Got the results you needed? We explain the multitude of post-GCSE exams

Once, the choice of course after GCSE was simple: most teenagers thinking of higher education moved straight on to A level, while others weighed up vocational programmes with mystifying acronyms like BTEC or GNVQ.  Now, things are rather more complicated, as the Good University Guide's John O'Leary explains...

"Everything is changing in the sixth-form – even A level. One driver has been the search for an edge in applications to leading universities at a time when too many students are reaching the top grades to identify the real high-fliers. The other is the Government’s ambition to provide courses that will keep young people in some form of education until at least 18.

Here are some of the options:

A level: still going strong with more candidates than ever, but about to get harder. The new exams will feature more stretching, open-ended questions and an A* grade to distinguish the top performers from those who just manage an A. There will also be a voluntary 5,000-word dissertation to demonstrate skills in research, evaluation and critical thinking, which will appeal to universities.

International Baccalaureate: the IB has been around for more than 20 years, mainly in independent schools, but has also been making inroads into the state sector. Valued mainly for its breadth, it pioneered the extended essay and includes a course on the theory of knowledge. Students take six subjects from different parts of the curriculum, three at the higher level and three at standard level. Maximum scores are worth six A levels on the university entry tariff.

AQA Baccalaureate: launched this autumn by one of the main exam boards, the AQA Bacc is a hybrid of A levels and  the IB. Students will take A levels as normal, but add a further paper in critical thinking, citizenship or general studies. They will also write an extended essay, project or thesis. As in the IB, the qualification will also give credit for any community work that students have done. There will be three levels, including merit and distinction.

Pre-U: Backed by some of the leading independent schools, the Pre-U comes from one of AQA’s rivals, the University of Cambridge International Examinations. The main selling point, together with a requirement for an independent research report and a ‘global perspectives’ project, is a return to assessment by exams at the end of two years. Syllabuses are available in 26 subjects and involve 10 per cent more learning than A level because there is no loss of teaching time for AS level and other module exams. Students will take three subjects, two of which can be at A level rather than Pre-U courses. The diploma will have nine grades and be worth four A levels, although some universities have been cagey about recognition because of concerns that it will bypass state schools.

Diplomas: The Government’s great hope to raise staying-on rates is about to be launched in four subjects – construction and the built environment; creative and media; engineering; society, health and development; and information technology. Another nine subjects will be added in 2009 and 2010, with three academic options promised by 2011, which will compete with A levels and the other three qualifications above.
Foundation and Standard diplomas will be taken from the age of 14, with the Advanced Diploma (worth 3.5 A levels) catering for the over-16s. There will also be a Progression Diploma, worth 2.5 A levels, for over-16s who do not expect to complete a full two-year course. Both the content and grading of the diplomas are fearsomely complex, but the aim is to appeal to both employers and universities with a mixture of classroom and practical learning that is not specifically vocational.

One thing is for certain: they cannot all survive, especially with the number of 16-18 year-olds falling. The Government has invested too much in the new diplomas to let them fail, but there is little enthusiasm for them at the moment because they are neither academic nor vocational. A Tory administration would almost certainly scrap the final three diplomas, in humanities, languages and science, which Labour ministers would like to replace A levels.

The IB is sufficiently established and has enough of an international market to survive its new competition, but the fate of the Pre-U and the AQA Bacc is in the hands of the universities. If harder A levels with an A* grade can stretch the most able candidates and identify the high-fliers, the need for new qualifications will be less obvious. Independent schools – which are the testing ground for A-level alternatives – respond to their customers, and parents take a lot of convincing that anything other than A level is a safe route to the best universities."

Read our posts on which A levels to avoid - some universities see some exams as too "soft" and find out about other interesting news connected with today's GCSEs.

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[JM]

Question for Simon:
Could you give a bit more information about the 'extras' you mention? ie. the Headstart course, Nuffield Bursary etc. When should a student do these courses - after GCSE's?
thanks

[Jennifer Web]

Thank you

[John Scott]

You should add that the IB's breadth is at the expense of some depth - many academics at top universities do not consider it provides an adequate grounding for university-level science, where expectations of knowledge on entrance are based upon A-Levels.

[S Lyon]

hey jennifer
of course you could, your grades are brilliant just work hard and get as much work experience as you can to add on ur UCAS application, stuff like debating and activities that go towards what you want to do.
Plus scottish uni's are a bit different and far away, i'd recommend a london or russel group uni.
good luck

[Simon]

It would also help to do some things outside school to seperate you from the rest of applicants. Getting some work experience in the area you are interested in studying would help. There are also courses you can go on, e.g. if you intend to do a science course a Headstart course could help, or a Nuffield Bursary. Anything you can do to put on your personal statement to prove your interest in the subject will definately help getting into top Uni's

[Simon]

From my experience a University will accpet you mainly on A level results and predicted grades. I'm not saying that they don't consider GCSE's, just that they aren't foremost in the admissions tutor's mind. Just make sure you get good marks in the first modules you sit, i.e get over 90%, and most top Uni's should make you an offer. That's what happened for me. I didn't get the best GCSE's in my year, 4 A*'s and 6 A's, but I averaged high 90's in my first modules and got into Cambridge, whilst several people who got straight A*'s didn't even get interviewed.

[Jennifer Web]

I received my GCSE results today, and I was wondering if anyone could tell me if with 3 A*'s 4 A's and 3 B's, and good a-level results; whether I could get into a good University, like St. Andrews. A reply would be very much appreciated.