Top Tips for Choosing Your Post 16 Courses

Unsure how many to choose? – Where do you fit in this list?

GCSE PredictionsNumber of A Levels to Study
Grades  9-8Choose four 2 year courses
Mostly 9-7Choose three or four 2 year courses
Mostly 9-5Choose three 2 year courses
Mostly 7-4Choose three 2 year courses
Mostly 4-1Level 3 may not be the best choice this September, not yet or you may need to retake English and Maths alongside two courses building to three in your third year

Most of you are choosing three subjects only – The choice is more important than ever. You will study them for two years with no external exams half way through – only at the end of the course.

Only students predicted to achieve grades 9-8 at GCSE are advised to opt for four subjects.

Understand Why A Levels Are So Important – A Global Gold Standard

Oaklands Sixth Form has an exemplary record in helping you get into top universities

The Russell Group (Level 9 -5 at GCSE and A*-B at A Level) are the UK’s highest performing universities and top employers approach them to recruit graduates:

University of BirminghamLondon School of Economics
University of BristolUniversity of Manchester
University of CambridgeNewcastle University
Cardiff UniversityUniversity of Nottingham
Durham UniversityUniversity of Oxford
University of EdinburghQueen Mary University of London
University of ExeterQueen’s University Belfast
University of GlasgowUniversity of Sheffield
Imperial College LondonUniversity of Southampton
King’s College LondonUniversity College London
University of LeedsUniversity of Warwick
University of LiverpoolUniversity of York

The Sixth Form @Oaklands is keen to help you make a good choice of A Levels

Oaklands has outstanding results in all subjects but remember that an “ A* is always worth more than a C grade at A Level regardless whether the subject is Dance, History or Chemistry”  Oxford Admissions tutor (2014)

If you already know what you would like to study at university or you are passionate about a particular subject, then you should make your choices based on that passion.

Subjects at the Sixth Form @ Oaklands

 

BiologyBusiness Studies
ChemistryComputer Science
Diploma in Applied Science L3Drama & Theatre Studies
EconomicsEnglish Language
English LiteratureFilm Studies
Fine ArtFrench
Further MathsGeography
Government & PoliticsHealth & Social Care
HistoryJoint English
LawMaths
Media StudiesMusic
PhotographyPhysical Education
PhysicsProduct Design
PsychologyReligious Studies
SociologySpanish

 

Note: If you would like to study music or art at university you should definitely study these subjects at Level 3.If you are worried or in doubt about your choices, always discuss with us before you commit to them.

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REMEMBER! Level 3 Courses are hard and employers and universities like top grades

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Take subjects you CAN DO, not subjects you think you SHOULD do

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Take advice, do not make decisions alone or just with friends

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Choose slowly and carefully

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Oaklands Sixth Form staff will really help you decide