Duc Anh Phan is currently studying A-levels at Kings London. Here, he shares detailed feedback on his time so far at Kings, and his hopes for future study.
Hi. What is your name, age and where are you from?
My name is Duc Anh Phan, though you can call me Mike as a nickname I preferred to use when I was at Kings. I just turned 18 a month ago, right at the most suspenseful time for an A2 student — exams time! My country of birth is Vietnam.
Which course are you studying at Kings? Which subjects?
The course I chose when I got to Kings was the 2 year A-level course and I did Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry.
What is your favourite subject and why do you like it?
The subject that stole my heart is Physics. It has ignited the interest inside me, wondering what is the theory that would encapsulate almost everything. From the wide blue sky to the birth of a cell, and the ecstatic beauty that lies in a Mathematical description of the cosmos, as well as the language mysteriously spoken behind the equations in Physics.
How would you describe the community at Kings London?
Absolutely phenomenal!
"Everyone really does their best in order to fully get you the service you chose at Kings, from the smallest detail such as delivering underage students to the exams centre, to wholeheartedly aiding you in your study, which is very beneficial."
What is the teaching like at Kings London?
As I have mentioned above, the teacher really guides our study path. Nevertheless, it does not mean that they will do all the work or read the book for you. Some instructions are personally designed by them, and you are encouraged to subsequently stick to their plan or do your own. The main thing is to do the work independently, which is the ultimate goal that every teacher at Kings would want their student to achieve.
What are the main differences between the education style in the UK and in your home country?
In my home country, everything is somewhat pre-arranged. The teachers and parents cooperate to choose what is the best for students, making life pretty much miserable, for me, personally.
At Kings, you can choose 3 to 4 subjects to do (at A-level) and will be graded accordingly, which is definitely easier than doing 13 subjects, according to my previous high school module content (equivalent to GCSEs in the UK).
Moreover, I personally feel that the amount of theoretical assignment in A-level textbooks is really minor (compared with my country's work), making the perfect balance between theory and practical.
Have you started your university applications yet? How is it going? Which universities are you applying to?
I have done my applications to university as the deadline for this is somewhere around January 1st-5th. All 5 universities accepted my applications, and I have also accepted 2 of them — the University of Westminster and the University of Essex.
"My aim is (to go to) the University of Essex, as it has climbed 16 places to be ranked in the top 25 of The Complete University Guide 2022."
How has your experience of studying online throughout the pandemic been?
My online studying experience was terribly miserable! I was desperate to get back on to the (school) site and to physically be there with my friends and teachers. Nevertheless, Kings managed to get along with us students, doing what they possibly could, such as inviting students to an online mental health sessions to fight back the negative vibes and the tension that the pandemic had brought.
Have you taken part in many social activities or clubs during your time at Kings?
I was really unlucky because I did not have any chance to participate in any of Kings extracurricular activities as I had some health issues that needed to be sorted out and due to coronavirus, clubs were closed to prevent infection from last year to March 1.
Nonetheless, the first year of my A-level course was not affected so I seized the opportunity to register in one of Kings sports clubs. My first impression is that there is a wide variety of sports you can register for — there is football, basketball, volleyball and badminton, etc. Every club has a pitch which is located in the city centre or a playground near the school, making it a great trip after a long day at college, where you can enjoy looking at the streets of London on your way to the football pitch or having fun playing at Beckenham Spa precinct near the school.
How would you describe Kings London to a friend who was thinking about studying here?
Firstly, Kings Education is well known for the wide range of courses they offer as diverse as IGCSE, A-Level Foundation, A-Level, etc.
The main reason you should study at Kings is that the college is inspected with increasing regularity by Ofqual, The Office of Qualifications and Examinations. This is to ensure that they maintain excellent standards in learning, research and teaching.
