AS Levels

[DarrenToogood]

Hello all!

I am currently looking at joining a local (well I say that.. haha!) sixth form centre, here on the Isle of Wight. I am looking to move from my current school to a school in the opposite direction.

While at this school, I am looking to study the following subjects:

- Law AS AQA
- Applied Business AS Edexcel
- Art and Design AS (Photography) AQA
- ICT AS OCR

I was wondering if any of the older members of this forum have done these courses, and the sort of work required for each, and any coursework. I am aware that in Law AS, there is no coursework.

Thanks.

[Fifteen]

I did OCR level 2 Nationals in ICT last year, is this the course you are talking about?

[DarrenToogood]

No.

OCR Nationals Level 2 in ICT is at GCSE level, and I am currently studying this. The AS Level is OCR ICT Level 3 GCE :)

[Soy]

Nice selection you got there :)

I'm going to take;

]- English Language
]- Drama
]- Computing (Computer Science)
]- Religous studies or P.E (Haven't decided yet)

[Josh-H]

I did 3 weeks of applied business at AS Level, I hated it tbh.

I then moved six forms so I got out of that one.

[Lee.Norman]

Firstly... I now feel really old. Thanks :D

I cant remember the exact names of my course, but I did do both AS & A2 in ICT and Business

ICT
The AS course consisted of 2 sets of coursework and 1 exam. The exam was relative straight forward. The coursework was interesting... I remember one piece being on Analogue vs Digital communication. But it was a lot of work, and a lot of home study was required.

The second year (A2) was very similar. This year was much more interesting as it included making published documents and more importantly, web designing.

If your the kind of guy to put in a lot of work, then this would be a good course.

Business
Across the two years, this included 5 exams and 1 piece of coursework. Therefore meaning little work to do outside of class. Very interesting course, and straight forward if you have done the GCSE.

I loved the subject, and ended up passing *Cough* WITH AN 'A' *Cough* :D

Again, if you have done a similar subject and enjoyed it, then go for it.

If you don't want to have to put in too much effort, then definately steer away from ICT, and go for business. If you're not afraid of hard work, then go for both. They were both good classes.


Thats my opinion only, of course.

[N!ck]

What are you planning on doing after a-levels?

[leah]

im doing law and ict
law is great ict is good if you have interests in it, otherwise it can be quite boring

[Alkaz]

Law is pretty hard if you dont learn it. Art is alot of writing although you get to experiment alot more with materials. Business its quiet easy and ICT apparently it is hard but you HAVE to do two years to get your A leve so I would just switch your ICT.

[DarrenToogood]

Thanks for the advice. I know I can do the subjects fine - ICT is my strongest point.

To answer someones question, after AS or A2 I will be getting a part-time job as well as developing Bright Wight Images (Ltd by the start of sixth form).

[Barmi]

Thanks for the advice. I know I can do the subjects fine - ICT is my strongest point.

To answer someones question, after AS or A2 I will be getting a part-time job as well as developing Bright Wight Images (Ltd by the start of sixth form).

You don't need to wait until after you've finished to get a part-time job.

I think N!ck meant what are your long-term career plans; which line of work do you want to go into; do you want to go to university?

Those subjects are fine, but are just a bit 'meh'. Are you capable of fitting in a core academic subject in there? I would drop Business. Get a subject with some real clout. Law doesn't count (and I studied Law A-level). It's a lot of work, but it lacks the clout that Mathematics or English Literature have.

How old were you when you joined Habbo, if you don't mind me asking?

[Kardan]

I've took none of them, so I'm no help - not really a fan of doing subjects I'm not familiar with, like Law etc. I prefer the academic subjects I've been learning my whole life, makes sense to continue with stuff I know and I'm good at.

I'm doing French and Maths AS at the moment and next year I'll be doing Further Maths, Biology, Chemistry and Physics at AS.

By A-Levels, you really need to start thinking about the future, I've gone for Maths/Science options because I'd like to do something in that field of work, hopefully teaching those subjects in the future :)

[DarrenToogood]

I am not looking to go to university, however looking to do A-Levels purely as an extra qualification. The line of work I wish to go into is business/photography.

I feel that business, ICT, law and photography go well. In June I am registering a company, and the qualifications will improve an already strong CV.

I went to the open evening this evening, however photography was a little bit of a grey area. They wish for students to have a C in Art GCSE, however I do not study Art. There is a way to get around this, so this is something I need to look into.

As for Habbo, I joined using the 'Woodrally' account on 5th January 2005 - 4 years ago, therefore 11/12 at the time.

[kk.]

i would change the ICT to something like computing if you can. The ICT i took was nothing to do with websites but databases and spreadsheets.

[Jackk]

I went to the open evening this evening, however photography was a little bit of a grey area. They wish for students to have a C in Art GCSE, however I do not study Art. There is a way to get around this, so this is something I need to look into.


When the next opening evening is, take your portfolio in with some of your work in they can go off that rather than your GCSE results if you didnt take the subject thats what some of the courses at my six form allowed you to do.

[Lee.Norman]

Registering a company! :O

Be sure to make it a limited company... And im not saying that because I learnt it in business. Its linked to my line of work. And if you don't go limited, you're in trouble I've seen so many businesses fail, and the directors lose everything.

Limited is the only way forward. A little extra start up costs and registration fees, but worth it in the long run.

[PaintYourTarget]

Photography is very limited. There's a large amount of Coursework a lot of development of ideas, usually having to follow what the teacher tells you will get a good mark than what you think. I took both the Photography and Fine Art specifications of AS Level Art & Design, only took the Fine Art one onto A2.

Also, speaking to some Law students at Uni they say Law A level is completely useless for it. Business usually teaches you enough about the Law and Legislation surrounding Businesses, so unless it's for personal interest it's a bit of a dud.

[Bun]

i think you should change law with something else as (as paintyourtarget said) business teaches you the sufficient amount that you will most likely need for photography.

[DarrenToogood]

I am only taking Law because it interests me, and because it boosts up the number of A levels.

I am not looking to go to uni, so it doesn't matter if it counts or not - On a CV it looks good and helps me understanding of the world in general.

[kk.]

maths would be far better than law.

[DarrenToogood]

Maths is not my strong point, and will determine if I decide to do sixth form or not.

If I get my C at GCSE level I will most likley do Sixth Form, however if I do not get C at GCSE level, it means I have to do it alongside my A levels - It also restricts the courses I can do.

[Soy]

maths would be far better than law.

Agreed, anyways Law is pretty hard

If you get a C C C for enlgish science and maths you should be fine

[DarrenToogood]

I am A/B for Science, B/C for English and D/E for maths!

[Jonster]

I suggest that you improve your maths then by revision, extra classes and online applications. Maths is just one of the core subjects in which is required in most courses and jobs. Maths will be very helpful in business studies when it comes down to Finance, and so is an important building block in ensuring a successful time at sixth form and further education.

[StripedTiger]

depends which ict. Theres more than one.

If its normal ICT then i dont know anything about it, i sat in half a lesson when they got my options mixed up, and i just know the first thing they were gunna do was systems? lol

Applied ict is different, thats about making websites, powerpoints, newsletters etc. Thats what i do and i actually enjoy it :] The coursework load is actually quite a bit, but tbh if you have time and patience and like doing that kinda stuff, then its the course for you :]
you get 1 exam out of the full AS year, i dunno if you get another exam in A2, i'll have to wait and find out, but the AS exam is easy enough if you read and learn the right information and learn your case study :]