Core Science GCSE to A/S Chemistry - ?

jrtfan

Hello.

Not sure if I'm posting this on the most appropriate board, but I wondered if I might pick the brains of any teachers/education professionals here please?

My son will need to take at least A/S Chemistry, along with other FE qualifications, in order to be considered for the Uni course he hopes to study in due course. The Chemistry is a mandatory qualification. He's currently studying for his GCSEs, so we still have a little time yet.

At the moment, we don't know if his school will put any pupils forward to sit the Applied- or Triple Science papers, alongside the Core Science paper. He's been told he will definitely be taking the higher tier paper in the latter.

I've been searching online but can't seem to find out whether or not it will be possible for him to progress to A/S Chemistry eventually, if he has only Core Science GCSE alone.

Would anyone know the answer to this, please?

Thank you in advance.

onlyroz

Won;t the school or FE college know?

jrtfan

I asked him to check with his Science teacher today. He said they told him he would know more once the triple science cohort sat some mock exams just before the summer break. They didn't elaborate on whether or not it was possible to do A/S from Core Science. We haven't looked at 6th form colleges yet because he's still in Year 10, so I don't know who to ask

Savvy_Sue

It's not too soon to phone around local 6th form centres and ask if it's possible to do A/S chemistry with Core Science GCSE. My memory is that my lads all did triple science GCSE and went on to do Physics or Chemistry at A level, but that is a few years ago, and that was equivalent to three GCSEs, just they weren't differentiated, so I'm not sure how that relates to what your DS is doing.

If you're still getting woolly answers, don't despair. If he's 'only' got to get to an A/S level, I'd have thought it should be possible to do something in the first post 16 year which enables him to do the AS in the second post 16 year - no?

jrtfan

Savvy_Sue wrote: »

It's not too soon to phone around local 6th form centres and ask if it's possible to do A/S chemistry with Core Science GCSE. My memory is that my lads all did triple science GCSE and went on to do Physics or Chemistry at A level, but that is a few years ago, and that was equivalent to three GCSEs, just they weren't differentiated, so I'm not sure how that relates to what your DS is doing.

If you're still getting woolly answers, don't despair. If he's 'only' got to get to an A/S level, I'd have thought it should be possible to do something in the first post 16 year which enables him to do the AS in the second post 16 year - no?

Thank you, do you think I could call a few 6th form places just on spec even if he won't necessarily be applying to go there? (Sorry, first time of doing this!)

I think the triple science is still equivalent to 3 separate GCSEs, the applied is equivalent to 2 (but please don't quote me on this). His school is a feeder school for a particular college/uni which offers both FE and HE, both vocational. So, he does have the option of going there and doing a level 3 extended diploma in place of 3 a-levels, if he wants to, but he will still need the A/S Chemistry no matter what (and they don't offer A-level studies in their own right).

If he doesn't take the option of the L3 extended diploma, then his other option will be 3 A-levels (including Chemistry, not just at A/S level). Another of the required A-levels will be Biology.

There are several different possibilities going through my head at the moment, but maybe if I speak to a few 6th form places first as you suggest, it could help to determine how to go forward, if a double/triple award turns out to be out of the question!

Thanks again

AnotherJoe

Surely this is all down to what the schools and colleges offer?
eg you could go and independently sit an A/S level Chemistry exam if you paid the fee even if you hadn't studied anything at all previously, indeed even if you couldn't speak English.
So its purely down to what the schools / colleges have as pre reqs.

jrtfan

AnotherJoe wrote: »

Surely this is all down to what the schools and colleges offer?
eg you could go and independently sit an A/S level Chemistry exam if you paid the fee even if you hadn't studied anything at all previously, indeed even if you couldn't speak English.
So its purely down to what the schools / colleges have as pre reqs.

He hopes ultimately to study veterinary medicine and the requirements for this course seem pretty stringent That's why I'm a bit concerned that if the school doesn't put his group forward for the 2 / 3-science exam, and this in turn precludes him from sitting A/S Chemistry (or the A-levels), then it could seriously impact upon his chances of studying his chosen degree

But, you have put an idea in my head. We could investigate paying for him to sit the triple/double exam if necessary and if he has the capability (we don't know yet if the school might put just the most capable pupils forward, or if there needs to be a minimum number of children before they'll offer this exam). Providing it's within our means then all he needs is a centre willing to let him do this, and the school might be willing to help out here. Thank you for that

zagubov

The new AS/A levels are so very much tougher now that the teachers/lecturers need to be really careful to select students who'll benefit.

Vet school is massively more competitive than medicine. They only take a very few hundred students a year.

sn1987a

I am a science teacher. Applied/triple/core science are terms of the old system. Schools now offer separate science (equivalent to triple science=3 gcses) and combined science (2 GCSEs).
You should contact directly the 6th forms to see what they require for a student to do A level chemistry. 99% he can do it as long as he has the right grades(for the school), whether he did separate or combined sciences.
If his school doesn't want him to do separate science, you should discuss with his science teacher the reason. Maybe he is not strong/commited enough for separate sciences. The A level chemistry is very demanding. The university course asks for chemistry, but what grade? It's all about the grades rather than studying a course.

A lot of schools no longer have the AS exams as they no longer count for university places. You may have to pay for the exam by yourself anyway. Are you sure his preferred university still asks for AS chemistry? If he sits the exam by himself, who will prepare him?

Cash-Cows

jrtfan wrote: »

Thank you, do you think I could call a few 6th form places just on spec even if he won't necessarily be applying to go there?

I would ask your son to do the calling. He's old enough to sort out his own courses.

jrtfan

zagubov wrote: »

The new AS/A levels are so very much tougher now that the teachers/lecturers need to be really careful to select students who'll benefit.

Vet school is massively more competitive than medicine. They only take a very few hundred students a year.

Isn't it just. Not only in terms of the grades needed to get in there (at A-level and at GCSE), but also the work/voluntary placement experience gained prior to applying; and some colleges require applicants to undertake BMAT testing as well _pale_. There are fewer males than females wanting to take this course, though, so providing he's on level pegging with the female candidates, he stands a good chance of being offered a place. Crazy as that might seem.