How to Study A-Levels with Open Study College

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1 How to Study A-Levels with Open Study College Home learning with a difference

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3 Dear Student, As well as being an inspiring stage of your education, A-Levels should also help you to develop into an independent learner - for life, university and the workplace. That s why we offer one of the most flexible and enjoyable ways to study A-Levels in the UK, with expert tutor support; high-quality course materials, and no strict timetables. It s home learning with a difference. It s because we realise that every person has a unique way of learning that we offer our students greater freedom and independence than ordinary sixth forms and colleges. At Open Study College, you study from home, so you can fit your studies around your lifestyle and other commitments. You can start your course at any time, choose any combination of subjects, and take your examinations whenever you feel most prepared. Over 30,000 students have improved their skills with Open Study College, and we invite you to browse this guide to see why so many students are choosing distance learning as a new way to study A-Levels. If you have any further questions or want to find out more about the courses we offer, you can call us free on or visit Wishing you every success in your studies, Samantha Rutter Centre Director Any More Questions? Call us on

4 What are A-Levels? A-Levels, also known as advanced level general certificates of education, are the most popular type of further education qualifications in the UK. Studied by over 867,000 people in England, Wales and Northern Ireland last year, A-Levels offer one of the main routes into UK universities. Any A-Level that you study is made up of two sections: the AS (advanced subsidiary level) and A2 (advanced level). Both of these are qualifications in their own right and are worth UCAS points, which enable you to apply to University. Once you ve completed your AS Level, you can either cash in on those marks to gain AS Level certification, or pursue the A2 stage to top up your AS to a full A-Level. A-Levels are typically assessed by examinations, coursework, or a combination of both. They are graded from A* to E. The UCAS points awarded for these different A-Level grades are shown in the table below: UCAS Points Tariff A-Level Grade UCAS Points A* 140 A 120 B 100 C 80 D 60 E 40 Source: Awarding Organisations AQA AQA is one of the three largest exam boards in England, awarding 49% of all GCSEs and 42% of all A-Levels nationally. Every year, over 3.5 million students study for AQA approved qualifications. EDEXCEL Edexcel is the UK s largest awarding body, offering both academic and vocational qualifications to colleges and schools in the UK and internationally. OCR Oxford Cambridge and RSA Examinations (OCR) is another of the major UK awarding bodies. Over 13,000 centres each year deliver OCR qualifications, which include GCSEs, A-Levels, OCR Nationals and NVQs. 4

5 Why study A-Levels? Excellent reputation A-Levels have been in place since 1951 and are respected worldwide as a prestigious academic qualification. They are recognised by the best-performing universities across the world, including Oxford, Cambridge and Harvard. Widely recognised A-Levels have always been highly valued by many universities and employers. A-levels look respectable on your CV and demonstrate to employers that you have intelligence, a desire to learn, unique skills and interests. Modular assessment Unlike many other qualifications, A-levels are modular, which means that if you do not obtain the mark you had hoped for, you can normally re-sit that particular examination to achieve a better grade. This helps to reduce exam stress so that you can focus on learning to your full potential. Tailored learning A-Levels allow you to study the subjects that inspire and motivate you. As an A-level student, you won t have to take any compulsory subjects like students on other equivalent diploma programmes, so the choice really is yours. At Open Study College you can choose to study any number of subjects, in any combination. We offer a wide range of A-levels across all the major disciplines, including: Accounting Ancient History Biology Business Studies Chemistry Citizenship Critical Thinking Economics English Language & Literature English Literature Environmental Studies Geography Government & Politics Health & Social Care History Law Mathematics Maths & Statistics Philosophy Physics Psychology Religious Studies Sociology Any More Questions? Call us on

6 A-Level Distance Learning: How It Works With Open Study College, you can study exactly the same qualifications as in a traditional college or sixth form, but with the flexibility and benefits of home learning. Study at your own pace There s no need to wait until September to start your A-Levels - you can enrol with Open Study College at any time of year. You can also submit tutor-marked assignments whenever you like, so you can control the pace of your course without the pressure of deadlines. This lets you study flexibly around your lifestyle, helping to keep your motivation high and optimising your chances of success. Trusted Qualifications All A-Levels that we offer are accredited by one of the three main awarding bodies: AQA, OCR or Edexcel, just the same as in any traditional sixth form college. We carefully select our course syllabuses to ensure that our A-Levels are as well-suited to distance learning as possible. Expert tutor support All our tutors are highly qualified, with proven expertise in their subjects. They will offer you one-to-one academic support by , and help you with any questions you have about your studies. All tutors reply to students queries promptly (usually within twenty-four hours), and we also have a dedicated Student Liaison team for you to call for more general queries. Whatever your needs, there will always be someone ready to help you. High-quality course materials Depending on your A-level, you will either receive access to online course materials or a printed study pack, delivered to your door. Both of these study methods have been designed to cover the course content in a clear, manageable chapters with learning activities and exercises to record your progress. Examinations and coursework As a distance learning student, you will need to arrange examinations and formal assessment independently, but this small amount of organisation is well worth the effort, as it allows you to take examinations whenever you feel most prepared for them. We can advise you on how to find an exam centre in your area, and instead of being told when you have to take different exams, you will be able to choose the timing of your assessments to give you the best chances of success. Online student community Those A-Levels which are delivered online come with access to a virtual online learning campus. This will enable you to speak with other students on your course, exchange ideas, share study notes and seek advice in student community forums. Free NUS Extra Card All students who enrol with Open Study College receive a free NUS Extra card which entitles them to discounts and special offers on nearly everything, from driving lessons to cinema tickets, anywhere in the UK. There s a huge range of stores that offer discounts for those with an NUS Extra card, including the following online and high street retailers: AA EasyJet Matalan Ryman Accessorize Dell Miss Selfridge Staples Alton Towers Domino s National Express Superdrug Amazon House of Fraser New Look Ticketmaster Apple La Senza Odeon Virgin Media ASOS JJB Sports Orange Vision Express BSM Littlewoods Pizza Hut Zizzi 6

7 A-Level Distance Learning: How It Works Free CV Writing All students receive a free CV writing service at the end of their course. Our recruitment experts will help to polish and perfect your CV so that it fully represents your achievements to potential employers. It s important to us where your qualifications take you next, and we will do everything we can to help you achieve your goals, whatever you choose to pursue after your A-Levels. Why Open Study College? Open Study College is one of the largest distance learning colleges in the United Kingdom, with a great deal of experience in helping people to achieve their learning goals. To date we have helped over 30,000 people improve their skills and gain trusted qualifications. Open Study College has been accredited by more than 10 qualification awarding bodies and a number of professional and educational associations, including the British Institute of Learning and Development (BILD), Investors in People and the Open and Distance Learning Quality Council (OLDQC). We offer a selection of over 20 different A-levels, and whether you study one A-level or five, the number and combination of subjects that you study will always be up to you. We believe that you should be able to study the subjects that engage you the most and support your goals. Student feedback is encouraged at regular intervals throughout every course so that we can continually strive for an even better home learning experience, year-on-year. Any More Questions? Call us on

8 What our students say I couldn t enrol at my local college until September and I really wanted to start straight away. Then I found Open Study College, who delivered all my course materials to me within a week of enrolment. I loved being able to work at my own pace and I completed my A-Level within 9 months. I now have the extra UCAS points I need to go to University and I m so glad I didn t wait around. Liam Hawkes A-Level Environmental Studies I decided to take a new path with my career and this course has allowed me to do that. The course pack was brilliant and it was nice to know that I could ask for help from my tutor as and when I needed it. Angela Richardson A-Level Government and Politics The course was everything I needed to start an English degree and I found the independent style of distance learning has really helped me adapt to university life. Caroline Smith A-Level English Literature The competition was stiff to get on to the university course I wanted but thanks to my extra qualification I have been offered a place! An immense help to getting me where I want to be! George Hatton A-Level Mathematics 8

9 Frequently Asked Questions Q: When can I enrol onto a course? Unlike studying at a regular college or institution, Open Study College has no term dates, so you can start your course at any time. Q: How soon will I receive my course materials? Online students will receive course materials straight away. Students choosing to receive printed course materials will receive them within 10 working days or less. Q: What can I do when I need help? Most general queries can be solved simply by visiting our online Solution Centre. You will also receive personal tutor support by for all study-related questions, and we have a dedicated telephone number for all administrative matters. Q: I live outside the UK. Can I still study a course with Open Study College? Yes, we deliver course materials to nearly every part of the world. And if you choose to study online, your course will be with you in just a few days. Q: How do I pay the fees for my course? To enrol and pay your fees upfront, simply visit and search for your course. Once you ve found it, click the pink Enrol Now button on the course page and fill out your enrolment and payment details. You can also call our Freephone number to pay your course fees over the phone. Q: If I decide my course is not right for me, how do I cancel? We offer a seven-day money back guarantee on all of our courses. If you decide that you wish to cancel your course for any reason, simply return all course materials to us within seven working days and we ll give you a full refund. Q: What do I do if I still have questions? All specific information relating to individual courses can be found on the Open Study College website. If you would like some more information, you are welcome to speak with one of our Student Advisors by calling Any More Questions? Call us on

10 Contact us Call to see how a course with Open Study College could help advance your prospects. Open Study College 6140 Knight s Court Birmingham Business Park Solihull Parkway B37 7WY Freephone UK: International: Web: [email protected]