Choosing a course
It is important to choose courses you think you will enjoy but also those that offer you the greatest chance of success. Experience shows us that GCSE grades are a good guide when considering suitability for a subject and tutors will discuss your achievements with you at interview and again at enrolment. They will calculate your average GCSE grade to help decide upon the right course for you.
How is the average GCSE calculated?
By using a very simple table which converts your GCSE grade to a number like this:
| D | 4 |
| E | 3 |
| F | 2 |
| G | 1 |
Once the conversion has been made, your score is added up and the average calculated by dividing the total points by the number of subjects that you have taken.
Example: Nicky has one A* GCSE which gives her 8 points; two subjects at grade A (2 x 7 = 14 points); two at grade B (2 x 6 = 12 points); three at grade C (3 x 5 = 15 points) and one other grade D (4 points). In total she has 53 points.
To obtain the average, divide this score by the number of GCE subjects she has taken: 53 points divided by the 9 subjects gives Nicky an average of 5.9. Work out your own average GCSE grade using using the predictions provided by your teachers. The College requires you to have an average GCSE grade of at least 4.0 (including four GCSEs at grade C or higher) to consider an Advanced level programme. The higher your average GCSE grade, the broader your programme of study is likely to be.
There are individual subject entry requirements and these are outlined in the College Course Guide. Some individual Advanced level subjects will, for example, expect a grade B in that or a closely related GCSE.
Students without a grade C in English (language) and/or Mathematics may experience difficulty in progressing on to an Advanced level programme. If you have taken a pre-A level course (Level 2), you must achieve at least a Merit grade to move on to study at Advanced level.
You will be required to have at least four courses on your timetable to provide breadth to your studies and help you make effective use of your time.
The following table should act as a guide but your choice of subjects, and how many, should be made following discussions at your College interview and with careers advisers.
| Average GCSE Score |
First Year; Typical Course |
Second Year; Typical Progression |
| between 3.0 and 4.0 (including at least 2 GCSE grades of D or higher) |
Pre A-Level Course | 4 AS or equivalent |
|
between 4.0 and 5.0 |
3 AS plus 1 non A-Level | 4 subjects (AS and/or A2) |
|
between 5.0 and 6.0 |
4 AS | 4 A2 or 3 A2 plus 1 AS |
| above 6.0 | 4 or 5 AS | 4 or 5 A2 |