiGintoki
If I may, what course are you interested in at University? Does it require chemistry, or do you just need the grades? What are the general grade requirements at different uni’s, or do you have specific in mind?

Thanks for replying - I'm planning to take psychology at university, which doesn't require chemistry but it does require 3 A levels. I don't have a specific uni in mind, but some psychology degrees are more useful than others, so while offers vary a lot, I'm probably looking at around ABB/ABC for most unis that I'm aiming for.

Reply 4

Thanks for the reply, but ouch, that's a lot. I'll be 18 at the start of the academic year (which would be September 2026). My other subjects are psychology and physics, and I'm looking at chemistry because it's a well regarded STEM subject - I don't think I would suit a humanities A Level. I don't need chemistry specifically, as most psychology degrees require either psychology A level and/or any science A level, which I have from physics.
Original post
by JackBun
Thanks for the reply, but ouch, that's a lot. I'll be 18 at the start of the academic year (which would be September 2026). My other subjects are psychology and physics, and I'm looking at chemistry because it's a well regarded STEM subject - I don't think I would suit a humanities A Level. I don't need chemistry specifically, as most psychology degrees require either psychology A level and/or any science A level, which I have from physics.

If you don't need chemistry specifically, don't bother taking it. There is no such thing as a "well regarded" subject that isn't a required subject.

Universities don't have hidden lists of subjects they think are "better" than others and discriminate against applicants not taking them. It makes no sense for them to do so (they already are desperately trying to fill spaces up to and including places like UCL etc).

Taking chemistry won't improve your application more than any other subject. If the A is in psychology I would suggest looking at subjects with similar assessment formats and content i.e. essay based social sciences, perhaps with a quantitative element.

You can take a non-science for much less and have as good a chance of getting in as anyone else (and if you would have struggled with chemistry, perhaps even more chance...).

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