General Chat

What did you do? I've just chosen my courses for next year. Oh dear I have a lot of work ahead of me. :-)

in school: Biology, Chemisry and Maths (Maths droped after a year) in college: Physics and Maths (Maths picked up as an AS but ended up with an A2)

I'm in Scotland and it's a different system here, I don't know why lol I chose to do: Advanced English (about eight of us doing it) Advanced Modern Studies (I'm the only one!) Advanced History (three of us) And in addition, I'm doing Higher Chemistry. What is A2? I've never heard of it before.

Basically: A2 = A level AS = half an A level

Thanks Elaine :-) In a different system so wouldn't really understand lol

In England and Wales the Goverment changed the A'levels for the courses started in Sept 2000. The new A'levels were comprised of 6 units taken over 2 years. the first 3 units are AS's (Advanced Sub - something ot other) anf the last 3 units are A2's. All 6 units together are A'levels. I can't understand why Scotland has a different system to the rest of the main land - even the school system is structured diferently. We seem to get GCSE's and A'levels whiles you get a more complex system (from memory:- Standard Grade [Access3, Int 1, Int 2] Higher grade and Advanced Higher Grade) If the above is right, then approx:- Standard Grade = GCSE Higher = AS level Advanced Higher = A2

I thought it was for the sake of being different lol Advanced Higher's are equivalent to a full A-Level I'm told, and Higher is equivalent to AS. I did my standard grades last year. In Scotland we have the option of taking A Levels at university, which incidentally I can't do because I started school a year early. :-)

Don´t know anything about the Scottish sytstem .. but the current English A level system is great. Each A level is generally made up of 6 modules, each one of which can be taken as many times as you like - you then have the option of accepting that mark or retaking the exam to get a a higher grade - and so you carry on until you achieve the highest grade possible. Certainly different to my days ( in the late 1960/1970´s - where you had one shot at it - and the marks you got were the final result!)

A-Levels sound better lol We can resit them but we'll have to do another year's work. We're only allowed to spend one year doing Adv Highers which means a lot of work in one go. My dad said he did an S-Level. Now, what is that? :-s

Even though I'm Scottish I've lived in England for a long time and can never understand why the education systems are so different. Even down to the intake... kids down here start school at 4 years but up the road a lot of them are already 5 years when they start. My eldest actually started school a year before my wee cousin even though my wee cousin is 2 months older than him. I could never get to grips with that...lol Shaz x

A'levels in Uni? now that dose sound daft down here as you need A'levels (or equivalent) to get into Uni! although looking up your school system, you get to go to uni at 16 1/6 (after highers) but we have to wait until 18 after A'level (with a few exceptions - children who sit exam early or for studying a Diploma in Nursing [17 1/2]) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_Scotland http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_England I started school at 3 (nursary) but sidn't need to until I was 5, but the normal age at the time was 4 as not all schools had nursaries. Now most in wales start at 3 but in London it's 4 or 5 depending on the schools

English SYSTEM A level - you can resit each module as many times as you like - and then cash in the marks to get an A level grade when you think you have reached your maximum level. S levels - not sure ?

Shaz, lol :-)...that is confusing.

Hi Lucia i did English, french and Psychology!! a long time ago Has been a right larf!!! n'est pas!!! Kaz :o)))

I think the debate should be- is the current A level system in the UK equal to that of 20/30years ago. Hate to say this but I don´t think it is.

Lucia, Do you intend to go to Uni? If so, make sure your A levels will enable you to go to the Uni and the course of your choice. That's the key thing. What's modern studies? Rose - who took Maths, Further Maths, Physics and Chemistry. Dropped chemistry after a year though.

Yes Lucia it is...lol In England all kids start in the September after their 4th birthday, mind you there is a cut off date and the birthday must be before or on the 31st August. Up the road its different like..... my wee cousin turned 4 in the middle of March and because of this couldnt start school at the end of August that year... My son however turned 4 at the end of the May and started school in the September. Mind you that was some time ago....lol he has just finished his 2nd year at Uni now. But its still the same.... a friend up the road had her little boy in May 2001 and my neighbour down here and a girl in May the same year..... My neighbours daughter started school last September and so has almost finished her first year at school but my friend in Scotland's wee boy doesnt start school until after these summer holidays. Shaz x

Rose, totally agree - look at the university requirements - and make sure you are following a course of studies which will gain entry into the course of your choice.

Good luck Lucia and you must promise yourself not to get so stressed next term. Enjoy your summer break and learn to chill a bit, I am sure you will do very well but not if you keep putting yourself under pressure. Take care, Liz x

Lucia - I wish someone had once give me the advice that I should enjoy my education and be proud of whatever I achieved. Just work as hard as you can - do the best you can - and you will succeed.