Early Entry A-Levels HELP!

[J.Daoud]

Okay,

So I'm in Year 11 and am taking AS Level Chemistry a year early. I just sat the first module in January.

Next year, I plan on going to a college to either CONTINUE A2 Chemistry in Year 12 - but ONLY if I get an A grade this time round...

if I don't, I will re-sit the Chemistry AS Level on a different exam board because they are changing the damn syllabus

SO - I have been told that if I DO re-sit AS Level next year...it won't look good for medical schools when they see I have done AS Chemistry TWICE

What should I do? Quit AS Chemistry now and not be entered incase I don't get the A? So that way I would do it normally but have the B or whatever on my UCAS record.

Do you have to declare to medical schools that I got a B the first time round???!!

Please help me! As I am very confused at the mo! Thanks

[Rich' Trash]

If you didnt get an A grade, you could always decline the grade and it would be as if you never took it - so I understand. Although saying that, I'm not sure you have to declare all your grades on UCAS. I hope not anyway.. don't want medical schools to know my critical thinking ability is 'grade D'.

I dont really understand why you'd have to change syllabus.. you can still do resits after the old syllabus has ceased to be taught. I soppose the huge disadvantage is that taking chemistry classes in the new syllabus wouldnt bring you grade up as much.

[Kinkerz]

Wow, you must be super smart if your teachers feel you have a chance at getting an A grade in AS chemistry, in year 11.
Try not to let your GCSEs suffer by doing your chemistry AS a year early. Your GCSE grades count for more than doing your AS chemistry a year early.
Anyway, good luck.

[J.Daoud]

Well there was about...13 of us who got to do the Double Science GCSE early last year...and so we still had 1 hour-period everyday to do something else this year

So our teacher suggested the AS Chem...which seemed like a good idea at the time. I mean, I enjoy it a lot (by its no where near easy!!Lol) but I'm jst worried incase you have to declare every A/AS level you got and the med schools will be all "No...you've done A level chemistry for three years *tut tut*"



Thanks for the advice!!

[J.Daoud]

Oh...by the way

you mentioned critical thinking a level...i went for an interview at a college yesterday and they told me to seriously consider it as a 5th AS Level...what do you think? Is it hard? I have heard of it before..but never really understood wat it actually is :s lol

[Kinkerz]

First of all, I don't actually think you'll be able to finish an AS chemistry course with one hour per week. I cannot for the life in me, see the logic in that.
Secondly, only do the Critical Thinking AS level if you really want to. A fifth A level will not be easy, especially if you dislike the subject. I have friends doing it and they don't seem to dislike it, or like it much either - I guess they "nothing" it. So definately don't rush into and decisions. Take a look into the subject, see what you'll cover, what you'll do in the lesson.
I wish i'd have done Critical Thinking instead of General Studies, which was an option. This is because I feel it has more relavance to what I want to do, and that I would enjoy the subject more.

[J.Daoud]

I'm studying AS Chemistry 12 hours a fortnight at school, not an hour a week! Gosh, lol, I'd have no chance if I was in that boat!!!

[Kinkerz]

Ahhhhh right...... I was gonna say, you'd have no chance at gerrin an A.