A-Level (For UK People)

[TheGangstaSheep]

This year I'll be starting my A-Levels but I have one slight issue.

Basically, I'm taking Graphics, Computing, Media and Biology. However, to do Biology I need a "B" in Biology and one other science(Either Physics or Chemistry) from my GCSEs. The problem is I messed up my first Biology exam two years ago and ever since that my Biology teacher wouldn't let me take my biology exams on "Higher" which would give me the chance to get a B or an A. So when we get our GCSEs on the 23rd of August I don't know what to do as it's the last chance to change my A-Level choices. I'm wondering if they'll just let me take Biology if I just don't change it and just go home after getting my grades. Or should I try and change it to something but, call me stupid, these are the only 4 choices I could come up with as I don't really have a lot of options.

Have any of you been in a similar situation and got away with it? Or are any of you going through the same situation?

[Deggs]

Well normally The wouldn't enroll you on a course without seeing your predicted grades, so this is quite strange. Can i ask whether you are going to a college or a sixth form?
IF your going to college it might be worth talking to someone, or at least looking at a BTEC in applied sciences, its much more suited to people who dont test well, any almost all uni's accept them, and im pretty sure they're equivalent to 2 a levels, depending on the level you take.
However im pretty sure they wont let you take any A-level, that you dont meet the minimum requirements for. Perhaps you could see if you college/sixth form does a higher access course, or access to biology, sorry i cant be more help.
But my best advice is to get into contact of wherever you plan to study, and ask what your best options are, failing that i reccomend you find an alternative to biology

[FullyAlive]

If you want to take biology leave it as your choice. Then look at your grades if you've got your C at gcse and a B (higher preferably) at both physics and chemistry then you could write an appeal to your school to try and get onto the biology course. I do think an appeal is worth your time if you're a strong applicant and do want to do biology at A level.

However you also need to be prepared for if you can't do biology start looking at the other courses for a back up you'd like to do.

[TheGangstaSheep]

Well normally The wouldn't enroll you on a course without seeing your predicted grades, so this is quite strange. Can i ask whether you are going to a college or a sixth form?
IF your going to college it might be worth talking to someone, or at least looking at a BTEC in applied sciences, its much more suited to people who dont test well, any almost all uni's accept them, and im pretty sure they're equivalent to 2 a levels, depending on the level you take.
However im pretty sure they wont let you take any A-level, that you dont meet the minimum requirements for. Perhaps you could see if you college/sixth form does a higher access course, or access to biology, sorry i cant be more help.
But my best advice is to get into contact of wherever you plan to study, and ask what your best options are, failing that i reccomend you find an alternative to biology

I'm going to a sixth-form, sorry for not specifying from the start. That's the thing, it was just one test I didn't do well on. I have no problems with tests, if anything it's the practical examinations I find harder so I'm pretty sure Applied Sciences wouldn't be for me. Don't apologise, you were helpful and I appreciate it :)

[TheGangstaSheep]

If you want to take biology leave it as your choice. Then look at your grades if you've got your C at gcse and a B (higher preferably) at both physics and chemistry then you could write an appeal to your school to try and get onto the biology course. I do think an appeal is worth your time if you're a strong applicant and do want to do biology at A level.

However you also need to be prepared for if you can't do biology start looking at the other courses for a back up you'd like to do.

I was thinking that. I mean as long as I get a C(Pass) they could surely consider me as it's not like I failed. Sure I didn't meet the requirements but I wasn't that far off. I think you're right, I'll probably end up talking to the Sixth-Form head of year on the day we receive our GCSEs. Yeah there's not much else I can do so I'll have to choose a subject to do for 1 year and then drop.

Thanks for the help :)

[Gandalf]

I was thinking that. I mean as long as I get a C(Pass) they could surely consider me as it's not like I failed. Sure I didn't meet the requirements but I wasn't that far off. I think you're right, I'll probably end up talking to the Sixth-Form head of year on the day we receive our GCSEs. Yeah there's not much else I can do so I'll have to choose a subject to do for 1 year and then drop.

Thanks for the help :)

Your teacher made the mistake of not just re-entering you for higher... You clearly have the system cracked (worked out)

On a similar note, for me to do physics at A-level I needed a B at GCSE in all sciences.. Turned out I had to resit the second unit of high AQA Biology (To get a C minimal on the unit) at the same time as studying for the third/final unit!

When the teacher (he was new) worked out why we were all asking to resit random papers. He basically said to the whole class... If your doing any science next year... Look at your scores so far, and just right down exactly which exam units you need to redo as long as you put the work in yourself I can't be blamed! Cool guy... Just waiting for the results now :P

Then I can officially enroll for sixth form later this month...

[TheGangstaSheep]

Your teacher made the mistake of not just re-entering you for higher... You clearly have the system cracked (worked out)

On a similar note, for me to do physics at A-level I needed a B at GCSE in all sciences.. Turned out I had to resit the second unit of high AQA Biology (To get a C minimal on the unit) at the same time as studying for the third/final unit!

When the teacher (he was new) worked out why we were all asking to resit random papers. He basically said to the whole class... If your doing any science next year... Look at your scores so far, and just right down exactly which exam units you need to redo as long as you put the work in yourself I can't be blamed! Cool guy... Just waiting for the results now :P

Then I can officially enroll for sixth form later this month...

He was a stubborn guy but a good teacher. I even asked months later towards the end of year 11 if I could retake unit 3 on higher as I passed it with full marks on foundation but he said no because I'd "Lose my focus and struggle to revise for lots of tests." so I just left it because there was no point.

It seems a bit excessive to have to get a B in all 3 sciences for Physics. I'd understand if you needed a B in Biology to do Chemistry or vice versa but Physics, to me, is in a league of it's own and it should be more substantial that you get a B in Physics and Maths but that's just my opinion. You're lucky you ended up getting a good teacher otherwise you would have been stuck like me. Anyway good luck on your exam results, do you get yours on the 23rd too?