IGCSE/GCSE/O & A Level/IB/University Student Forum
Qualification => GCE AS & A2 Level => Queries => Topic started by: staceyboy3 on November 16, 2009, 10:19:51 pm
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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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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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Economics is WORDy like bio. Further maths?
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Yeah did Computing As. Its easy, got 90 % . But the crsework's a drag.
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Could never get 90% in coursework.
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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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Could never get 90% in coursework.
Got 90% on whole of As, not only in crsework.
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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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Exampapersgeek might be able to do it. Design some code for one of the websites.
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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?
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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Ye im doing CIE Computing, not ICT
http://www.cie.org.uk/qualifications/academic/uppersec/alevel/subject?assdef_id=738 (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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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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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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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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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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I have been recently thinking about studying energy systems/technology/renewable or whatever. University of Dundee and Napier uni in Edinburgh offer those. If i want to study in Sweden, i have to be best in chemistry, which is WAY out of my league. UK is the only place to study energy with a maths and science A-level.
Economics doesn't sound half bad, but doesn't it have a lot of "explain" questions, which is not really what I'm after (although i'm not sure lol but it sounds bad :D). My sister is going to do Economics, maybe I could study it with her...
What could i do with Economics? ???
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I have been recently thinking about studying energy systems/technology/renewable or whatever. University of Dundee and Napier uni in Edinburgh offer those. If i want to study in Sweden, i have to be best in chemistry, which is WAY out of my league. UK is the only place to study energy with a maths and science A-level.
Economics doesn't sound half bad, but doesn't it have a lot of "explain" questions, which is not really what I'm after (although i'm not sure lol but it sounds bad :D). My sister is going to do Economics, maybe I could study it with her...
What could i do with Economics? ???
A hell lot my friend, a hell lot. :P
Economics is like Maths and Physics. Some of the skills you accquire are universal. Just like how all Business students are encouraged to do Maths and have on Science option preferably like Physics open, alot of students are also asked to have Economics for the sole reason you can apply it to more than you can think. Economics is basically principles and logic. It does have alot of writing and explaining to do but unlike Chemistry and Biology which is facts and facts and minute details, Economics is very interesting. For example,
What could be the possible effects of Olympics 2012 being held in London to London?
Now say any student who hasn't done Economics gets to answer this, he will say:
Tourism increases, revenue increases.
Local businesses get encouraged
Revenue is generated by media, advertising
London government gets $$$ by selling media coverage rights
Hotels, restaurants make profit.
Airline industry gets a lift etc. etc
And some few bad sides as well like:
Pollution
Now that's Economics, you read and think about it more than you realise and by doing Economics you just get a technical round up of those facts. It's very interesting =)
Also if you do Economics, you can easily branch out into the management side of energy systems/technology/renewable or whatever :P
Cheers mate. :)
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Wow. Sounds interesting!
I will have a look at the syllabus.
Thanks :D