A Levels

[dune]

Did it include questions like;

 

Jayne has £5. If she gives Jermaine 86p, Victor 75p and spends £2.18 on toothpaste how much money does Jayne have left?

 

Get them to work this out without a calculator and they'd be f/cked.

[Give it to Ron]

Get them to work this out without a calculator and they'd be f/cked.

 

Unlike you that needs to take of his shoes and socks to get past 10 on their fingers and thumbs!

[Verbal]

Why on earth did she choose the IB? It's such an obscure qualification that many university admissions tutors know little about it and offers are often very high.

 

This really isn't true. IB is well regarded by admissions tutors, and the equivalence with A-Levels is carefully calibrated. For example, 32 is the same as ABB, and 34 is AAB. IBs turn up in pretty much every university admissions tutor's in tray.

[Saintandy666]

@Turkish You really have no idea.

[Thedelldays]

@Turkish You really have no idea.

 

so, what do you want to do with your life...what are your ambitions, what job do you want, what sort of cash will you realistically earn..?

[Turkish]

so, what do you want to do with your life...what are your ambitions, what job do you want, what sort of cash will you realistically earn..?

 

The problem is a lot of people think that a degree is a golden ticket to money and great jobs. Unfortunately whilst it's all well and good, once you get into the work place it means very little. You need a good work ethic, humility, a williness to listen to people, learn from them and start at the bottom and work your way up and no shortage of character and ability to realise that work and life isnt a bed of roses with people being handed instant power and riches, losing that teenage arroagance and naivety. All qualities that appear to be lacking in most graduates these days, sadly.

Edited 19 August, 2011 by Turkish

[Turkish]

@Turkish You really have no idea.

 

Okay then Saintandy, i bow to your wealth of experience and knowledge.

[Thedelldays]

Okay then Saintandy, i bow to your wealth of experience and knowledge.

 

so you should, he has just got his A-Level results and is going to uni, dont ya know

 

 

like I said, saintandy should get his £40-50k a year job in the HM Forces......

[Ludwig]

This really isn't true. IB is well regarded by admissions tutors, and the equivalence with A-Levels is carefully calibrated. For example, 32 is the same as ABB, and 34 is AAB. IBs turn up in pretty much every university admissions tutor's in tray.

 

I agree, since A*s began being put into offers (multiple courses asking for 2A*s), the equivalence level seems fair. Before that, however, asking for 42 (some Oxbridge colleges) when A level students were being asked for AAA, was wholly unfair.

[Ludwig]

so, what do you want to do with your life...what are your ambitions, what job do you want, what sort of cash will you realistically earn..?

 

If you read the thread, you'll be aware that he's applying for Medicine. Definitely no career prospects with that option...

[Verbal]

I agree, since A*s began being put into offers (multiple courses asking for 2A*s), the equivalence level seems fair. Before that, however, asking for 42 (some Oxbridge colleges) when A level students were being asked for AAA, was wholly unfair.

 

Yes, 42 for AAA is way over. It should be 36. Nonetheless, with the advent of A*, I expect 42 will remain the norm for a lot of Oxbridge courses.

[Ken Tone]

Yes, 42 for AAA is way over. It should be 36. Nonetheless, with the advent of A*, I expect 42 will remain the norm for a lot of Oxbridge courses.

 

The fact remains that only approximately 1% of the number that sit A levels take the IB instead. Seems a pretty risky choice to me to go for something that unusual and unpopular. And how can examiners ensure reliability and validity with a population size of 2500?

 

Many (not all I admit) of the places that offer it are small independent schools that don't want to be shown up in the A level league tables by their better (and much cheaper!) state sixth form college neighbours, so go for the IB simply to avoid easy comparison by gullible parents.

[Wade Garrett]

Andy, well done on your results and good luck on going for a really worthwhile degree with great career prospects.

 

Much better that than others who do Media Studies, Film Studies etc. and realise their degrees are virtually worthless in the modern world.

[Verbal]

The fact remains that only approximately 1% of the number that sit A levels take the IB instead. Seems a pretty risky choice to me to go for something that unusual and unpopular. And how can examiners ensure reliability and validity with a population size of 2500?

 

Many (not all I admit) of the places that offer it are small independent schools that don't want to be shown up in the A level league tables by their better (and much cheaper!) state sixth form college neighbours, so go for the IB simply to avoid easy comparison by gullible parents.

 

It's not a risk in the slightest, especially if it's taken for reasons that it's better suited to the candidate.

 

Frankly there so many alternatives to A-Levels now that admissions tutors have developed almost into a science the ability to translate from one set of grades in one type of qualification to those of another.

 

For example, the new hot alternative to A-Levels (or sometimes a supplement) is Cambridge Pre-U. It's much tougher than A-Level, but its grading structure is well understood and equivalences well worked out.

 

Practically-oriented courses like BTEC are also well integrated, although do not stretch to the highest level (a DDD, the best you can get, is equivalent to AAB). Then the are Scottish Highers, Advanced Highers, European Bacc's, and other European qualifications like the German Arbiter (which marks backwards), and so on, and so on.

 

The IB is the least of an admissions tutor's worries - and is actually the most easily translatable into A Level equivalents.

[Saintandy666]

@Turkish I was referring to your assertions that A Levels are **** easy!

[Turkish]

@Turkish I was referring to your assertions that A Levels are **** easy!

 

They are. If you can get so many 18 year old f*ck wits getting A's every year then they can hardly be taxing.

[Thorpe-le-Saint]

They are.

 

*sigh*

 

Piece of **** ain't they!

 

http://www.mathsrevision.net/alevel/ocrspecimen.pdf

[Saintandy666]

They are. If you can get so many 18 year old f*ck wits getting A's every year then they can hardly be taxing.

 

Okay then.

[Saintandy666]

And I don't know why some people here are obsessing over money! Some professions like Medicine, Law etc etc will always require university education regardless of pay.

[Turkish]

And I don't know why some people here are obsessing over money! Some professions like Medicine, Law etc etc will always require university education regardless of pay.

 

hats off to people bright enough to do worthwhile degrees and go onto careers like this. It's the clowns that do degrees in Media Studies etc that come out thinking that the world owes them a living because they've spent three years getting p*ssed and going to two hours of lectures a week that do my head in.

[Saintandy666]

hats off to people bright enough to do worthwhile degrees and go onto careers like this. It's the clowns that do degrees in Media Studies etc that come out thinking that the world owes them a living because they've spent three years getting p*ssed and going to two hours of lectures a week that do my head in.

 

I agree with you on Film and Media Studies not being as hard as the traditional subjects. However, in fairness people have had it bashed into them that if they get a degree, any degree that is the way to make a living. I've never come across anyone who has this sense of entitlement you talk of though.

 

What we need done is:

 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/universityeducation/8707656/A-level-results-tough-subjects-should-carry-more-Ucas-points-says-David-Willetts.html

 

The 9k a year tuition fee makes it worse. People are going to get into huge debts with degrees which are barely worth the paper they are written on.

 

Don't be so bitter towards those who do take maths and sciences and so on by belittling the qualification as easy, because it isn't.

[Thedelldays]

hats off to people bright enough to do worthwhile degrees and go onto careers like this. It's the clowns that do degrees in Media Studies etc that come out thinking that the world owes them a living because they've spent three years getting p*ssed and going to two hours of lectures a week that do my head in.

 

And smash up London thinking we should pay for them to do this..

 

I think medicine (like saintandy) law, science etc should be paid for but us.

 

Media studies and David beckam studies etc should not be

[Verbal]

hats off to people bright enough to do worthwhile degrees and go onto careers like this. It's the clowns that do degrees in Media Studies etc that come out thinking that the world owes them a living because they've spent three years getting p*ssed and going to two hours of lectures a week that do my head in.

 

You can't go on measuring everyone against your standards. Try a little night school, or a correspondence course - anything that might raise your ambition a little. You'll feel better for it, and you'll not be so crushed and disappointed in yourself by Saintandy's success.

[Turkish]

I agree with you on Film and Media Studies not being as hard as the traditional subjects. However, in fairness people have had it bashed into them that if they get a degree, any degree that is the way to make a living. I've never come across anyone who has this sense of entitlement you talk of though.

 

What we need done is:

 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/universityeducation/8707656/A-level-results-tough-subjects-should-carry-more-Ucas-points-says-David-Willetts.html

 

The 9k a year tuition fee makes it worse. People are going to get into huge debts with degrees which are barely worth the paper they are written on.

 

Don't be so bitter towards those who do take maths and sciences and so on by belittling the qualification as easy, because it isn't.

 

I have, plenty. A guy in my last job was a junior product specialist with a years experience and a degree in music (FFS!!!) and announced to everyone that in 3 years time he'd be doing the General managers job (one below director, paying about £80k a year) because he was brillant at his current job (he wasn't) and more qualified than anyone else (he wasn't) so therefore better suited. That is just one example.

[Turkish]

You can't go on measuring everyone against your standards. Try a little night school, or a correspondence course - anything that might raise your ambition a little. You'll feel better for it, and you'll not be so crushed and disappointed in yourself by Saintandy's success.

 

Or maybe i could follow your example and get myself a therapist or two?

[Verbal]

Or maybe i could follow your example and get myself a therapist or two?

 

I was hoping you'd ask. I've got just the tip for you. Find a therapist who follows the teachings of Wilhelm Reich. All you need is one of his orgone boxes and a copy of his book, 'Listen, Little Man!'.

 

This is tailor-made to address your inadequacies vis-a-vis Andy's success.

Edited 19 August, 2011 by Verbal

[Saintandy666]

I have, plenty. A guy in my last job was a junior product specialist with a years experience and a degree in music (FFS!!!) and announced to everyone that in 3 years time he'd be doing the General managers job (one below director, paying about £80k a year) because he was brillant at his current job (he wasn't) and more qualified than anyone else (he wasn't) so therefore better suited. That is just one example.

 

But you have people like that in every generation. I don't think it is a symptom of the university system.

[Turkish]

I was hoping you'd ask. I've got just the tip for you. Find a therapist who follows the teachings of Wilhelm Reich. All you need is one of his orgone boxes and a copy of his book, 'Listen, Little Man!'.

 

This is tailor-made to address your inadequacies vis-a-vis Andy's success.

 

Thanks. I'll bear it in mind. And to return the favour i've found this little website which could be of great help to deal with your issues. xxx

 

http://www.peaceandhealing.com/psychology/personality-disorders/narcissistic/

[SuperMikey]

I have, plenty. A guy in my last job was a junior product specialist with a years experience and a degree in music (FFS!!!) and announced to everyone that in 3 years time he'd be doing the General managers job (one below director, paying about £80k a year) because he was brillant at his current job (he wasn't) and more qualified than anyone else (he wasn't) so therefore better suited. That is just one example.

 

Ah, so you met one c*nt with a degree, and therefore everyone else with a degree is a c*nt as well.

 

Can't fault your logic.

[Turkish]

Ah, so you met one c*nt with a degree, and therefore everyone else with a degree is a c*nt as well.

 

Can't fault your logic.

 

Mikey, Mikey, Mikey. Dear oh dear. Read it properly. I've met lots of people with degrees who are sound. I've said hats off to people who do proper degrees and use them to get suitable jobs. It's the jumped up little oiks with media studies degrees etc with big egos that i cant tolerate. Is that clear enough? No wonder you struggled in your psychology exam. tsk.

[Verbal]

Thanks. I'll bear it in mind. And to return the favour i've found this little website which could be of great help to deal with your issues. xxx

 

http://www.peaceandhealing.com/psychology/personality-disorders/narcissistic/

 

That's lovely, thanks, but slightly undermined by the fact that it's clearly not worked for you. D & E was it?

[SuperMikey]

Mikey, Mikey, Mikey. Dear oh dear. Read it properly. I've met lots of people with degrees who are sound. I've said hats off to people who do proper degrees and use them to get suitable jobs. It's the jumped up little oiks with media studies degrees etc with big egos that i cant tolerate. Is that clear enough? No wonder you struggled in your psychology exam. tsk.

 

Ah, i'm terribly sorry. I must make a note to read all of your posts as attentively as possible in the future, just in case I miss any little morsel of information that might save you adding another self-satisfying post to your repertoire.

[Turkish]

That's lovely, thanks, but slightly undermined by the fact that it's clearly not worked for you. D & E was it?

 

No it was higher than that, but not being one who needs to constantly prove myself or use an internet forum as an attempt to achieve popularity and status i'll keep them to myself thank precious. xxx

[Turkish]

Ah, i'm terribly sorry. I must make a note to read all of your posts as attentively as possible in the future, just in case I miss any little morsel of information that might save you adding another self-satisfying post to your repertoire.

 

Jumping to conclusions Mikey, a bad trait. Dont be horrible to me anyway. Only today i've been trying to fix you up a date on another thread. I thought we were friends now. xxx

[Verbal]

No it was higher than that, but not being one who needs to constantly prove myself or use an internet forum as an attempt to achieve popularity and status i'll keep them to myself thank precious. xxx

 

I'll let you have the last word because it seems you might be damaged without it. So what were your grades? I'm guessing DD.

[Turkish]

I'll let you have the last word because it seems you might be damaged without it. So what were your grades? I'm guessing DD.

 

Good man, i feel so much better. That therapist of yours must be good. Nice try on the grades, but you're not going to get it out of me. No need for anyone to approve or disprove on here thanks petal. xxx

[MINIBARCELONASAINT]

come join the forces and get your £40k-£50k a year job

 

I was going to do this, through the University Scholarship scheme but decided against it in the end as you need to do three years service after your degree, I'd rather have the choice to do whatever I want and if I decide I want to join then I shall look into it.

 

I got AAA.

[Thedelldays]

I was going to do this, through the University Scholarship scheme but decided against it in the end as you need to do three years service after your degree, I'd rather have the choice to do whatever I want and if I decide I want to join then I shall look into it.

 

I got AAA.

3 years would have flown by and you would have had an adventure, f'sure

[SuperMikey]

3 years would have flown by and you would have had an adventure, f'sure

 

Time flies when you're being gang raped on a submarine

[Verbal]

Good man, i feel so much better. That therapist of yours must be good. Nice try on the grades, but you're not going to get it out of me. No need for anyone to approve or disprove on here thanks petal. xxx

 

So are you now ready to celebrate Andy's success? Even though he has much better grades, I think you're just about ready to make that step.

[holepuncture]

It's the clowns that do degrees in Media Studies etc that come out thinking that the world owes them a living because they've spent three years getting p*ssed and going to two hours of lectures a week that do my head in.

 

Quality! Spot on, spot on... although you could argue in this digital world, where the west is totally immersed in technology, media studies is probably more relevant than most subjects...

 

i really miss being a student, spending years getting ****ed and having fun (about 16 hours a week of lectures in fairness!) whilst chumps like you were battling it out at the bottom of the barrel, working your arses off...

 

You can't go on measuring everyone against your standards. Try a little night school, or a correspondence course - anything that might raise your ambition a little. You'll feel better for it, and you'll not be so crushed and disappointed in yourself by Saintandy's success.

 

Superb mugging off there Bertie, well done.

 

I have, plenty. A guy in my last job was a junior product specialist with a years experience and a degree in music (FFS!!!) and announced to everyone that in 3 years time he'd be doing the General managers job (one below director, paying about £80k a year) because he was brillant at his current job (he wasn't) and more qualified than anyone else (he wasn't) so therefore better suited. That is just one example.

 

This was the reason I got my job over the other graduates and people (i have two degrees)... apparently the guy before me said he would be a company director within 2/3/5 years or something... that was him out of the running.

 

The problem is Turkish, down the line, when you are actually going for the top GM/director style jobs, you will lose out to people who have a degree, whether irrelevant, worthless or not... You will lose out to people like your Junior Specialist with his degree in music, as he has demonstrated a level of academic ability which you have not, and can critique and debate at a far higher level than you as a result. I am saying this not only to wind you up but to point it out, it is extremely rare for a corporation director to not have a degree. You might see it at small tin pot firms admittedly, but not in a proper plc or a group business.

 

If you are really fortunate you may be offered the opportunity to study for a degree part time from a distance whilst still working your sorry arse off all week. If you pass they will pay half, if you fail you pay 100% costs and you can kiss that promotion goodbye forever. **** knows how much the tuition will be though!

 

Doing a degree in your late thirtys/ early forties will be a nightmare, as your brain (like a sponge) dries up and hardens and learning will be increasingly difficult. Also, you will be amougnst a bunch of teenagers who dont have to work full time, dont take anything seriously and turn up drunk if they turn up at all... what will annoy you even more is they will out-perform you... ive seen it happen and i wouldnt wish it on anyone, even you.

 

So settle down for a life of complacency and regret, looking on at supermikey, andy666 and all the countrys film graduates enjoying the middle class dream, as you gaze upon that glass ceiling above you.

 

Ask StuRomseySaint for advice

[Turkish]

So are you now ready to celebrate Andy's success? Even though he has much better grades, I think you're just about ready to make that step.

 

Tsk Verbal. I've already said hats off to people who do proper degrees. Which it appears he is going to do. I'm not going to stick my tounge up his arse like some on here though.

 

Not much better BTW, but a bit better. They are easier now though.

[Turkish]

Quality! Spot on, spot on... although you could argue in this digital world, where the west is totally immersed in technology, media studies is probably more relevant than most subjects...

 

i really miss being a student, spending years getting ****ed and having fun (about 16 hours a week of lectures in fairness!) whilst chumps like you were battling it out at the bottom of the barrel, working your arses off...

 

 

 

Superb mugging off there Bertie, well done.

 

 

 

This was the reason I got my job over the other graduates and people (i have two degrees)... apparently the guy before me said he would be a company director within 2/3/5 years or something... that was him out of the running.

 

The problem is Turkish, down the line, when you are actually going for the top GM/director style jobs, you will lose out to people who have a degree, whether irrelevant, worthless or not... You will lose out to people like your Junior Specialist with his degree in music, as he has demonstrated a level of academic ability which you have not, and can critique and debate at a far higher level than you as a result. I am saying this not only to wind you up but to point it out, it is extremely rare for a corporation director to not have a degree. You might see it at small tin pot firms admittedly, but not in a proper plc or a group business.

 

If you are really fortunate you may be offered the opportunity to study for a degree part time from a distance whilst still working your sorry arse off all week. If you pass they will pay half, if you fail you pay 100% costs and you can kiss that promotion goodbye forever. **** knows how much the tuition will be though!

 

Doing a degree in your late thirtys/ early forties will be a nightmare, as your brain (like a sponge) dries up and hardens and learning will be increasingly difficult. Also, you will be amougnst a bunch of teenagers who dont have to work full time, dont take anything seriously and turn up drunk if they turn up at all... what will annoy you even more is they will out-perform you... ive seen it happen and i wouldnt wish it on anyone, even you.

 

So settle down for a life of complacency and regret, looking on at supermikey, andy666 and all the countrys film graduates enjoying the middle class dream, as you gaze upon that glass ceiling above you.

 

Ask StuRomseySaint for advice

 

Are you a bit mental? Verbal can recomend a therapist.

[Verbal]

Are you a bit mental? Verbal can recomend a therapist.

 

I can! He can have yours.

[Turkish]

I can! He can have yours.

 

Best start work on him then my ol' chum. xxxx

[Jonnyboy]

I have, plenty. A guy in my last job was a junior product specialist with a years experience and a degree in music (FFS!!!) and announced to everyone that in 3 years time he'd be doing the General managers job (one below director, paying about £80k a year) because he was brillant at his current job (he wasn't) and more qualified than anyone else (he wasn't) so therefore better suited. That is just one example.

 

I thought being ambitious and confident was to be encouraged?

[Turkish]

I thought being ambitious and confident was to be encouraged?

 

It is. Ignorance and being deluded however, are not.

[Verbal]

It's pretty hard to measure delusion. Many ambitions might be deemed delusional, unrealistic or just plain unlikely, but so long as it's not something impossible you might as well go for it.

 

On the subject of A-levels, has anyone done some later in life? Anyone know where would be best? Is it a case of just registering for an exam? The only distance learning sites offering a-levels seem a bit dodgy. I'm keen to do my science a-levels anyway, especially physics. Sure I could teach myself from books but would be good to get some tutoring about the exams and help registering etc. Plus there's probably practical parts of the course.

 

You have to be careful, you're right. ICS have been doing it for decades and frankly have a better reputation than the Oxbridge tutorial colleges. I'd be surprised if they didn't do A-Level Physics, including the lab work.

[Thedelldays]

I remember an officer in the RN who was utterly clueless (and dangerous) but was academically brilliant. he thought he was better than most as he had a degree in the history of art...what use is that in the armed forces, I have no idea..

 

he never got his first commission renewed and was effectively sacked

[Verbal]

Yeah I saw their course and it does include physics. But like so many things online, I had to check the reviews and they were pretty bad! Not sure whether to believe some of them or not really, hard to know how many putting in negative reviews just didn't do enough work etc. Might give ICS a ring anyway.

 

Is a-level physics enough to go on and teach physics at GCSE level? I've wanted to get into teaching for a while but my degrees are in business, economics and management, which i don't want to teach or study further to be honest.

 

One of the problems of distance learning is that it often attracts people who shouldn't be doing A Levels, who then get cross when they fail. Anyway, given your degree qualifications, I wonder whether you should really be looking at a PGCE and convert to maths or physics that way.