These include volunteering, physical activity, skills, expedition and a residential. However, completion of DofE, especially Silver and Gold, are excellent talking points for your Personal Statement as they display proficiency in a wide variety of soft skills. The opinions expressed within articles on this site reflect the opinions of individual student contributors, not Think Student as a whole. Truth: The D of E does not equal any UCAS points, Myth: The D of E is important for a UCAS application, Truth: It is a recognisable achievement, but for UCAS applications, exam, Myth: The D of E makes my UCAS application unique. LAMDA Exams are another great example of a way to get yourself out of a classroom setting to earn some extra UCAS Points, and they can be taken at any point, so If you have already done some (from Grade 6 Grade 8) you may already have some UCAS Points. The DofE also demonstrates many soft skills that cannot be communicated through academic grades alone. This is usually the most challenging element for participants who must trek with their tent, water and cooking supplies carried on their backs. The DofE residential must be completed as part of the Gold Award. The difference is that Pre-U Qualifications give students more of an opportunity to work independently, so that they are more prepared for University study. It is commonly said that the Duke of Edinburgh Award can really help your university application. This site is owned and operated by Think Student Ltd. A standard distance to walk is 16km per day on Bronze, 19km per day on Silver, and 23km per day on Gold. DofE is split into three different levels, which you can take at different ages and which differ in intensity and material required. Speak to the activity provider prior to packing for your residential experience. You can learn lots of new skills, improve your fitness and take part in expeditions and adventure activities. You must also undertake an expedition that lasts 4 days and 3 nights as well as a residential. The Best Free Homeschooling Resources UK Parents Need to Start Using Today. You must decide on an aim as part of your DofE Gold expedition to give purpose to your walk. Study for a Level 3 Diploma, Certificate or Award in your spare time. A-Levels are the most common way of getting UCAS Points. There are lots of DofE residential providers across the UK offering a variety of activities. You can't list it as a qualification in your education section. It comprises of four sections for Bronze and Silver and 5 sections for Gold. The UCAS Website will provide you with more information about the Scottish Highers. The other two need only be half that length of time. The Duke of Edinburgh Award is a fun and educational programme for young people aged 14-24. Read the providers reviews and ensure they have appropriate accommodation and qualifications for the activities. . These are the sorts of questions that you are going to have to ask yourself in relation to your DofE. It is aimed at students aged 16 and over to allow them to develop their employability skills. The details of this course can be found on the ASDAN Website. You can choose to simply have a greater understanding of more advanced maths. Check out my post Use DofE to make your CV and Personal Statement shine for the full rundown. The qualifications that are required vary based on the type of apprenticeship that you want to do, and which company you would like to work with. A Level 3 Free Standing Maths Qualification (FSMQ) is usually taken by GCSE students who excel at maths and want to be challenged. For example, being a leader at a UK-based holiday camp for disadvantaged young people. OK, its a bit more involved than simply going horse riding, but if youre a keen rider then you can use your equestrian skills to your advantage by taking qualifications from the British Horse Society. The DofE is many things to many people, supporting generations to successfully navigate adult life. You have to complete all four parts to finally achieve the award. Apprenticeships are a great way to get qualified while also earning a wage. Unfortunately, this isnt a quick way to earn extra UCAS Points, as you have to have put a significant amount of time into playing in order to reach a Grade 6 level. The points you can gain range from 5 UCAS points for a pass at Grade 6 to 75 points for a Distinction at Grade 8. Subject areas you can choose from for the Free-standing Mathematics Qualification include Additional Maths, Using and Applying Statistics, Working with Algebraic and Graphical Techniques, and Modelling with Calculus. Report. Bronze is open to anyone aged 14 and above. Arty types might like Trinity College Londons Gold Arts Award, which gives you 35 extra points in recognition of your involvement with a range of arts projects and leadership (recorded in a portfolio in a medium of your choosing, such as a diary, video or blog). Unfortunately, some illusions may be shattered along the way. You can earn UCAS Points from Grade 6 - Grade 8, in both instrumental and music theory exams. You will not receive UCAS points for completing the Duke of Edinburgh Award. Summer School 2023 is filling up fast. At the end of each level participants receive an award to recognise their achievements. Young Enterprise is a programme that has been running since 1963. The expedition is the most exciting element of the Duke of Edinburgh Award by a country mile. Sure, it matters that you did something outside of the mainstream school system. Obviously, the amount of UCAS Points you can gain varies based on whether you achieve a Pass, Merit or Distinction in your exam - so it is really worth practicing hard in your preparation. Suitable for aspiring actors and those who just enjoy performing, these qualifications develop your theatrical skills and enables you to get better at speaking clearly. In fact, simply as an addition to your CV and University Application, its not really necessary for you to do a course and gain the qualification (though if it is something that is available to you it shouldnt be turned down!). BH19 2PX, Outdoor Adventure School Residential Trips in Dorset. They want proof of that. It is also worth taking into account the fact that apprenticeships can be very competitive, because there are so many benefits to them, but this does not mean that you should not try to get them after all, youll never get to do them if you dont apply! Rather, your school will tell you the time and date (usually a bank holiday weekend) and you will plot the route. In order to earn UCAS Points for volunteering, you could complete either a NOCN Diploma or Award in International Volunteering. Depending on what Volunteering, Physical and Skills young people choose to get involved in with their D of E, the ability to relate their DofE experience to their prospective study is endless! You may choose to serve others by undertaking a voluntary role supporting an organisation e.g., helping at a Scouts camp, or you could explore environmental or educational topics by signing up to a field studies trip. A Certificate of Personal Effectiveness (CoPE) Level 3 will get you 16 UCAS Points. 0. ASDAN offer community-based courses that can get you plenty of extra UCAS points, such as the CoPE (16 UCAS points) and Wider Key Skills (3 different qualifications available, 8 points each). If so, youll be pleased to learn that the exams you do will give you extra UCAS points from Grade 6 upwards. In a similar way to A-Levels, you will have a broader range of subjects that you can continue with at degree level. Maybe your child does not currently participate in any regular extracurricular activities. Due to this, the accuracy of articles on this site cannot always be guaranteed. Qualities that colleges, universities and employers are attracted to. For example, you may want to do a diploma in Fashion, or Fitness Instructing and Personal Training. For Bronze, the expedition has to be two days and one night, with six hours of activity on each day. Performance is a great confidence boost, too, thus extending your comfort zone and improving your ability to take on new challenges. Reply 13. Some Universities may also have their own specific systems of UCAS Points, where they only accept a certain number for extra activities, or they dont count them in their offer totals at all. As a Gold Award holder, I also recommend including details of your residential and explaining that you did not know anyone but still managed to complete the activities while challenging yourself, learning new skills and making new friends. If you are over the age of 18 you can complete the award independently with the support of DofE leader via email and telephone. Is There A Virgin Lounge At Edinburgh Airport? The maximum age to complete the DofE Awards is 25 years old. One of the benefits of these types of qualification is that you can go into a more specific field earlier on, which is great if you have an idea of what career path you want to take when you are 16. You must be in an unfamiliar environment and lead by an organised group, registered charity or Approved Activity Provider. It is also a qualification which is really valued by Universities as it demonstrates your individual study skills. How did doing your DofE help prepare you for University life? Some organisations running the award may charge a fee to cover administration costs and activities may be an additional extra. The platform that connects tutors and students. a st annes admission tutor told me we dont care how many Dof E awards youve got. Either way, an EPQ is a great way to develop your academic skills in the subject that you want to continue studying at University, and it will give you something extra to add to your personal statement! Though this does not mean that it is limited to this group. Over 20.000+ qualified tutors provide first-class tutoring in all school subjects. However, its more about what you have learned from it than the fact that you have done it. The number of UCAS Points that you can earn are listed on the ABRSM Website. This means that if you have been learning a musical instrument, and doing the exams as you go along, you may be lucky enough to already have some UCAS Points. No. However, some universities look at extracurricular activities favourably during the admission process. Students can take 4 to 6 Highers in total, so if you want to earn extra UCAS Points, the more subjects the better! Thats not to say that your application will suffer if you only have three A-levels offers are almost always given based on three A-levels anyway (top universities might give an offer that includes four A-levels, but only if the candidate in question happens to be studying four). Which parts of the UCAS application can you use your DofE experience in? BTECs are another common alternative to A-Levels. A friend just told me they put 6A* and 2 A as their gcse result on ucas while his gcse result is 1*A (math) 2A and the rest are B-D. An Extended Project Qualification (or EPQ) is a great way of adding to your UCAS Points. Find out what else looks good on your university application! You also have the option of taking the Certificate in Advanced English, which is a less advanced qualification that offers 70 points to those who achieve an A grade. But is this true? All apprentices earn a specific minimum wage (details of which can be found here). Along with the practical skills such qualifications instil, they also teach you the ability to work well with others a useful skill to be able to talk about in job applications and interviews. This means that if you wanted to take a BTEC at Sixth Form, you would need to be more certain of the career path you wanted to take earlier on. While it's standard to take three A-levels, many of the brightest students will be taking four or even five A-levels, or four . The Gold residential must include 5 consecutive days of group activities and at least 4 nights away from home. Theyre also a brilliant way to turn your hobbies into extra UCAS points without eating too much into the time you need to do well in your A-levels. Unfortunately though, you will not be able to get involved in this unless you are living and studying in Wales. Cumulus also runs bronze, silver and gold Duke of Edinburgh walking and kayaking expeditions. According to reports from UCAS, most business-related courses require BBB at A-Level which brings a total of 120 UCAS points. There are 5 sections to complete as part of the Gold DofE award. One of the main goals of the Duke of Edinburghs Award is to improve young peoples social skills and interaction with peers. Distance learning courses and evening classes at your local college are two avenues for you to explore for completing an award, certificate or diploma in your spare time, alongside your A-level studies. Students can earn UCAS points by doing AS- Level, A-Level exams and IB diplomas, as well as through a few smaller independent qualifications. Our goal is to connect every student with the perfect tutor. Since then, it has been growing and growing and, these days, there are over 450,000 participants at any one time in the UK. So, if youve got the time, and you can afford to do so, I would wholeheartedly recommend DofE Gold. The residential provides participants with an opportunity to expand their horizons and pursue new and existing interests and passions. When Did Stirling Stop Being The Capital Of Scotland? The reason why it is technically called an adventurous journey is because it is not required for you to walk. For full courses, known as Principal Subjects, youll receive up to 145 UCAS points, while Short Courses available in Modern Foreign Languages, Mathematics and Global Perspectives attract up to 60 points. You'll likely want to focus the first 80% of your personal statement on your specific course and why you want to study it. They want to see that you are interested in the subject to which you are applying. It is offered by OCR, and combines aspects of GCSE maths with AS and A-Level Maths. If your childs school isnt licensed to run the DofE a local Youth Group may be. Is the Duke of Edinburgh award a professional qualification? You will feel a huge sense of achievement when you have completed all of the sections and receive your award. Regardless, the skills which you learn from some of the ways that you can gain UCAS Points will aid your application, as they can help to demonstrate the wide variety of skills that you possess. It has been designed to allow you hone your specific skillset and explore the topics that matter most to you. This will indicate to universities that you can adapt to new surroundings and thus fit in well. Not at all, by all means do it if you have the time, but your exam results are far more important. Whats the Best Age to Start Swimming Lessons? Although dance can be challenging and requires a lot of work, it can be used as a good way to have a break from your academic studies while also allowing you to do something that has the potential to help your academic career. I've just applied and was able to write in my bronze, sliver and gold. Get a Horse-Riding Qualifications From The British Horse Society. Which parts of the UCAS application can you use your DofE experience in? It doesn't give you that many points however. This is a good compromise for students who want to earn more UCAS Points, and increase their knowledge of more subjects, but who also perhaps feel that 4 full A-Levels is too much. You must complete all of the sections before you turn 25. However, it may mean that you already have some UCAS Points, or that you can get UCAS Points by completing the exams (if you are already at a high level). If yes, then the DofE could be a useful tool to display non-academic achievements in a UCAS university personal statement as well as being a beneficial experience overall. If i drop a subject can universities withdraw my offer? The Duke of Edinburgh Award started in 1956 as a project to attract schoolboys who were not enrolled in Scouts or a similar group, but it was soon extended to young women in the following year. Has anybody accepted university offers so far in 2023? A DofE Award also looks good on your CV and can be useful when applying for educational courses and jobs. A Cambridge Pre-U Qualification is an alternative to A-Levels which is equivalent in value. Remember, they are academic institutions and their primary function is to educate academically. Enjoy a fun-filled activity programme including coasteering, kayaking, climbing, abseiling and more. The qualifications are all about developing your volunteering skills and knowledge, and recognising the unpaid work you do for the benefit of your community. It demonstrates commitment, hard-work, determination and your ability to work independently and as part of a team. Usually, you pick 3 subjects to study, but there is often an option to do 4 (which will obviously earn you more UCAS Points!). No. Why Do I Have Mice In My House All Of A Sudden? Gold demands four days and three nights, with eight hours. Developed by Cambridge International Examinations, the Cambridge Pre-U qualifications can completely replace A-levels with a full programme of studies that gives you a diploma, or you can take a shorter course (over the course of a year) alongside your A-levels. As well as benefiting local charities, these skills will be invaluable for your CV and will make you more attractive to potential employers, whether you want to end up working in the charity sector or not. It consists of a number of parts, which are: If youd like to find out more about the Skills Challenge Certificate, take a look at this page about the Welsh Baccalaureate, which explains how the qualification works. How many UCAS points do you need for Oxford? Founded the Duke himself almost 60 years ago, it was designed to encourage anyone aged 14 to 24 to take on a range of activities that develop skills such as leadership, perseverance, team work and. So, no, you cant just do the expedition. What the DofE does show to universities, however, is that you are committed: committed to learning new skills, committed to developing yourself beyond the classroom. Double check whether theyre on the list of approved DofE activity providers. Youll probably know it as the extra-curricular activity par excellence, that shows practical skills alongside your academic excellence. You can gain confidence in speaking, writing and listening, which will all be incredibly useful skills. The DofE has most definitely built my self-esteem to be able to apply for things I would otherwise not have done. There are some circumstances where it is acceptable to know one or two other people, but the majority of the residential group should be unknown. Beyond that, its a way of showing employers that you have a superb command of the English language, which youll need in order to be able to communicate effectively with colleagues and customers when working in a business. Are you still using the skills you gained during your DofE programme? Does Gold DofE get UCAS points? What are the Hardest GCSEs? For example, you might be leaning towards doing all humanities subjects at A-level, because thats whats going to give you the best chances of securing a place on a particular degree course; but you still want to be able to show potential employers that your knowledge of maths is higher than GCSE, as this will help you stand out a bit more. Whatever you mention, just make sure you explain how it helped you develop and how you would adapt this to study to succeed. Its good to keep perspective however, with 330,000 students participating in the DofE in the 20/21 season its not an unusual achievement by itself. There are age restrictions for each level of the Duke of Edinburgh Award. Pre-16 Qualifications Most courses also require that you have certain pre-16 qualifications, including GCSE Maths and English. Reach out to a GoStudent tutor to ensure that your child reaches their full potential on exam day. Aiming to encourage a spirit of adventure and discovery, you have to plan, train for, and complete an adventurous journey somewhere in the UK or abroad. To count towards your Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award the residential must be away from home and last for at least 4 nights and 5 consecutive days. Like going away from home, on your own, and interacting with a group of your peers. But lets just say that the Duke of Edinburgh Award or DofE, as it is known perhaps doesnt help in the way that you think it does. Your email address will not be published. Here's what universities want to see in your application - and how you can show them everything you've got. Why did this happen? school clubs that look good to universities, looks good on your university application. 5 (39 reviews) Siddharth. Horse-Riding is another fun way to earn UCAS Points, which does not have an especially academic basis. Dont do it just because it makes you look like a more rounded candidate. Therefore, it depends which Universities that you are applying to as to how essential UCAS Points are, so it is important to do your research! Many students consider taking more than the standard three AS/A-Levels, or they will take an A Level course on top of their core T-Level. Mapping out and preparing for one continuous journey over several days, which could be on foot, bicycle, canoe or another method that requires physical effort (no cars or electric scooters!) R-CAPTCHA. Dance Examinations are a great way to earn extra UCAS Points. The 10 Hardest A Level Subjects to Run Towards or Away From! Volunteering is not only a good way of adding to your UCAS Points, but it is also a wonderful addition to your CV. If you are still in education, you may be able to complete the award through your school, college or youth group, as long as they are a licensed DofE provider. All sections of the award must be completed to pass the DofE award. If you are starting at Gold level, without completing your Silver it will take at least 18 months. Doing the Duke of Edinburgh programme will probably have little to no impact on your university application. For people who complete the Gold award (which, by the way, is the only one in which any universities are going to be interested), you will have to do the fifth element. I would mention that you can succeed without outside help even in potentially harsh conditions, have the mental and physical power to overcome challenges and can work well as a team. How to Get UCAS Points (19+ Legitimate Ways). No. Taking 4 A-Levels is a challenge, but if you do it successfully, it does increase the number of UCAS Points that you will earn, while also giving you good knowledge of a whole extra subject. You must be at least 16 years old. If youre thinking of doing this, talk to the teachers at your school to find out what subjects would fit into your timetable. PSHE teacher told us that watching porn is ok and healthy, UCAS Applications + Uni group discussion threads 2023 **Official Thread**, The Courtauld Institute of Art 2023 offers. If you arent sure which subjects work well when combined, take a look at this useful article which lists some good A-Level combinations. DofE can help young people discover new hobbies and talents. A well as developing your specific subject knowledge, an Access to HE Diploma is intended to provide you with the study skills and general tools to make your time at University much more manageable and successful. /h. When recording your activity on eDofE you will have to provide the residential start and end date as well as the date you started planning it. 5 (12 reviews) Participating in an activity that increases knowledge in a certain area, not to be confused with something physical. They also mean that you have the option, if it interested you, to go straight into the field of work that you have been studying, as you will have hands on experience alongside your qualification. However, some universities look at extracurricular activities favourably during the admission process.
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