Dispelling the Myths

I need to take Maths, Chemistry Biology and Physics if I want to study Medicine, Dentistry or Engineering …

Absolutely not, in fact with some universities this will put you at a distinct disadvantage. For many UK universities you will need to take the UKCAT and BMAT exams to apply to Medicine. A component of these exams is essay writing and doing a written A level subject will help you greatly with this.  Some universities actively discourage students from taking all science subjects by giving preference to those who don’t, for example UCL state on their website that they favour students who take an alternative to science as one of their AS choices, particularly when applying to Medicine.

I won’t be able to apply to University in the USA and other countries if I do A level …

Again – absolutely not. A levels are a highly respected qualification when applying to all USA Universities (considered at least as good as IB/AP). We are very lucky to have a representative from Education USA (based at the US Embassy here in Riyadh) who comes to work closely with all our applicants to the US. In the past our students have gained places at, and are now attending Stanford, MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) and UCLA (University of California Los Angeles), all highly rated US universities.

I don’t need a Maths A level if I want to study Economics or Computing at a competitive university …

If you think that you might like to take Computer Science at university you will need to have A level Maths. Similarly, if you are a high achieving student and want to study Economics at a very selective university you will need Maths. Whatever course you plan to study you must consider the entry requirements when making your A level decisions.

Anything below a C grade at A level is a fail …

At A level any grade from an E to an A* is considered to be a pass. Obviously if you wish to attend a competitive university you will need to attain high grades. However, there are a number of universities around the world that will accept students with lower grades. The most important thing is to get the best grades of which you are capable.

Once I start A level my GCSE grades don’t matter …

WRONG! When you apply to university they will pay a great deal of attention to your GCSE grades, some universities / courses will only consider students that have all A and A* grades. It is most important that you obtain the very best GCSE grades you are able to achieve.