SIM student taking private As

[Like A Sir]

Hi I'm now a going-to-year 2 student at SIM taking a business degree and seriously considering self-studying A levels (not private, I can't edit the title) concurrently with my RMIT degree. I intend to pursue final year bachelor's honours by transferring to other overseas universities (UoM, ANU) with the help of their scholarships however I worry the fact that SIM being an offshore campus might hinder the chance of getting one. In an effort to improve my chance of securing a scholarship, I'm trying to get A levels results and letters of recommendation to support my degree results.

I was an ex-poly student so I don't know much about the structure of A levels. I've looked around the net and saw most unis' admission criteria are three H2 subjects, a H1 (looking at A levels' accounting, business management, mathematics, economics) subjects and GP. I went through these subjects in my first year of studies and thought it might be easier to study compared to science modules. I'm curious to know if the requirement of 3 x H2, 1 x H1 and a GP, and my choice of subjects are recommended combinations, and I welcome any advices and comments

 

[Havok_ex]

I would actually recommend one more H1 subject to add to your combination. Because the JC students also take an additional H1 PW and H1 mother tongue. But since mother tongue is not really counted. You'd still be lacking one subject.

 

[xxlxxlxxl]

Hello! I am also in sim, going to year 2. I am currently taking business in uol. I would strongly disencourage u from taking A level. I took A level but i failed my gp. That's why i am in sim. I think u should continue with ur rmit degree, do well for that and try to apply for master in local uni.

 

[CarlFTC]

are u doing well in ur rmit degree currently?

but its not a wise move. how are u going to cope with a degree prog and A level? A level is not a walk in the park, furthermore u come from a poly background. you might end up not doing well in both.

 

[Havok_ex]

Yeah, I think I agree with the rest, A levels is pretty darn difficult. Unless you are super confident and your grades in RMIT are high, dont attempt the A levels. Do well for your RMIT degree so as to be able to further your education.

 

[KylieeeRauhl]

I just finished my Alevels last nov and I'm currently planning to go to SIM to study psychology. I cannot impose my opinions on you, but I suggest not to take the Alevels.
You were from a poly and the Alevels syallabus is not easy. I'm not saying that you wont be able to do well if you take the Alvls, but it would be quite a struggle because you arent familiar with the subjects and all. Furthermore as the years go by, it is believed that the admission cut-off for courses like FASS/biz to be higher
I have always been quite okay in my maths from primary-sec sch, and my languages were pretty strong too. But in JC, I have been failing my maths in exams, and although I improved quite abit at my Alevels, but I still did pretty average getting a C :/ and I didnt have a good pass (A or B) in GP (english) too, which made it very hard for me to enter Arts/Humanities courses in the 3 local unis which is what I really want to pursue now
It could be just my own fault that I didnt study v hard during my JC year 1 causing me to do badly in my year 2 too, but tbh the JC syallabus is rly tough. If you have no experience studying the Alevel syallabus, and whatsmore you are going to take the Alevels as a private candidate, its gonna be even tougher.

Like what some of the others have suggested, just do really well for ur current degree, and then try to apply for either scholarships, or apply for the Masters Programme at the local unis. Dont risk taking the Alevels, because if you struggle with it, its gonna affect your degree too, and it could end up you not doing well for both, which isnt worth the risk, in my opinion.

But in the end, just do what you believe in, but do take into account the risks. Hope u make the right decision

 

[voiceoflove]

nv took A lvl b4..but looking at O lvl is pretty hard already


I would say O lvl is one of the hardest exam in my life hha

 

[Like A Sir]

I would actually recommend one more H1 subject to add to your combination. Because the JC students also take an additional H1 PW and H1 mother tongue. But since mother tongue is not really counted. You'd still be lacking one subject.

Yeah, I think I agree with the rest, A levels is pretty darn difficult. Unless you are super confident and your grades in RMIT are high, dont attempt the A levels. Do well for your RMIT degree so as to be able to further your education.

Correct me if I'm wrong but aren't most admissions 3h2/1h1, where the H1 is usually GP? I thought most JC students study 3h2/2h1 to be safe. If I add 1 more that's 6 subjects: 3h2 3h1(incl GP). That's a lot.

About my studies, my GPA is at a safe level in securing a "pseudo-firstclass" equivalent (mine's not an honours degree) so I'm considering this weird route. My timetables have an average of 3 hours lecture each day, so the rest of my time could be spent on both sides of revision. IMO, there's still some free time but no doubt I have to sacrifice some CCA commitments. I'll still prioritise RMIT's results over A levels. Any signs of jeopardizing the grades and I would stop studying for A levels.

Hello! I am also in sim, going to year 2. I am currently taking business in uol. I would strongly disencourage u from taking A level. I took A level but i failed my gp. That's why i am in sim. I think u should continue with ur rmit degree, do well for that and try to apply for master in local uni.

I'm aiming to do well for my degree. Not gonna sacrifice the grades for A levels. I just want to make use of my idle time to get financial aid in honours degree and beyond. If I can't, this is probably where I'll stop unless I'm awarded sponsors from companies.

I just finished my Alevels last nov and I'm currently planning to go to SIM to study psychology. I cannot impose my opinions on you, but I suggest not to take the Alevels....

I hear from many that it's difficult to score...yeah the degree's more important. The Alevels is just something to help in their consideration for my scholarships. Also the main reason why I do this despite the difficulty is because majority of my first year RMIT studies include finance, accounting, statistics, economics, marketing; and I want to do math, econs, accounting, biz management for my Alevels. I've checked out SEAB's website, assessment books at a bookstore and my Alevels subjects' syllabi. I compared them and the topics largely overlap thus I surmise that it would be easier compared to bio/chem/phy. I realize the topics that I need to spend much work on are few: GP(I heard this is especially difficult) and pure maths. It should save me a lot of time from learning new concepts. But I fear the fact that many JC students who should be above average academically, say they are difficult make me suspect that Alevel's marking methodology is super stringent

But I'll keep a look out on my GPA. Once I think there's a chance of my GPA dropping, I'll stop studying for Alevels temporary. About getting masters from a local uni I feel that they don't recognize DL degrees other than UOL (which sometimes make me feel I should take UOL in my first year instead lol). Much less a non-honours degree even if I grad with good marks, although they take working experience into account.

nv took A lvl b4..but looking at O lvl is pretty hard already


I would say O lvl is one of the hardest exam in my life hha

To each his own i guess
something thats easy for you its difficult for others. the opposite also same...
sometimes i meet people after exams who say they are difficult in the end score very high haha

 

[Havok_ex]

Correct me if I'm wrong but aren't most admissions 3h2/1h1, where the H1 is usually GP? I thought most JC students study 3h2/2h1 to be safe. If I add 1 more that's 6 subjects: 3h2 3h1(incl GP). That's a lot.

No, the H1 GP is considered as something that is additional but at the same time absolutely compulsory.
The average JC student takes this:

H2-Chem
H2-Phy
H2-Math
H1-General paper
H1-Project Work
H1-Economics
H1-Mother tongue

Ta da. Thats like, probably 50% of the A level cohort's subject combi. Yes, that's 7 subjects. You can switch around whichever way you like, just make sure that GP is still there. Since UAS is capped at 90, mother tongue is usually not counted in because if you count MT, the UAS is 100. So you still have 3H2/3H1 subjects to take.

And by the way, there are other A level students that actually take more H2 subjects in place of the easier H1 subjects and additional H3 subjects as well. The subject list above is literally the bare minimum. Not trying to dampen the mood, just want to get the facts out for you so that you can properly consider your options.

 

[wav35_]

nv took A lvl b4..but looking at O lvl is pretty hard already


I would say O lvl is one of the hardest exam in my life hha

lol if u think O lvl is hard, A lvl is prob 3 times worse. and my UOL friends told me UOL is 1.5 to 2 times of A lvl.

 

[wav35_]

About my studies, my GPA is at a safe level in securing a "pseudo-firstclass" equivalent (mine's not an honours degree) so I'm considering this weird route. My timetables have an average of 3 hours lecture each day, so the rest of my time could be spent on both sides of revision. IMO, there's still some free time but no doubt I have to sacrifice some CCA commitments. I'll still prioritise RMIT's results over A levels. Any signs of jeopardizing the grades and I would stop studying for A levels.

which course in rmit are u from dude? dun have to do projs? i thought all the major projs are enough to zap your energy already though it differs across modules. so it will really be hard for you to focus on A lvl. imo, if u get a degree with distinction (at least gpa 3 out of 4) u stand a high chance of being accepted into the honours prog of go8 unis already, but im not sure about the scholarships. can i ask why you wanna do the honours year? a 3 year pass degree is enough to apply for masters in aust uni already. btw take note to maintain ur gpa, cos a single credit (60 to 69) is enough to push your gpa down already.

 

[zened88]

Hi I'm now a going-to-year 2 student at SIM taking a business degree and seriously considering self-studying A levels (not private, I can't edit the title) concurrently with my RMIT degree. I intend to pursue final year bachelor's honours by transferring to other overseas universities (UoM, ANU) with the help of their scholarships however I worry the fact that SIM being an offshore campus might hinder the chance of getting one. In an effort to improve my chance of securing a scholarship, I'm trying to get A levels results and letters of recommendation to support my degree results.

I was an ex-poly student so I don't know much about the structure of A levels. I've looked around the net and saw most unis' admission criteria are three H2 subjects, a H1 (looking at A levels' accounting, business management, mathematics, economics) subjects and GP. I went through these subjects in my first year of studies and thought it might be easier to study compared to science modules. I'm curious to know if the requirement of 3 x H2, 1 x H1 and a GP, and my choice of subjects are recommended combinations, and I welcome any advices and comments

Oh boy, where do I start? Which business degree are you doing, Accounting or like Marketing/HR? and are you currently the best student in your cohort? Trust me if I tell you that if you're the top student in your cohort, you'll easily say get a job in the Big 4 audit firms as EY or so and even a scholarship to do your Master/Honours in Aust.

If you think you're the best in your cohort already then go ahead take the A levels and improve your chances for your scholarship.. To put it simply, don't be the jack of all trades, just be the master of one.

The A levels is so deep that even people in our local JCs' doing full time studies couldn't get straight distinctions, and I can honestly tell you I was one of them that didn't do well. Don't make a costly mistake, read what everyone here is tell you.

Cheers.

 

[Like A Sir]

@ Havok_ex
Thanks for your help. The scope is more than I previously thought. I think I'll stay away from it for now

@ wav35_
Marketing course. All my future modules have projects. Few reasons for taking honours(pay, prospect, better uni branding, not DL degree, change of culture, higher chance for sponsered Msc/Mba, possibility of migration). I won't consider honours unless I have financial aid because the fee is 50k+ and my family is considered lower middle income class.

@ zened88
Marketing. There're no official rankings. I'm not sure if I'm the best but probably among the top 5% out of 200+. I think I'll heed the advices from the people and stay away from A's. Besides, in the case of academic requirement for scholarships, a high GPA is not an end-all. The relative ranking in my cohort contributes a lot too. I'll aim for maximising each module's mark for now.