A-Level/BTEC IB
Choices
,A-levels, BTEC or IB: What do you want to do later?
If you don’t know the answer to this
exams, which take place at the end of
your second year, while BTECs are
What’s right for me?' question, don’t worry. You don’t have to
rush into a decision now. But if you do
assessed more regularly throughout
the year through coursework and
have a rough idea or some possibilities projects.
Find out what qualifications are best for your career you’d like to keep open, this could play
prospects a significant factor in which route you Do what’s right for you
decide to choose. You hear a lot about A-level results day
every summer: morning television,
newspapers,
There are more choices than ever for applied to university with BTECs alone, Which is more flexible? messages on social media. If you’re a
people pursuing higher-level studies, while 7.2% applied with a combination of Picture the scene: you’re halfway BTEC or IB student, you’d be forgiven
with many schools now offering a A-levels and BTECs (source: Ucas). through your A-levels or BTECs and you for feeling a little underappreciated
combination of Meanwhile, students applying with the change your mind about what you want when you’ve worked just as hard!
A-levels, BTECs and the International International Baccalaureate Diploma to do next – it’s possible, right? Could However, try to focus on what is right for
Baccalaureate (IB), or even all three. All made up the second largest group of you easily switch direction if you wanted you
of these offer paths to university or into applicants at Oxford University after A- to? – it is your life after all! Don’t be
work, so it pays to think ahead to levels (source: Oxford University While BTECs are quite flexible in the pressured into following the rest of the
decide what route suits your website). If your school or college offers different sizes and levels they come in, flock.
aspirations best. them, choosing BTECs or the IB can offer they can be quite specific in their focus.
an alternative way to study. The table As a result, they can pigeonhole you
A-level vs BTEC vs the below shows a quick overview of where later on.
International Baccalaureate they could take you. On the other hand, the A-level route
Although A-levels are the most common So before we dig into what each might be a safer choice if you’re not sure
choice for 18-year-olds applying to qualification entails, on page three are a about what you want to do. This way you
university, they aren’t the only option few questions to ask yourself to get a can study a few different subjects that
out there. For example, in 2018 a little general idea of which one might suit interest you now, including some
over 10% of 18-year-olds in the UK you. facilitating subjects to keep your options
open (more on this later).
Foundation degrees, undergraduate degrees and degree apprenticeships
KEY THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT FURTHER STU
Be realistic: It’s going to be hard work. You can e
, Your choice: Think about choosing subjects you w
Research: Understand what each subject involve
How do you learn best?
So you’ve spent the past 10 years or so
sitting in a classroom listening to a
teacher talk at the front – are you
Higher
A- happy to continue with the same?
level
level Would you prefer an emphasis on open
discussions and independent study (A-
IB levels) or by applying theory to
A- BTEC
Diploma practical projects (BTECs)?
level Nationals
How do you handle exams?
Standard Everyone approaches exams differently.
AS
level Some students ace them, making up where
they may have lacked the rest of the
year. Others struggle, whether it’s
retaining all that knowledge, or the
intimidating exam environment itself (and
this even includes high- achieving
students).
A-levels are now primarily assessed by
2 3
College Level
Choices
,A-levels, BTEC or IB: What do you want to do later?
If you don’t know the answer to this
exams, which take place at the end of
your second year, while BTECs are
What’s right for me?' question, don’t worry. You don’t have to
rush into a decision now. But if you do
assessed more regularly throughout
the year through coursework and
have a rough idea or some possibilities projects.
Find out what qualifications are best for your career you’d like to keep open, this could play
prospects a significant factor in which route you Do what’s right for you
decide to choose. You hear a lot about A-level results day
every summer: morning television,
newspapers,
There are more choices than ever for applied to university with BTECs alone, Which is more flexible? messages on social media. If you’re a
people pursuing higher-level studies, while 7.2% applied with a combination of Picture the scene: you’re halfway BTEC or IB student, you’d be forgiven
with many schools now offering a A-levels and BTECs (source: Ucas). through your A-levels or BTECs and you for feeling a little underappreciated
combination of Meanwhile, students applying with the change your mind about what you want when you’ve worked just as hard!
A-levels, BTECs and the International International Baccalaureate Diploma to do next – it’s possible, right? Could However, try to focus on what is right for
Baccalaureate (IB), or even all three. All made up the second largest group of you easily switch direction if you wanted you
of these offer paths to university or into applicants at Oxford University after A- to? – it is your life after all! Don’t be
work, so it pays to think ahead to levels (source: Oxford University While BTECs are quite flexible in the pressured into following the rest of the
decide what route suits your website). If your school or college offers different sizes and levels they come in, flock.
aspirations best. them, choosing BTECs or the IB can offer they can be quite specific in their focus.
an alternative way to study. The table As a result, they can pigeonhole you
A-level vs BTEC vs the below shows a quick overview of where later on.
International Baccalaureate they could take you. On the other hand, the A-level route
Although A-levels are the most common So before we dig into what each might be a safer choice if you’re not sure
choice for 18-year-olds applying to qualification entails, on page three are a about what you want to do. This way you
university, they aren’t the only option few questions to ask yourself to get a can study a few different subjects that
out there. For example, in 2018 a little general idea of which one might suit interest you now, including some
over 10% of 18-year-olds in the UK you. facilitating subjects to keep your options
open (more on this later).
Foundation degrees, undergraduate degrees and degree apprenticeships
KEY THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT FURTHER STU
Be realistic: It’s going to be hard work. You can e
, Your choice: Think about choosing subjects you w
Research: Understand what each subject involve
How do you learn best?
So you’ve spent the past 10 years or so
sitting in a classroom listening to a
teacher talk at the front – are you
Higher
A- happy to continue with the same?
level
level Would you prefer an emphasis on open
discussions and independent study (A-
IB levels) or by applying theory to
A- BTEC
Diploma practical projects (BTECs)?
level Nationals
How do you handle exams?
Standard Everyone approaches exams differently.
AS
level Some students ace them, making up where
they may have lacked the rest of the
year. Others struggle, whether it’s
retaining all that knowledge, or the
intimidating exam environment itself (and
this even includes high- achieving
students).
A-levels are now primarily assessed by
2 3
College Level
