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Author Topic: A-level subject choosing dilemma  (Read 3024 times)

Offline staceyboy3

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A-level subject choosing dilemma
« on: November 16, 2009, 10:19:51 pm »
Yo dudes i have a serious issue

I've heard most universities require at least 3 or more A-levels from applicants.
So im like "Ye sure let me see... maths, physics and...huh? i dunnoo!" I'm absolutely not sure what should my third A-level be!
Biology/chemistry just dont work for me cause i think its too much for me. My sister is a biology nerd and she gets a D in her first AS level attempt, and also the questions in the exams are just "explain", "describe" questions, which are nightmares for me.

I talked with my parents and they are like "how 'bouts computing dude!"
Sure computing doesn't sound too bad...right? It's something im familiar with and it looks pretty easy... i guess.
Anyone have any suggestions or has done CIE computing as an A-level? I need to make up my mind quick so i can start studying it so i can get a predicted grades before January 15.
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Offline Sambozz

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Re: A-level subject choosing dilemma
« Reply #1 on: November 17, 2009, 07:30:02 am »
Hey man.
I suggest Economics. So long as you keep motivated and ur work up to date it really is not too bad. You can comfortably pass but not sure if your school requires you to have done AS before hand....
Good Luck! ;)
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Offline astarmathsandphysics

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Re: A-level subject choosing dilemma
« Reply #2 on: November 17, 2009, 08:19:30 am »
Economics is WORDy like bio. Further maths?
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Offline saifalan

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Re: A-level subject choosing dilemma
« Reply #3 on: November 17, 2009, 10:41:43 am »
Yeah did Computing As. Its easy, got 90 % . But the crsework's a drag.
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Offline astarmathsandphysics

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Re: A-level subject choosing dilemma
« Reply #4 on: November 17, 2009, 10:43:52 am »
Could never get 90% in coursework.
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Offline MaNi_DaDuDe

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Re: A-level subject choosing dilemma
« Reply #5 on: November 17, 2009, 10:45:17 am »
Take Computing.

It's cake.

I can help you with it too, lol.

<------ Computer/Biology nerd whiz

I had an awesome Biology paper this May/June but also ended up with a similar grade to your sister. lawl. Hence, I am re-sitting right now.

Good Luck.


-MaNi

P.S. I hear some universities just need 4 A's. i.e. A in both of your AS subjects and an A in both of your A2 subjects. (hence - 4 A's). This is what I heard about Canada. Dunno though.
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Offline saifalan

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Re: A-level subject choosing dilemma
« Reply #6 on: November 17, 2009, 10:50:26 am »
Quote from: astarmathsandphysics on November 17, 2009, 10:43:52 am
Could never get 90% in coursework.

 Got 90% on whole of As, not only in crsework.
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Offline staceyboy3

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Re: A-level subject choosing dilemma
« Reply #7 on: November 17, 2009, 06:43:27 pm »
Oh yea what about the coursework for computing? I'm doing CIE International exams; i know they require programming projects for paper 2 and 4, but do i need some teacher to check that my projects are my work?

In my school, no one has dared to do a wierd A-level subject like computing (partly because not so many people doing the A-levels cause of the national exams). We only do simple subjects like maths, physics, bio, english, etc. So i would have no teacher with expert background knowledge of computing, heck they don't know much about A-levels!

Thanks MaNi. I will need to get all the help i can get to do well. Thankyou! :D
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Offline astarmathsandphysics

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Re: A-level subject choosing dilemma
« Reply #8 on: November 17, 2009, 08:34:09 pm »
Exampapersgeek might be able to do it. Design some code for one of the websites.
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Offline MaNi_DaDuDe

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Re: A-level subject choosing dilemma
« Reply #9 on: November 17, 2009, 10:08:44 pm »
No problem.What do you mean? I did CIE too.

There's paper 1 for AS and a project. :]

Are you sure you aren't doing ICT?

Quote from: staceyboy3 on November 17, 2009, 06:43:27 pm
Oh yea what about the coursework for computing? I'm doing CIE International exams; i know they require programming projects for paper 2 and 4, but do i need some teacher to check that my projects are my work?

In my school, no one has dared to do a wierd A-level subject like computing (partly because not so many people doing the A-levels cause of the national exams). We only do simple subjects like maths, physics, bio, english, etc. So i would have no teacher with expert background knowledge of computing, heck they don't know much about A-levels!

Thanks MaNi. I will need to get all the help i can get to do well. Thankyou! :D
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Offline staceyboy3

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Re: A-level subject choosing dilemma
« Reply #10 on: November 17, 2009, 11:20:54 pm »
Ye im doing CIE Computing, not ICT
http://www.cie.org.uk/qualifications/academic/uppersec/alevel/subject?assdef_id=738

Isn't it in A2 you have another exam + project?

For the project do you need to learn a programming language? What kind of project are they expecting, and at what standard (how complex is)?
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Offline saifalan

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Re: A-level subject choosing dilemma
« Reply #11 on: November 18, 2009, 03:33:16 am »
If u dont have a good programmer of a teacher, they dont Computing. The crseworks are largely based on their ability to teach u programming. I did my crseworks with Visual Basic 6.0
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Offline MaNi_DaDuDe

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Re: A-level subject choosing dilemma
« Reply #12 on: November 18, 2009, 11:55:03 am »
My bad.

I didn't know the AS project was actually "paper 2". lol.

The project was easy really. I had a few problems here and there; but Google (everyone's best friend) helped me out with most of my issues.

Is there a specific programming language that should be used for the Project?
Candidates may use any high level language. (I used Visual Basic

When does the students’ work for the Projects have to be submitted to CIE?
By 30 April for the June session and 31 October for the November session.

Make sure your teacher can teach you some high level programming language (for the project). Give him a copy of the syllabus and ask him if he can cover everything.

Paper 1, the theory bit, is cake. Just tires you (2hr 30mins). 

Good Luck.


-MaNi
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Offline staceyboy3

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Re: A-level subject choosing dilemma
« Reply #13 on: November 18, 2009, 06:28:27 pm »
Dude, no one in my area knows anything about Computing. There is no way a teacher could teach me this stuff.
There is one teacher, but he has tonnes of work delayed/has a family; i don't think he would be fond of helping me.

Is it bad to study independently? I've got books which cover the material in the syllabus, and i've got a step by step guide to visual basic (why is everyone so interested in VB? :)). I've pretty much got less than six months before the next exam sessions... will i manage?

stacey
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Offline lonelyboy

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Re: A-level subject choosing dilemma
« Reply #14 on: November 18, 2009, 09:02:34 pm »
Where do you want to apply?

And are you talking about AS or A2?

If you're doing just 3, 3 hard subjects like Maths, Physics, Economics, French, Chemistry, Further Maths, English Literature are good choices.

Computing is seen as soft.


I suggest Further Maths (extremely hard) or Economics (hard but very useful everywhere.)


Cheers mate.
  :)
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