Sixth Form Entry Booklet

47 Appendix A Additional Curriculum Subjects (Column E) for Year 12 2022 – 2023 1. Extended Project (= AS+) Entry requirement: 60 points from your best 8 GCSEs This qualification is viewed very favourably by top universities since it allows the student to choose his own project and show self-motivation and independent learning skills. Extended projects are assessed at the same level as an AS (with the added bonus of being the only AS level qualification where you can be awarded an A* grade). The following extract is taken from the Pearson specification: Dissertation: The dissertation provides learners with the opportunity to develop their knowledge and understanding of a selected topic. The unit requires the learner to plan, research, analyse information and then evaluate and review the project. The findings and recommendations will then be presented by the learner to a selected audience. The unit requires learners to take an active role in managing the project and provides opportunities to develop skills in decision making, problem solving and communicating. It also introduces learners to the techniques and methods of research. It is estimated that the dissertation produced will be 6000+ words in length in addition to evidence of planning research and evaluation. 2. Critical Thinking Skills for Oxbridge, Medics, Dentists and Vets Entry requirement: 60 points from your best 8 including minimum 6 in English and Maths Critical Thinking Skills, which includes critical thinking and reasoning, is of particular use to any student who may be looking at an interview as part of their application to university. Therefore, most commonly Oxbridge, Medics, Dentists and Vets. The course will also prepare students for the style of questions to be met in the BMAT, UCAT, LSATs and similar tests. Critical Thinking is about judging the value or usefulness of evidence and understanding how sound arguments are constructed. Students will encounter a broad variety of topics, often reflecting real-world situations or subjects of debate. As in the real world, some topics may be controversial, and students may have pre-existing feelings about them. However, the focus is on the student’s ability to demonstrate the critical thinking skills, and not on whether one point of view is morally superior to another. Students should develop the skills to accurately judge evidence and argument by the relevant criteria, draw logical conclusions and suggest plausible explanations, and construct persuasive arguments with clear structure that make valid use of the evidence available. 3. Beginners: Japanese The course is an introduction to the language (reading, writing, listening and speaking) and culture.