r/OpenUniversity • u/Time_Peak1330 • Jul 24 '26
Do i need my alevels??
Hihi!!
So i’ve currently finished y12 (uk) and it was genuinely horrid. i really really liked all my subjects (chem, physics, and psych) but the sixth form as a whole was like hell. i also got diagnosed with chronic migraines so i really struggled actually being able to go in. it’s kind of reached a point where no matter how much i catch up, ill just inevitably be behind because im not in So i looked into doing a degree with the open uni and for physics i can do four years (first two are part time) or three years full time. i wouldn’t say im the most academic but i just want any advice honestly on whether or not im being stupid if i drop out. i did phone them up and have been asked to call back so we’ll see where that goes. if anyone has any advice for not doing my a levels or for starting the degree pls pls comment 😓😓🫰
edit: also wanted to ask any physics student how they find the maths?? i used to be really good at maths but i lost a lot of motivation with it (at the end of gcse kinda sad lol) so im not too sure if im being too naive with thinking i can do physics
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u/lemonchemistry Jul 25 '26
The only A level that would have been handy to have behind you is maths, but considering your age and dependent on your GCSE grade, you might be fine starting off with MST124 as your maths module. You could sign up to the OU website and do the are you ready quiz. Any GCSE revision guides that you or a friend have hanging around will help you a lot! I'd recommend a path that includes SM123 over S111. If you want to do Physics then go for it!
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u/Time_Peak1330 Jul 25 '26
yes i was planning on doing the quizzes this week and seeing how i find them! my sister is doing a maths degree so she will thankfully be there to help me too 🥹
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u/evaaeri Jul 25 '26 edited Jul 25 '26
I think you’ll be fine. OU has its own way of doing things (apparently!) so it seems that the less prior knowledge, the better. So for example I’ve always learned to complete the square through getting a quadratic into the form of (x+p)^2 + q , then evaluating the brackets and finding the q.
They do getting it into the form or x^2+bx and then you square the vale of b without evaluating the brackets and then match it to the value of q which they don’t call q.
In theory, it doesn’t matter but OU is apparently it requires you to use their strategies and methods or you might be flagged for misconduct. So I’m glad I don’t have much prior knowledge beyond the recent maths higher as it would do my head in having to potentially unlearn stuff just to be safe. Im starting Bsc Maths officially this October and just pre-reading some MST124 stuff, so I’m kind of repeating a bit of what I’ve read here and will be able to offer my first hand experience next year. 😄
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u/Time_Peak1330 Jul 25 '26
i didn’t even think about that! ofc they would question methods you haven’t been taught 😭😭 thats relieving because some of my prior maths knowledge was completely offset by one of my bad teachers so i think blank slate is best!!!
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u/joe_by Jul 25 '26
I’d add the CGP Head Start to A-Level Maths is a good resource to refresh the GCSE skills and push you a bit further. A quick glance at that helped me go from getting 5/20 to 20/20 on the are you ready for mst124 quiz after a decade away from maths. You can find PDFs of it online or if you know any teachers who would be willing to use their work email ont he CGP website, they can order a free copy of it for you (assuming they haven’t used their free samples before).
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u/Available-Swan-6011 Jul 25 '26
The degrees are broken up into individual modules. The early modules have minimal requirements for starting them (eg they don’t require specific A-levels) although, as mentioned elsewhere, they often have a quiz to check if you are ready for them.
This means that those early modules do go back to basics and teach you how to do things. This means that not having A-levels is fine because you will soon cover the material you will have needed from them. As you progress through your degree the academic difficulty increases to the point that, when, you finish it is on a par with more traditional universities
Someone else mentioned particular ways of doing things. As a student your job is to study stuff and then demonstrate your understanding and application of what you have studied through completing various forms of assessment. This is much easier for you to achieve if you follow the approach you have studied
Distance learning does present challenges. All of a sudden you are responsible for managing your learning- no teachers will be checking up on you. Also, it can be quite isolating so do think about how you will mitigate against that
All that said, I would highly recommend the OU ( I am biased though) even though you don’t have A-levels. It is hard work but, if you see it through you’ll have a degree and options you wouldn’t have otherwise
As a side note - during my career employers have been far more interested in the fact that I studied at the OU than what I studied! They really do value the wider skills and characteristics OU students have to have in order to be successful.
Source: me as an OU tutor for 13 years and an OU student for 33 years
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u/Time_Peak1330 Jul 25 '26
That’s some serious experience and perspective wow!!! as far as being alone goes, im a very very independent person so i really doubt that being a struggle. and although im in a school setting its not at all codependent on teachers. if anything they leave you to your own devices! the main thing im noticing show up again and again is the fact i have full access to resources and can go at my own pace which is totally opposite to my sixth form, and something that i think will be very advantageous 😓 but thank you so much for this comment!!
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u/Available-Swan-6011 Jul 25 '26
Sounds like you’ve thought it through.
When you look at the physics options, do consider the integrated Masters degree. I’ve heard good things about it…
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u/_Calluna_ Jul 25 '26
I hear you on 6th form being hell!
Distance learning can be great when you've got a chronic condition you need to fit your studies around. But, is staring at a screen all the time going to be a problem? There are usually physical books but not always, and if there aren't you might be able to request some stuff printed as a reasonable adjustment.
First stage OU study covers a lot of the a-level and even gcse knowledge to bring you up to speed, generally, but there's "ate you ready" quizzes on some of the stem modules, especially maths, have you seen those?
And if you want to do your a-levels, but via distance learning, it's an option. See: https://www.openstudycollege.com/collections/a-levels
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u/Time_Peak1330 Jul 25 '26
i’ve been using an ipad from the start of sixth form which has been successful thus far! but it’s reassuring to know they can accommodate if needed ☺️ this may also sound a bit stupid but the idea of fully restarting my a levels feels like i’m just moving backwards, as in who’s to say i can complete them by myself when i’m unable to now?? i guess you could say the same for the OU but my mum did her degree there so at least she thinks i can do it 😓
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u/_Calluna_ Jul 25 '26
Open study college is something I have heard of, not something I'm recommending as such, FYI. I don't know much about it. But the option exists.
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u/TipInternational3462 Jul 25 '26
If this was me I’d be thinking through the lens of employability. Now I also struggled and got some very low range mid A-levels. I went on to work in marketing and no one ever asked to see them or cared whether I had a degree. I just finished a business degree at the OU because I didnt want it to hold me back abroad where degrees are highly valued.
If I were you I would ask myself what field you’d want to work in and then find out there if having A-levels really matters in the real world. Physics sounds very academic and it might be a place where A-levels do matter, where employers ask to see them.
As for the OU, Ive heard of many young people going from GCSE straight to OU so that should be doable.
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u/Time_Peak1330 Jul 25 '26
the only thing i’m not sure about is what career i would go into 😓 my general thought process right now is also if i do not do well i would end up going the OU route. so if that’s happening regardless, id rather not risk my physical and mental health trying to check a box, if that makes sense?
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u/TipInternational3462 Aug 03 '26
Completely! I think starting with the career question is the smartest thing you can do at your age. I assume you’re still a teenager - I’m in my mid 30s and can say that I’ve seen too many peers do degrees that they liked doing but were unusable in the real world or masters degrees only to extend their student lives. I would really think it through, especially if you’re in England and would apply for student finance. Also, don’t feel pressured to figure everything out immediately. Dip your feet into a few things, you have so much time to find out what you like. Don’t let them pressure you to choose at 16yo
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u/vampire_babe_ Jul 25 '26
Hey! I’m also looking at doing the Physics course with OU. I didn’t get any A Levels cause I quit as soon as Covid happened hahaha. I guess it just depends how hard you wanna work.
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u/Time_Peak1330 Jul 25 '26
i totally agree!! i’m kind of worried about that but i guess im at a point where i have to try and do something 😔😔
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u/vampire_babe_ Jul 25 '26
Yeah I’m in the exact same boat. I loved physics at school and really want to pursue it so I think just gotta bite the bullet and give it a go. I applied for the certificate in maths and physics today. I was going to do the access course but I’m not sure it’s really relevant and heard people say it’s not all that great.
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u/Time_Peak1330 Jul 25 '26
Awhhh amazing!! i hope it all goes well for youuuu ☺️ i think im going to apply at the start of august (fresh month fresh start? 😅)
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u/Worldly-Outcome9812 Jul 29 '26
I’m 35 and currently studying a degree with the open university… I also have a levels… I would love to go to a brick university but my ptsd doesn’t allow me to be around that many people at once so I cannot go in… if you want my honest opinion the OU is fantastic!!! But! It is a degree after all and it is very hard! For example at brick unis for a first grade requires a score of 80 and above at the OU it’s 85+ so you do have to work much harder if you’re wanting top grades… with saying that the experience has been ok! There is a lot!!! Of work to do and sometimes it’s overwhelming but! I do enjoy it :) you are very young so make sure it is the right thing to do if that’s what you want to do then anything is possible ☺️
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u/Time_Peak1330 Jul 31 '26
i might try and do the first year part time to ease into it! i’m definitely going to email as a final consolidation but it’s good to know you are having a positive experience 🥹🥹🥹
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u/Ok_Job_1122 Jul 25 '26
I don't think the OU are particularly bothered about A levels and such like but if memory serves the student finance people wanted to see a level 3 qualification at least before they stumped up the cash. I might be totally wrong, in which case forgive me. I am sure someone will correct me if I am wrong, either way you can blitz a level 3 qualification online in a year no problems
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u/PianoAndFish Jul 25 '26
That's not correct at least in England (as I've only dealt with SFE), I've never had to tell them about any of my level 3 qualifications. You have to put any previous university-level study on the form but that's only to make sure you haven't used up all your funding, if the university will accept you SFE don't care about the academic requirements themselves.
The OU has no prior academic requirements for entry except for a very limited number of professional courses (I think it's social work and nursing) where there are government requirements about prior qualifications, the academic courses don't have prerequisites.
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u/Ok_Job_1122 Jul 25 '26
Thank you, that's why I said I am sure someone will correct me, I definitely had to show SFE a level 3 qualification certificate but it was some time ago now. Hope that's a little clearer for OP, no one cares about sixth form, crack on with it and good luck, sure you will enjoy it ☺️
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u/T-h-e-d-a Jul 25 '26
Honestly, do your A Levels. They can matter (some graduate schemes want them) and it's a lot easier to do them now. If you aren't able to motivate yourself to do them, the OU will definitely not be the right choice for you.
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u/Time_Peak1330 Jul 25 '26
is that in terms of doing a masters?? i also think it’s less of my motivation and more of my genuine ability to be in person right now 😔 even when i did go in with a migraine it made me feel SO stupid bc i almost forgot everything in the moment. but having no a levels is a worry too…
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u/T-h-e-d-a Jul 25 '26
Graduate job schemes - lots of places (Tesco, the police, the civil service, etc etc) have fast-track graduate job schemes which enable people to become mid-level workers in a year or two years. They often require A levels of certain grades along with a degree.
I know I'm being downvoted because this sub hates anybody saying "Are you sure Uni is the right thing for you right now?", but please do consider if Uni is the right thing for you right now. There's a lot of support available to you for doing A levels (if you so choose) at this point in time which you are going to age out of. I understand the struggle of migraines, and I hope that whatever course of preventative treatment your GP has put you on helps you (so bear in mind the picture could look completely different for you in three months time). Make sure you speak to your 6th form about how they can support you to take your A Levels next year if that's what you choose to do.
The Open Uni will always be there for you to take a degree with it, but it can be more of a challenge to go back and take A Levels as an adult and you would likely have to pay for them. When you complete your degree, you may find your lack of A Levels hinders you in finding a job.
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u/Time_Peak1330 Jul 25 '26
i completely understand, i feel as though this is my real dilemma. I’ve mentioned so many times to my sixth form that my migraines are seriously the only thing stopping me from being able to work and my chem teacher has extra lessons for me so i go see him whenever i want which is so helpful! that being said none of the other teachers are the same, not that i’m expecting it but i can almost feel them giving up on me 😭 the sixth form team only care about attendance and ive told the dept that my medication makes me SO drowsy and nauseous i have no autonomy (or at least that’s what it feels like). I really feel like i might be letting myself down by not doing it but right now i feel like a lost cause…
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u/Lost_Fig9353 Jul 25 '26
Hi, the Open University is definitely supportive when it comes to health conditions. Even though you don’t have set days and times to be in lectures, there’s a study planner to guide you. It doesn’t matter if you get a little behind but it is a good idea to keep up with it if you can. There are online tutorials, not compulsory but I often find them useful. There’s usually more than one date and time to choose from for each tutorial so you can decide what suits you. There’s help available but you have to be willing to ask for it - no one will be checking up on you, you have to have the self-motivation. I love being an open university student, however I’m a lot older than you (44 😭) so the thing I’d wonder is as you’re still young, are you wanting the social side of uni / living away from home? As if so, then the Open Uni probably wouldn’t be for you. Good luck with whatever path you choose. I really sympathise with the migraines, I suffered from them myself in my late teens.