3 or 4 A-levels?

[Sharon]

hi can someone give me some help please

basically i took four a-levels at AS because as far as i was aware that was just standard thing to do lol but literally in my college i'm the ONLY one i know doing four??? everyone else does three! i look at them n just pity how much less work they do compared to me lol

i'm finding politics really really hard atm and i would consider dropping it... but when i apply for uni is it going to make a big difference if i only do 3 a-levels compared to four? i also wanna be at a really good uni too like i'm trying to aim high

does it make a big difference if its 3 or 4? obv i'm gonna drop one in aug anyway if i carry on with four now but it just feels too hard and watching everyone else do 3 is sucky lol because i'm trying so hard

[Kardan]

Are you in AS now?

The big difference is if you get 3 A-Levels, you'll need good grades in all three. Full stop. If you screw up one exam and that gives you a bad grade, and you need your high grades to get into Uni, then that's that.

With 4 A-Levels, you of course have a back-up, you can screw up 1 A-Level and still have the other 3 to rely on. But of course, that clearly means less time spent revising each individual A-Level.

If you're going from 4 to 3 when you transition from AS to A2, then you'll probably get into Uni based on those 3 A-Levels anyway, so the AS would barely matter. Depends on your grade requirements, and whether that will be the factor on whether you get in or not, or UCAS points.

[lawrawrrr]

At my school the majority of us did 5 for AS level then dropped one for A2, so you ended up with 4, but it ended up with over half the year dropping one - I did 5 at AS (ABBBC) and 3 for A2 (leaving me with a final grade of BBC).

Most unis (aka not the very top ones) only really ask for 3 A Levels, but as far as I knew it was pretty common to do 4 for AS then drop the one you like the least/is the least relevant/that you did the worst at to carry on 3 for the full A Level.

Doing an extra one to AS does sort of give you an extra qualification, and it also helps with some UCAS points if you end up with a points offer - and then if you actually do quite well in the hard one and **** up one of the others, then you have a safety choice! As you've already done the majority of the hard work by now (over halfway through the year) it seems a bit of a waste!

[Alkaz]

Are you in AS now?

The big difference is if you get 3 A-Levels, you'll need good grades in all three. Full stop. If you screw up one exam and that gives you a bad grade, and you need your high grades to get into Uni, then that's that.

With 4 A-Levels, you of course have a back-up, you can screw up 1 A-Level and still have the other 3 to rely on. But of course, that clearly means less time spent revising each individual A-Level.

If you're going from 4 to 3 when you transition from AS to A2, then you'll probably get into Uni based on those 3 A-Levels anyway, so the AS would barely matter. Depends on your grade requirements, and whether that will be the factor on whether you get in or not, or UCAS points.
Basically this. When I did my A levels, a teacher graded my coursework totally wrong and I obviously didn't find out until I got my results. So I took less time on that subject and concentrated on others to try and bump them grades up, anyway I ended up doing really bad in that one subject and I ended up being like 30 UCAS points short of getting into the university I wanted to get into. I didn't even take general studies as time tables clashed and one of my subjects I had to take during the general lessons. I ended up having to go to college and do another course to get the points to get into uni.

In the long run I would rather have done 4 subjects and saved a few years of my life. I could be doing my masters right now but instead I'm still only half way through a degree. Be strong with the work load as it will only get harder when you get into uni hahaha :'(

[Kyle]

I have 5 as and 3 a levels. Dropped one as (film, most pointless alevel ever) before completing the first year so I could focus on others.

Really you just have to weigh up how important the subject is to you and your desired course, what the workload is like and whether it's going to affect your ability to perform well in your other subjects. I'd say take politics for the remainder of your as levels but focus more on what you enjoy and will do well in and drop it when it comes to a2 so at least you have a few ucas points from it (providing you don't flop entirely)


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[AgnesIO]

Can I step in and be the **** that did 6 AS and 5 A? Soz

---

Serious note; take 4 assuming you believe you will get good grades in all of them. No point continuing Politics if you think you will get a C or something - would be better just to have 3 straight As (or A*s)

[Kardan]

Totally depends on what you want to do at Uni and at which Uni.

If it's a more educational course (like something you can study at A-Level) and at a higher ranking university (say, Maths at Loughborough) they will ask for grade requirements at A2, in this case for example, AAA. So if you don't get your 3 A's at A-Level, no matter if you took another 30 AS Levels to go with them, you won't get in.

Generally for courses that are more specialised and perhaps at a lower ranked university, they will ask for UCAS points. So take Film Studies at Derby, and they want 240 UCAS points, with 200 coming from your A2 qualifications. So if you get BBU with your 3 A2's, then getting a C in your AS politics will actually save the day.

So you need to know what you're doing at Uni first to make any decision.

[Jordan]

You guys did so many a levels. My college we pick 4 AS and do the for the year. When we move into A2 we normally drop one (the weaker one) and continue with the 3. We then can either decide to do an EPQ or extra lessons in each subject.

Couldn't ever imagine doing 4 or 5 complete a levels.


Sent from my iPhone 6 using Tapatalk

[Kardan]

Can I step in and be the **** that did 6 AS and 5 A? Soz

---

Serious note; take 4 assuming you believe you will get good grades in all of them. No point continuing Politics if you think you will get a C or something - would be better just to have 3 straight As (or A*s)

How did your college/sixth form even schedule in 6 AS Levels? We could only take a max of 5, so I took 5 AS's and it got me out of the compulsory AS Citizenship that everyone had to take :P

[The Don]

Totally depends on what you want to do at Uni and at which Uni.

If it's a more educational course (like something you can study at A-Level) and at a higher ranking university (say, Maths at Loughborough) they will ask for grade requirements at A2, in this case for example, AAA. So if you don't get your 3 A's at A-Level, no matter if you took another 30 AS Levels to go with them, you won't get in.

Generally for courses that are more specialised and perhaps at a lower ranked university, they will ask for UCAS points. So take Film Studies at Derby, and they want 240 UCAS points, with 200 coming from your A2 qualifications. So if you get BBU with your 3 A2's, then getting a C in your AS politics will actually save the day.

So you need to know what you're doing at Uni first to make any decision.

IIRC Shaz wants to study Law at University.

I would finish the AS level first and then drop it before A2 if you're still unhappy. Even a C in an extra AS Level will help boost your overall UCAS points. I'm not sure how common this is, but I just googled a random uni (UCL) from the top 10 for law in the UK and they require "a pass in a fourth additional as level" http://www.ucl.ac.uk/prospective-students/undergraduate/degrees/ubllawsing05

[Kardan]

IIRC Shaz wants to study Law at University.

I would finish the AS level first and then drop it before A2 if you're still unhappy. Even a C in an extra AS Level will help boost your overall UCAS points. I'm not sure how common this is, but I just googled a random uni (UCL) from the top 10 for law in the UK and they require "a pass in a fourth additional as level" http://www.ucl.ac.uk/prospective-students/undergraduate/degrees/ubllawsing05

Those entry requirements are pretty tough.

A*AA at A-Level, E+ at AS-Level, B in GCSE English Lang and Maths, C+ in GCSE Foreign Language.

[Sharon]

yeah still going for law at the min

so i'm looking at requirements over points then?

- - - Updated - - -

HEY I GOT A C IN MATHS GCSE

bye bye ucl

[AgnesIO]

How did your college/sixth form even schedule in 6 AS Levels? We could only take a max of 5, so I took 5 AS's and it got me out of the compulsory AS Citizenship that everyone had to take :P

You tell me :L I didn't seem to have to go to so many lessons either...

[Kardan]

I reckon most places for Law would require A-Level grades rather than UCAS points. But as you can see, some Unis may require 3 A2's + AS.

If you settle on a Uni that needs just 3 A-Levels, I would personally drop the AS now, since it won't help if you're definitely dropping it after AS anyway.

That being said, your backup Uni might wants AS levels/UCAS points, so you still need to look into it more before you decide.

[AgnesIO]

Those entry requirements are pretty tough.

A*AA at A-Level, E+ at AS-Level, B in GCSE English Lang and Maths, C+ in GCSE Foreign Language.

damn should have gone and studied Law at UCL :L

[The Don]

yeah still going for law at the min

so i'm looking at requirements over points then?

- - - Updated - - -

HEY I GOT A C IN MATHS GCSE

bye bye ucl

I would just look through the rankings of uni's for law and see what the required grades/points are for the ones you are interested in

http://www.thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk/league-tables/rankings?s=law
http://www.theguardian.com/education/ng-interactive/2014/jun/03/university-guide-2015-league-table-for-law

[Sharon]

well this has basically told me the answer is to keep 4 and also drop ;l

edit: reading akeam!!! thank you xxx

[Kyle]

well this has basically told me the answer is to keep 4 and also drop ;l

Stick with all four for the remainder of your AS LEVELS but if one is becoming particularly difficult focus your efforts on your other subjects to ensure good grades in those in preparation for a2. Drop it at a2.

Kardan I was looking through my rep the other day and found a thread where I helped ur fiancée with her as English lit assignment on Wise Children by explaining (reading it back very crudely and not making much sense) what postmodernism and magic realism were. Tell her she owes me.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Jssy]

I did 5 AS's and it was hell I had no social life

I did english language, philosophy and ethics, sociology, media, travel & tourism and english language eurgh. I'd carry on doing 4 for AS then drop one at A2 if I were you. I came out with BCCDD so had I stopped at sixth form doing A-levels I'd have dropped the subjects I got the D's in which were philosophy & ethics and sociology

[Kardan]

Stick with all four for the remainder of your AS LEVELS but if one is becoming particularly difficult focus your efforts on your other subjects to ensure good grades in those in preparation for a2. Drop it at a2.

Kardan I was looking through my rep the other day and found a thread where I helped ur fiancée with her as English lit assignment on Wise Children by explaining (reading it back very crudely and not making much sense) what postmodernism and magic realism were. Tell her she owes me.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk


She says:

'I have a degree in maths, nobody gives a **** about english literature'

[Kyle]

She says:

'I have a degree in maths, nobody gives a **** about english literature'
Clearly just bitter that I beat her in draw something. It's okay I know I made a difference to her life x

Shar what is it about politics that you don't like?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Sharon]

Clearly just bitter that I beat her in draw something. It's okay I know I made a difference to her life x

Shar what is it about politics that you don't like?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

MY NAME. IS SHAZ. :(

i just find it too hard to remember the policies/beliefs of each party and especially remembering history of each party like it doesn't click in my head at all... the 25 mark questions are so hard. got a U in the mock because I didn't do one of the 25 marks. I think I'm actually ok with pressure groups but I got shouted at for doing well in that part of the exam lol because we only just started it at the time so he couldn't see how I knew that (it's just common sense?!?!)

we do exam q's weekly for hw and I have never got higher than a B and normally get D/E

[-:Undertaker:-]

hi can someone give me some help please

basically i took four a-levels at AS because as far as i was aware that was just standard thing to do lol but literally in my college i'm the ONLY one i know doing four??? everyone else does three! i look at them n just pity how much less work they do compared to me lol

i'm finding politics really really hard atm and i would consider dropping it... but when i apply for uni is it going to make a big difference if i only do 3 a-levels compared to four? i also wanna be at a really good uni too like i'm trying to aim high

does it make a big difference if its 3 or 4? obv i'm gonna drop one in aug anyway if i carry on with four now but it just feels too hard and watching everyone else do 3 is sucky lol because i'm trying so hard

I would stick at four if I were you, our school attempted to have us all drop our fourth after AS level and a lot of people just missed this UCAS point targets as a result which I found stupid. I insisted on keeping my fourth subject (which was all coursework anyway and not a proper examination A Level) and it was what helped me get over the points line for the course I wanted to do.

In terms of politics, our school never did it back then (doubt would have picked anyway) but it does compliment law nicely. In short you are best doing what you feel you can do, although my advice would be to focus on your other subjects next year but still take politics: even if you get a lower mark in it, it'll still count as UCAS points which is what it is all about.

You can always ask me for help again on Twitter xx :P

[Shar]

What Aiden said basically. I did 3 years of A levels because I had to re-do AS with new choices and I now have 2AS's and 3 Levels and I'm really glad I had to do 4 A levels in my first year because when I picked up new AS's I only had to do 3. However, that meant I had to do well in all 3 in AS and A2. Anyway, stick to 4 and then drop one in A2.

[MaRta]

ok so..i m reviving this thread for advice...inti subang a-levels better or inti nilai a-levels better??, in terms of the lecturers....