Can You Do an 'A' Level without doing the GCSE?

ok, I was crap at school and best I got was 4 D's (like thats any use!) so i'm thinking of what I could re-take exam wise, then I got thinking could I just skip to A Level or would this be taking on too much (or is it not allowed?).

ta

p.s. I dont want to re-do any, but I need to improve my CV and want to plan what courses to look into.

....yes you can....

You can, but a levels are hard work. And if you can't do GCSE level, you've no hope at A level.

....yes you can....

thank you .. not sure if i have the brain power.. thats another matter

mind you... when i meet people with degrees in stupid subjects it gives me hope of finding something of interest instead of the boring standards of maths and science

You can, but a levels are hard work. And if you can't do GCSE level, you've no hope at A level.

well i was a young lad with computer games, bullys and no life on his mind... so i think id put in a bit more effort

well i was a young lad with computer games, bullys and no life on his mind... so i think id put in a bit more effort

I didn't mean that to offend MTheo, really sorry if it came across that way but I've just taken my sedatives. And I'm a bit ditzy (not drunk, just drugged, prescription mind). What I was saying is that I've had TWO shots as A Level subjects and dropped out half way through both times.

History was my favourite subject in secondary school so I decided to do it at college. The teacher was the most boring man on the planet so I just.. didn't listen. Failed it anyway Chemistry went straight over the top of my head (again because the teacher was such a drone) but English literature I got A's in. (my favourite )

I suppose what I was trying to say that was that its not worth even trying if you don't think you have the will power. I know that right now I don't have the will power, the presence of mind OR the mental capability to do that again. So right now I'm resting, taking a year out and doing sweet fa to let myself recuperate from what was the worst year of my life (2006) and trying to get everything back on track.

I didn't mean that to offend MTheo, really sorry if it came across that way but I've just taken my sedatives. And I'm a bit ditzy (not drunk, just drugged, prescription mind). What I was saying is that I've had TWO shots as A Level subjects and dropped out half way through both times.

 

History was my favourite subject in secondary school so I decided to do it at college. The teacher was the most boring man on the planet so I just.. didn't listen. Failed it anyway Chemistry went straight over the top of my head (again because the teacher was such a drone) but English literature I got A's in. (my favourite )

 

I suppose what I was trying to say that was that its not worth even trying if you don't think you have the will power. I know that right now I don't have the will power, the presence of mind OR the mental capability to do that again. So right now I'm resting, taking a year out and doing sweet fa to let myself recuperate from what was the worst year of my life (2006) and trying to get everything back on track.

yeah.. i dunno what im doing to be honest, im sick of all the a-c requirements on jobs i can do in my sleep (or awake..either is easy) but i wont get a interview due to others having the grades.

then again... i'd need at least 3 a-c's and i dont think i can stomach 3 courses!!! may look into training in a different area.. not sure.. i did (and passed) plumbing but thats gone nowhere and i dont want to waste more years training at something that doesnt lead to anything

yeah.. i dunno what im doing to be honest, im sick of all the a-c requirements on jobs i can do in my sleep (or awake..either is easy) but i wont get a interview due to others having the grades.

 

then again... i'd need at least 3 a-c's and i dont think i can stomach 3 courses!!! may look into training in a different area.. not sure.. i did (and passed) plumbing but thats gone nowhere and i dont want to waste more years training at something that doesnt lead to anything

I know exactly how you feel. Its so confusing lol.. I have 11 a-c's at GCSE and I still cant a job because everything needs experience and ive never had a job before because I'm fresh from sixth form. Lol.. its annoying.

I want to do something with my life, and there are jobs I could do with my eyes shut aswell but i don't have experience so I'm not qualified. And I don't know what to do at college because I dont know what I want to be 'when I grow up'

Although it depends on the subjects you want to take, generally the point of doing GCSEs first is that you garner a certain level of knowledge and skills before progressing to the next stage. Many A levels will assume a core of knowledge that you don't have. I have seen students on my art courses, which most people would think is the softest subject of all, who insist on diving in at too high a level thinking they camn somehow be 'good enough' or pick 'it' up as they go along. but they really flounder because they haven't built up and mastered core skills.

Edit - I should add that if you can show evidence that you have developed necessary skills without the formal qualification, they will consider you.

Another alternative would be to go straight to a degree entry course, if higher education is an ultimate goal.

A levels *can* be passed without having the GCSE knowledge beforehand, but they'll be a lot harder work.

ok, I was crap at school and best I got was 4 D's (like thats any use!) so i'm thinking of what I could re-take exam wise, then I got thinking could I just skip to A Level or would this be taking on too much (or is it not allowed?).

You can skip GCSE and pass.

As a test, I did the 'previous years A-level Maths exam' as a mock to my GCSE Maths Advanced (I don't know if this still exists, I was one of the first GCSE'ers) and passed the A-Level Maths. Shame I didn't pass the actual GCSE Maths Advanced:hihi:

A levels *can* be passed without having the GCSE knowledge beforehand, but they'll be a lot harder work.

Yep I agree, but in some subjects people are naturally gifted in. Even 16 years after I left school I probably couldn't pass English GCSE. I tried 3 times and a 'D' was the best I could manage. Yet I think I could quite easily pass all the GCSE's I took then, now.

I think it depends on the subject really. I have A level sociology but the GCE was not offered at my school so I've not got it(showing my age there - I was the last year of o levels!). There are all sorts of subjects offered at degree that aren't offered at lower levels.

Something like maths, which is quite specialist at A level, I would suggest perhaps doing GCSE first. Likewise a language to learn the grammar rules. Whereas English literature, I think, is something that comes with maturity and experience.