AS and A2 level General Studies
A Level
In Farnborough
Description
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Type
A Level
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Location
Farnborough
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Duration
2 Years
As a student on an Advanced Level programme at the Sixth Form College you will also be entered for the General Studies examinations. This is a subject which is skills centred and draws from the experience and knowledge that you are acquiring from all aspects of your life both inside and outside College.
Important information
Government funding available
Facilities
Location
Start date
Start date
About this course
You must have at least four GCSEs at grade C or above, including English (language) together with a strong interest in film. You will need enthusiasm and a willingness to work as part of a team and as an individual.
Reviews
Course programme
As a student on an Advanced Level programme at the Sixth Form College you will also be entered for the General Studies examinations. This is a subject which is skills centred and draws from the experience and knowledge that you are acquiring from all aspects of your life both inside and outside College.
WHY DO WE DO IT?
In school you will be studying eight or more subjects and have probably noticed that some topics feature in more than one of these. As you move to Advanced Level you will study fewer subjects. However it is important to maintain an interest and links beyond your specialist subjects.
Employers and university admissions officers are keen to recruit intelligent people who are able to discuss and analyse ideas, which they may not have learned in the classroom, from a variety of viewpoints. General Studies helps you develop these skills and demonstrate that you have a wider breadth and depth of knowledge than your chosen subjects alone.
A level General Studies is seen as an indicator of young people developing some essential life skills e.g. being able to understand material given to them, draw conclusions from it and write up a well reasoned report based on their findings.
HOW WILL IT HELP ME?
Employers often accept it as part of their required entry qualifications. Some universities include it as part of an offer they make â€" last year students from the College applying for Higher Education courses at Birmingham, Bristol, Loughborough, University College London, York, Portsmouth and Southampton were able to use their General Studies grade as part of their offer. Students have also been able to use General Studies to support applications for additional financial support (e.g. bursaries) through university.
HOW IS THE COURSE ASSESSED?
General Studies will ask you questions looking at the impact on today†s society of a range of subjects from the arts, science and technology.
There are two AS units which are taken by all students in the first year:
·Culture and Society
- multiple choice and source analysis questions
·Science and Society
- multiple choice and source analysis questions
A further two A2 units are sat in the second year:
·Culture and Society
- two essays and source analysis questions
·Science and Society
- questions on pre-release case study and one essay
The exams will focus on testing your comprehension and interpretation of data skills and your ability to respond in essay form.
WILL IT APPEAR ON MY TIMETABLE?
Not like your other subjects. Students build up the knowledge and understanding they need through their whole academic programme, by listening to and questioning visiting speakers, by joining societies, reading a newspaper and watching the news. Your Personal Tutor will also focus on General Studies in some tutorials.
AS and A2 level General Studies