O Level or Matriculation?

[Aika]

education

A.o.A.....
Friends I have completed my secondary level till class eight with sindh text books and then I thought that I should do O'level so I went to Cambridge school and I got admission there and I am a student of science and in my school teachers adviced me to switch again to matriculation and they told me that for science students matriculation is better than o'level but some people advice me that scope of o'level is good rather than matriculation and now I am totally fedup of this some advice me to do o'level and some to go with matriculation so what should I do please suggest me with your decision
...

 

[namsu99]

Hahah that's the typical Pakistani problem. Don't listen to these people. Khud hi decide karo. After all, it's you who has to study. Not them.

Yaar the Cambridge System focuses on conceptual learning. They teach you the core concepts and leave it on you to decide on how to solve the problems. You'll be taught multiple methods, multiple ways to go about one problem and it'll be up to you on how to go about it. In the examinations, each question will be different and will require a bit of thinking on your part.

On the other hand, matriculation focuses on teaching you methods. They'll teach you tons and tons of formulae and will prefer if you would stick to one method. In the examinations, you'll be required to work along a predetermined path; which will usually be taught to you during school. You won't be able to take whatever approach you want to take on a problem.

I'll give you an example. Cambridge System mein, they'll teach you one single general formula, and will also teach you to manipulate that formula for any condition or problem you are faced with. On the other hand, matriculation will teach you the genera formula AND a ton of different formulae derived from the general formula to suit every problem you can possibly get into.

Both systems have their pros and cons. In the end, it depends on the student.
There are tons of students who have done their O levels but haven't done well jabke there are tons of matriculation students who have outshone O level students.

You, being a student, should assess yourself.
If you enjoy studying, and if you're the sort of person who likes to understand everything. Who likes to think before diving into problems and who likes to analyse situations, you should definitely go for the Cambridge System.

But if you're the type of person who prefers to follow specific set rules and guidelines. Who doesn't really care about analysis and wants to get through issues, then I'd suggest you go for matriculation.
But in the end, the decision is yours.

In my opinion, Cambridge students are GENERALLY (I've capitalised 'generally' to emphasise on the importance of that word here) more open minded whereas matriculation students are generally more fluent in their fields. But that's just my opinion.

I hope I have helped. I, personally, have done O and A levels. But I have friends from the matriculation system. Currently, in my university, there are countless teachers whose teaching and grading methods are still deeply connected with the matriculation system, which generally causes a problem for students from the Cambridge System.

If you need more info, feel free to PM me, and good luck! [emoji16]

 

[shahzadfootball]

Mr [MENTION=37905]namsu99[/MENTION] have summed it up pretty well. I'd just like to add that if you're thinking to do your bachelors from Pakistan,I highly advise you to Matric . I"m in my last year of A"levels and my friends are giving SATs,taking ECAT/MCAT just so they can be exempted from Entry test (If they get a good SAT score) or prepare themselves for the Entry test which is solely comprised of syllabus of Matric (If they do ECAT/MCAT) . The problem is that even though universities in Pakistan accept you if u get BBC in A'levels,there are alot of other factors which will discourage you to do O'levels .

If you do O'levels ,you will have to get really good grades so that when you send in your result for equivalency so that you will get a high percentage in terms of Matric

Trust me,I see my friends preparing for SATS for months because it is ridiculously difficult to get a good score in SATs , [MENTION=42826]mohammadyahya[/MENTION] can prove you that who just gave SATs . The problem is that you have to study really hard for O & A'levels to get really good grades but you have to put extra effort for SATs/MCAT/ECAT so that you can get into Universities in Pakistan .

However if you're certain that
1) you will go abroad and you think that you have to potential to get a scholarship ,
2) You're parents can afford to send you abroad and able to pay for your tuition fees and cost of living ,
Then I would highly urge you to do O'levels ...

Or What you can do is that you can do O'levels,fulfill your wish and then switch to 1st and 2nd year like [MENTION=15330]AsadAbrar[/MENTION] has done . I Guess he can give you some tips too .


PS: Obvious thread title is very obvious

 

[AsadAbrar]

First decide and ponder over with your parents clearly what you want to do. If you want to become a doctor, I highly advise you to do matriculation and then FSC Pre Med. Doing O'Levels will make you accustomed to less ratta and it will be hard for you to adjust into a new system. Though, I have seen people do it well but its suggested that you go for matriculation.

And I strongly disagree that matriculation students are not open minded, I have some friends in college who are as open minded as me or any good O'Levels student. They are really quick and thoughtful in their questions.

If you intend to do any business related degree, O'Levels is preferred.

If you want to become an engineer, you could do anything. Like either matriculation or O'Levels but if you intend to do FSC after that, you will come to know you haven't done so much syllabus that matriculation students have done.

The gist of my post is that in the end, its all up to you; how you can adjust and which system you prefer. In the end, you will have to work hard in both systems.

 

[AsadAbrar]

Personally, I would not suggest against O'Levels. I would recommend you to go for it but then don't change the system, do A'Levels. Just don't change the system of education.

 

[AsadAbrar]

Also, decide if you want to get into a government uni or private uni.

Your thread reminds me of the time I was in the same stage.
I might have made a thread back then too. :')

The key is to just work hard and you will eventually get your result.
If you have any O'Levels related query, feel free to PM me.
Cheers,
Asad

 

[namsu99]

Unfortunately, I don't agree with what [MENTION=23281]shahzadfootball[/MENTION] said. Yes, what he said is true if you're thinking of doing medical, but it's not so if you plan on doing engineering.

I did my A Levels and now I'm doing my Engineering from NUST, Karachi.
Yes, you have to give SATs, but once you do, you'll get into almost all the engineering universities here. Easily. I was exempted from NED's entrance test cause of SAT, LUMS' test was extremely easy for me because I had done preparation for SAT, and NUST etc offer special seats for students with SAT. There's generally less competition on SAT seats.
And SAT isn't really difficult. SAT1 is considered difficult by some but that's not required by any engineering university here. All of them require SAT2 which is quite easy. Believe me. I've given both SAT1 and SAT2.

And what's more, giving SAT will be beneficial when applying to universities like NUST. Their entrance test is ridiculously hard and precious few people get in, but there's very less competition on their SAT seats.

Jahaan tak MCAT/ECAT ka sawal he, yaar OP will have to prepare for them regardless of whether he does Matriculation or Olevels.

My point is, university admission is not an issue and shouldn't be considered if you want to chose between the two systems. If you are a good student, you will get into an exceptional university. That's a guarantee. Forget about fields (business or sciences) at this point. Choose the system you think you can get accustomed to.
[MENTION=15330]AsadAbrar[/MENTION] Hahah yeah. Bro I was generalising. I didn't mean to say matriculation students aren't open minded.

 

[AsadAbrar]

Unfortunately, I don't agree with what [MENTION=23281]shahzadfootball[/MENTION] said. Yes, what he said is true if you're thinking of doing medical, but it's not so if you plan on doing engineering.

I did my A Levels and now I'm doing my Engineering from NUST, Karachi.
Yes, you have to give SATs, but once you do, you'll get into almost all the engineering universities here. Easily. I was exempted from NED's entrance test cause of SAT, LUMS' test was extremely easy for me because I had done preparation for SAT, and NUST etc offer special seats for students with SAT. There's generally less competition on SAT seats.
And SAT isn't really difficult. SAT1 is considered difficult by some but that's not required by any engineering university here. All of them require SAT2 which is quite easy. Believe me. I've given both SAT1 and SAT2.

And what's more, giving SAT will be beneficial when applying to universities like NUST. Their entrance test is ridiculously hard and precious few people get in, but there's very less competition on their SAT seats.

Jahaan tak MCAT/ECAT ka sawal he, yaar OP will have to prepare for them regardless of whether he does Matriculation or Olevels.

My point is, university admission is not an issue and shouldn't be considered if you want to chose between the two systems. If you are a good student, you will get into an exceptional university. That's a guarantee. Forget about fields (business or sciences) at this point. Choose the system you think you can get accustomed to.
[MENTION=15330]AsadAbrar[/MENTION] Hahah yeah. Bro I was generalising. I didn't mean to say matriculation students aren't open minded.

Yes, what you said but I think a general idea of what he plans to do wont do any harm.

 

[asad3man]

Well. I will tell you to go for O'Level. My expirience with Matriculation is not good. They are dumb. Don't even give proper marks. FOR SINDH BOARD

 

[shahzadfootball]

Unfortunately, I don't agree with what @shahzadfootball said. Yes, what he said is true if you're thinking of doing medical, but it's not so if you plan on doing engineering.

I did my A Levels and now I'm doing my Engineering from NUST, Karachi.
Yes, you have to give SATs, but once you do, you'll get into almost all the engineering universities here. Easily. I was exempted from NED's entrance test cause of SAT, LUMS' test was extremely easy for me because I had done preparation for SAT, and NUST etc offer special seats for students with SAT. There's generally less competition on SAT seats.
And SAT isn't really difficult. SAT1 is considered difficult by some but that's not required by any engineering university here. All of them require SAT2 which is quite easy. Believe me. I've given both SAT1 and SAT2.

And what's more, giving SAT will be beneficial when applying to universities like NUST. Their entrance test is ridiculously hard and precious few people get in, but there's very less competition on their SAT seats.

Jahaan tak MCAT/ECAT ka sawal he, yaar OP will have to prepare for them regardless of whether he does Matriculation or Olevels.

My point is, university admission is not an issue and shouldn't be considered if you want to chose between the two systems. If you are a good student, you will get into an exceptional university. That's a guarantee. Forget about fields (business or sciences) at this point. Choose the system you think you can get accustomed to.
@AsadAbrar Hahah yeah. Bro I was generalising. I didn't mean to say matriculation students aren't open minded.

As far as I can see from the looks of how hard my friends are going through ,I believe,it's better off doing Matric instead of A'levels if you're going to do bachelors in Pakistan . And yes SAT2 is quite easy,most of the things are from A'level syllabus but I believe It's better to give both SAT1 as well as SAT2 as different unis have different requirements . I know that U get special seats and get exempted from Entry test but the fact that you have to put an extra effort compared to a student in Matric to get into a Pakistani Uni is the reason why one is better should just do Matric .

And since I came back to Pakistan this year,I don't keep an interaction with people here ,I don't have an idea how many students of HSSC do ECAT/MCAT .But I"m sure that the students who are well off don't really need to do ECAT/MCAT but A'level students have to either do MCAT/ECAT or SAT to get into a Paki University .

If the OP thinks he can manage to do SAT while also maintain his grades then I would tell him to go ahead and do A'levels.I know that CIE widens the mind of the student while in Matric you actually learn quite alot more than you do in O'levels .

I would suggest him that if he is an average student (No offence) he should just do O'levels and then First year or second year. If he is a smart one then he should take advantage of the method and techniques one learns from O&A'levels .

PS: I really think that something needs to be done regarding A'level student getting admission into Paki uni . AFAIK there are limited seats too for A'levels ?

 

[shahzadfootball]

Well. I will tell you to go for O'Level. My expirience with Matriculation is not good. They are dumb. Don't even give proper marks. FOR SINDH BOARD

Hahahaha "Don't even give proper marks"

Let me tell you my short stories full of tragedies . I did my As from China and over there you get to know the Percentage in Each subject ,the marks you obtained in each paper and then the total marks .
This is how it goes....

First in Mathematics . According to my Raw marks ,I got 57 in P1 and 42 in M1 . If you add them both you will get 99 while A was on 96 Marks so you can see that it was good enough for me to get an A . However what they did was adjusted my marks (Not taking the 60% and 40% of each paper) ,they adjusted it and it said in the front (Marks are adjusted because some examiners are more lenient than others) so what they did was they took away 6 marks from P1 and gave me 51 ,and took away 7 marks from M1 and gave me 35 in that paper which made up a total of 86 on which I got a B .

so I did get really furious and wanted to smash my head against the wall but when I saw what they did to me in Physics was even more frustrating ...

According to my Grade Threshold . I got 25 in P1 (A) ,39 in P2 (A) ,24 in P3 (C) and if u add them up you will get 88 and A was at 84 . They didn't adjusted my marks in P1,P2 however they took away 4 marks away from P3 as adjusted marks and gave me 18 marks so I got 82 and hence B .

The reason why it pissed me off was that I could have gotten 100% scholarship in BSS at 3As (Already got an A in Applied ICT) however I was left with 1A and 4Bs .

So overall,CIE also has it's shitty way of marking :tv: I hope the person who invented this adjusted marks rots in hell and never finds happiness because of the pain i have to endure to pay 27k per month as fees which could have been waived off :'(

 

[namsu99]

[MENTION=23281]shahzadfootball[/MENTION] you're blowing this out of proportion. A level students get into Pakistani universities every year very easily.

Decision about the education system should be made by looking into the teaching methods of the education system. Baqi sab ho jata he.
Itna suna tha na mein ne k admissions milna kitna mushkil hota he etc but believe me. Aisa kuch nai he. Logon ko bolne ki waja chahiay bas.

Khair. I've said all I wanted to say.

 

[shahzadfootball]

@shahzadfootball you're blowing this out of proportion. A level students get into Pakistani universities every year very easily.

Decision about the education system should be made by looking into the teaching methods of the education system. Baqi sab ho jata he.
Itna suna tha na mein ne k admissions milna kitna mushkil hota he etc but believe me. Aisa kuch nai he. Logon ko bolne ki waja chahiay bas.

Khair. I've said all I wanted to say.

Like I said,I don't have an idea about that . I know alot of students from my school who got into IBA and LUMS and NUSTS,but they were the really smart ones . IDK about an average student .

 

[namsu99]

Yes that's because these universities have devised their admission procedures so as to single out good students.
So if you're a good student, regardless of having done matriculation or Olevels, you will get in.

 

[Stylazation]

O levels.

Sent from my Nexus Mako using Tapatalk running Android 5.0 L.

 

[Shary Bhallu TC]

Definitely go for O Levels, it is the obvious choice at this stage. If you plan on joining a Pakistani university, do Inter after O Levels, instead of A Levels. You'll pass Entry tests of universities easily if you do Inter instead of A Levels. And you'll adjust much quicker in universities as well.

 

[Aika]

thanks to all but I wanna ask u one more question that I wanna be a doctor so with O/A levels will I be able to become a doctor? In Pakistan

 

[Shary Bhallu TC]

Yes, choose Biology (Pre-Medical). You will be able to get into engineering and medical universities through it. Choose Maths and Biology as must have subjects, not Add-Maths and Computer Science if you wanna go into Medicine or Engineering side.

 

[Aika]

isn't it good that first o levels and then fsc???? Is matriculation syllabus more informative than o'levels? as you said that matriculation students done more than you???? and yaa I can say that it ain't hard for me because I have done my secondary level mostly with rattafication @AsadAbrar

 

[Shary Bhallu TC]

O Levels and then Inter would be better for Medical.

O Levels is better than Matric IMO.