We caught up with Izzie, a dedicated AS Level student with a passion for biology and a dream of becoming a vet. Fresh from her success in an international biology competition, Izzie shares what the experience was like, how she’s preparing for university, and her advice for students navigating subject choices and academic challenges.
Izzie, you did really well in the British Biology Olympiad. Can you tell us a bit more about it?
It’s an international competition for AS Level students. We didn’t get to prepare for it beforehand–you don’t know what topics will come up. They give you random biology questions at our level, and it’s not necessarily related to what we’re learning in class. Some questions are math-based, and others involve things like rearranging the order of biological processes.
What result did you get?
I got silver. We don’t find out our exact score.
That probably means biology really interests you.
Yes, I want to become a vet. I’m planning to study veterinary science–probably at the University of Edinburgh, though I haven’t decided for sure yet.
Will this result help you with your university application?
I think it definitely helps, yes.
What else are you doing to boost your chances of admission?
I volunteer at a horse ranch every weekend, and I’m hoping to volunteer with a vet during the summer.
Which subject are you taking for your AS levels?
Biology, Maths, Chemistry and Psychology.
How are you finding the subjects? Do you have to study a lot at home?
They were quite difficult at the start, but they’re getting easier. I make detailed notes for every topic and go through past papers, which helps a lot. In class, we don’t usually take notes because there’s a lot of content to get through, and we do lots of activities to help us understand and remember things. We use our study periods to write everything out.
Which subject do you find the most difficult?
Either Biology or Chemistry.
What do you think are the benefits of A levels compared to IB?
I like that you can choose just 3 or 4 subjects you’re really interested in, instead of having to study all the subjects, including ones that don’t relate to what you want to study later. It helps us do better because we’re more motivated by the subjects we’ve chosen.
Was it hard to choose your subjects?
Yes, especially the fourth one. It’s easy to pick the main three, but sometimes there isn’t a clear fourth subject that fits your future plans.
Any advice for students who are choosing their AS Level subjects?
Yes, my advice is to pick the main three subjects that relate to what you want to study, then for the fourth subject, choose something that interests you, but at the same time won’t take too much time or attention away from the other subjects.
You're also a part of the Make a Difference Club here at BISL. Could you tell us more about it?
Yes, we come up with different projects to support good causes — like the Talent Show we organised recently, where we raised €590 for a greyhound rescue organisation. It was such a fun and rewarding experience!
