Posts Tagged college
A Level Retakes - An Overview
Posted by SEO SERVICES in Training and Education on August 28th, 2010
Students know the importance of studying hard and achieving good grades for their A levels. By getting the grades they need, whether that be straight As or a couple of Cs and B, they can go on to their chosen university and take the first real steps to getting their dream job. However, sometimes circumstances arise which lead to students not getting the grades that they know they are capable of achieving. Maybe they were ill during the term, maybe they had problems with their home life, or maybe they simply lost focus or motivation at a key time. Either way, poor A level results do not mean that future plans and dreams have to be forgotten about. By doing A level retakes, they can give themselves a second chance to fulfill their potential.
None of this may matter if all you want to do is escape from school or college and are not aiming for a university place, or career that requires particular grades. However, if your heart is set on a university course or a vocational scheme and your results do not match up, all is not lost. Although A level retakes may delay your plans, they are a great way to get back on track for the career you really want. A year of extra studying will help you avoid taking a job you do not really want, opting for second or third choice university courses, or missing out on a degree when you deserve the opportunity to get one.
A level retakes are about more than just waiting a year and sitting the same exam again. It is important to find out why your grades were disappointing and to turn things around. A good college will look at your strengths and weaknesses, concentrating on the gaps in your knowledge. There is an art to answering exam questions and some are better than others at decoding the language. Often students can improve their grades by having a better understanding of what is expected from each answer. Learning good exam skills can make all the difference and this is achieved through studying past exam papers and examples of model answers.
You can do A level retakes at the same college that you were at last year, but it can be a good idea to move to a different college. Why? Because a new college means a new start. You will not have constant reminders around of your past problems and you will be taught be different teachers / lecturers who may allow you to see your subjects in a new light. You can even choose totally new subjects if you want to, and retake not just your last year of college but the first year you did too.
So, if you are not happy with your A level grades, do not be afraid to repeat the process. In the long term, it may well be one of the best decisions that you ever make!
Now Try - A Level Retake College London
What To Consider When Choosing A Sixth Form College
Posted by SEO SERVICES in Training and Education on August 1st, 2010
Young people who want to continue their education after the age of 16 and take A-levels or other further education exams have several options of where to study. But what are the advantages and disadvantages of these options? Is it better to stay on at your current school or to switch to a sixth form college somewhere else? Many schools do not have a sixth form, in which case there is no choice but to move on somewhere new.
There are several important things to consider. Firstly, what subjects do you want to study? Some colleges specialize in particular areas such as arts or sciences. Some sixth form colleges will get better results in your chosen subjects than others. Secondly, can you or your family afford to pay the fees of a private, independent college? Thirdly, how far are you able to travel?
Many students start their college careers by enrolling in courses that they enjoyed before, such as Art, History, Geography or Chemistry, especially if they scored well at GCSE level for those subjects. If you already have a career path in mind, than it may be that you need certain courses in order to qualify for a degree or an apprenticeship. Few students, however, feel very confident about where they want to be and where they want to end up. Starting at college then, is a fantastic time to learn about new worlds and experiences that you may not have had the chance to study before.
Generally, sixth form colleges have a more relaxed approach to learning than secondary schools. Sixth formers who stay on at their school are given more freedom and often privileges than their juniors and are encouraged to study in a more independent way. Styles of teaching do vary significantly between different schools and sixth form colleges. Some will use continual assessment rather than big exams, while others may have practical workshops rather than classroom lectures.
When researching which sixth form college is right for you it is important to look at class sizes as well as the student success rate. You can apply to several different colleges at once and attend their open days to see what each place is like. Each sixth form college has a different application deadline and, as competition for places can be fierce for popular courses, you may want to start applying in the Autumn term to make sure that you will get in.
Now Try - Sixth Form College London