This indeed is a moment when all of your future depends upon the choice you make. There is no room for experimentation, for you risk crushing your dreams to pieces if you take the wrong turn. On one hand, there is the undeniable quality education of A Level that will hand over to you an international degree, and on the other hand, there is the local education system where it’s easier to score marks, and perhaps even easier to adapt to certain higher studies that you will be pursuing afterwards.
IS FSC HARDER THAN A LEVELS?
There never is a definite answer. Nothing comes easy. Efforts always have to be made to get something worthwhile. Though these two systems are totally different, you could never compare their complexity.
While the FSc system contains more subjects and syllabus contents (you have to study Pakistan Studies, English, Islamiyat, Urdu, and so on alongside your choice of sciences or humanities) than A Levels, their evaluation system is not as advanced as A Levels, which is an understandable reality. It basically all depends upon your approach. With an O Level background, it will be much difficult to adapt to the local system of Inter but it doesn’t mean you will do great at A Levels. Even with A*s at O Level, you will find yourself doing ten times the work you did at O Levels, with harder concepts. Both systems will require a strong degree of effort academically.
If you’re the sort of a person who is looking for an “easy way out”, then, no offence, but it is our humble opinion that you should reevaluate your priorities and reflect upon who are you and who you want to be before even coming towards the topic of A Level and FSc.
While the FSc system contains more subjects and syllabus contents (you have to study Pakistan Studies, English, Islamiyat, Urdu, and so on alongside your choice of sciences or humanities) than A Levels, their evaluation system is not as advanced as A Levels, which is an understandable reality. It basically all depends upon your approach. With an O Level background, it will be much difficult to adapt to the local system of Inter but it doesn’t mean you will do great at A Levels. Even with A*s at O Level, you will find yourself doing ten times the work you did at O Levels, with harder concepts. Both systems will require a strong degree of effort academically.
If you’re the sort of a person who is looking for an “easy way out”, then, no offence, but it is our humble opinion that you should reevaluate your priorities and reflect upon who are you and who you want to be before even coming towards the topic of A Level and FSc.
DO YOU WISH TO PURSUE A CAREER IN THE FIELD OF MEDICINE?
If becoming an MBBS doctor (or going into nursing, dentistry, and the like) is your all-time dream, then it’s high time that you consider your O Level grades, whether you can afford a private institution for medicine or not, and whether you wish to go abroad instead of continuing your study in Pakistan or not.
If you are affluent enough to get into local private institutions, then no need to worry; head over for the quality work of A Level. Even if you can’t bear the expenses, the game is not over yet. The government institutions for medical education in Pakistan cost nominal fees, however, it should be noted that they hold a limited amount of open-merit seats that are offered to the highest scoring students.
Now, there are certain facts about studying MBBS/BDS that you should be aware of as well. Firstly, to get into government universities (this applies to Punjab) in general, your final aggregate must easily be above 85%. To get into a prestigious government university like King Edward Medical University, Allama Iqbal Medical College, Nishtar Medical College, Fatima Jinnah Medical University, and so on, you must aim for a 90% at the very least. How is this aggregate calculated? Out of the 100%, 50% is derived from your A Level/FSc score, and 50% is derived from your entry test score (known as the UHS MDCAT)
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However, the scores and equivalence aren’t the only factors to consider. The other half of your aggregate, the 50% derived from your performance in the entry test for government medical colleges/universities, will also be affected indirectly by your decision of choosing A Level over FSc or vice versa. It is a fact that tens of thousands of students apply for open-merit seats at government colleges for medicine, and the overwhelming majority of that consists of FSc students.
Thus, the entry tests are also based on the FSc syllabus, which in some aspects differs immensely from the A Level syllabus. What this means is that after you’re done with your A Level exams, you’re going to have to work twice as hard and cover the relevant chapters from FSc books for the entry test. That is easier said than done, and that is where many A Level succumb to the pressure. We don’t intend to scare you, but that is a reality.
Thus, the entry tests are also based on the FSc syllabus, which in some aspects differs immensely from the A Level syllabus. What this means is that after you’re done with your A Level exams, you’re going to have to work twice as hard and cover the relevant chapters from FSc books for the entry test. That is easier said than done, and that is where many A Level succumb to the pressure. We don’t intend to scare you, but that is a reality.
Not only does this apply to government colleges, but even the private colleges, which, although have their own selection criteria and may or may not give that much emphasis on the entry tests, take entry tests also primarily on the FSc syllabus. You’re going to have to study FSc books one way or another. So, if you choose to study FSc in the first place, you will not have to do twice the work like you would have to if you choose to go for A Level. Furthermore, having the studying techniques under your belt from O Level means that you can understand and grasp FSc better than most FSc students as well.
WHAT ABOUT ENGINEERING?
What we’ve written about medicine, quite similarly applies to engineering as well, so even if you aren’t going for medicine, do give the previous section a good read. There is a similar procedure as it is for medicine where your Matric/FSc equivalence and entry tests of respective universities hold different percentages in the final selection. At the time of writing this, some universities even allot a much higher percentage to entry tests than in medicine. For example, Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute (a private college) states that their entry tests contribute a whopping 85% to your final aggregate! Some keep it at 50% and others at less than 50%.
Furthermore, entry tests are, of course, based on FSc syllabus as they are in the case of medicine. Some institutes like FAST-NU and LUMS are open to admissions on the basis of the SAT/SAT Subject Tests as well. It will be in your best interest to consider your financial situation among other factors and jot down which universities you will want to apply. Following that, look up their admission criteria and how much percentage they normally hold for the entry tests. Local entry tests are almost always based on the FSc syllabus so keep that in mind. If your O Level grades are great and the entry test doesn’t hold a ridiculously high amount of significance, then go for A Level. If the O Level grades aren’t that great, then consider going for FSc, but that is an oversimplification. Read on until the end to get a clearer picture. In case your dream university accepts the SAT too then go for A Level altogether and give the SAT tests at the appropriate time
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Furthermore, entry tests are, of course, based on FSc syllabus as they are in the case of medicine. Some institutes like FAST-NU and LUMS are open to admissions on the basis of the SAT/SAT Subject Tests as well. It will be in your best interest to consider your financial situation among other factors and jot down which universities you will want to apply. Following that, look up their admission criteria and how much percentage they normally hold for the entry tests. Local entry tests are almost always based on the FSc syllabus so keep that in mind. If your O Level grades are great and the entry test doesn’t hold a ridiculously high amount of significance, then go for A Level. If the O Level grades aren’t that great, then consider going for FSc, but that is an oversimplification. Read on until the end to get a clearer picture. In case your dream university accepts the SAT too then go for A Level altogether and give the SAT tests at the appropriate time
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ARE YOU AIMING FOR CAREERS OTHER THAN ENGINEERING/MEDICINE?
In Pakistan or abroad, private institutions or government institutions, open-merit seats or self-finance seats—whatever the case may be, there is much less competition in fields outside the scope of medicine and engineering. Even average grades of Bs and Cs at O Level and A Level will land you safely anywhere you wish to go. In fact, this obsession that people have with A*s in our society is a huge topic to talk about in itself.
Considering the merits you get with A Level, it will be much wiser to go for A Levels instead of the local FSc. Moreover, chances of getting a job are much higher with A Levels, since you have developed skills needed to cope in practical life and because employers love A Levels.
WHAT IF YOU DON’T EVEN INTEND TO DO FURTHER STUDY IN PAKISTAN?
Whether you are going for engineering, medical, law, arts, business, and so on, if you have chance of going abroad and a strong financial standing to back you up, don’t think twice, choose A Levels. A Level is an international degree and is going to give you an edge everywhere you go. A Level students are definitely seen as more confident, skillful, knowledgeable, and reflective. A Level, will no doubt, give you a chance to stand out take out your abilities, as well as teach you to apply the knowledge you learn in practical situations Not only that, but all institutions abroad, globally, acknowledge these abilities of A Level students.
Moreover, A Level prepares you for university. The education system develops habits like thoroughly studying, building concepts, understand the syllabus material and not just memorizing it, approaching situations with critical thinking, and so on, all of which will be immensely useful once you enter the more advanced level at university. There will be many out there to guide you through the process in the A Level system and giving tests such as the SAT and the SAT Subject Tests, going through the college application processes, applying for scholarships, and so on, is much easier when you’re in this circle.
Moreover, A Level prepares you for university. The education system develops habits like thoroughly studying, building concepts, understand the syllabus material and not just memorizing it, approaching situations with critical thinking, and so on, all of which will be immensely useful once you enter the more advanced level at university. There will be many out there to guide you through the process in the A Level system and giving tests such as the SAT and the SAT Subject Tests, going through the college application processes, applying for scholarships, and so on, is much easier when you’re in this circle.
