Number of A-Levels Dilemma

I'll try to put this as simply as possible, thanks for taking the time to read this. So I am starting A-levels in a few days and I am taking four subjects; Maths, Biology, Economics and Politics. Now because of the new courses, Economics and Politics do not have an exam at AS level, this means studying one of them would be pointless for a year as i would just drop it for the following year. Therefore I am going to try out the subjects for a few weeks to see which one I like best.

The problem is however is that with taking 3 A Levels means if i struggled with one (Maths springs to mind) i could potentially only get 2 good grades and a bad grade, I achieved an A in maths at GCSEs, and I hear AS Maths isn't that hard, but A2 is. So if i did flop Maths at AS i have no backup subjects as i only have 3. I hope that explains my problem a little, I'm unsure of what to do. Is it worth risking taking 3 A Levels so i can focus more on those subjects? Thank you

I'll try to put this as simply as possible, thanks for taking the time to read this. So I am starting A-levels in a few days and I am taking four subjects; Maths, Biology, Economics and Politics. Now because of the new courses, Economics and Politics do not have an exam at AS level, this means studying one of them would be pointless for a year as i would just drop it for the following year. Therefore I am going to try out the subjects for a few weeks to see which one I like best.

The problem is however is that with taking 3 A Levels means if i struggled with one (Maths springs to mind) i could potentially only get 2 good grades and a bad grade, I achieved an A in maths at GCSEs, and I hear AS Maths isn't that hard, but A2 is. So if i did flop Maths at AS i have no backup subjects as i only have 3. I hope that explains my problem a little, I'm unsure of what to do. Is it worth risking taking 3 A Levels so i can focus more on those subjects? Thank you

I'm in the same boat at the moment. Deciding whether to just take
Biology chemistry and geography or to add psychology too as I'm worried about chemistry. I've been advised to start with 3 as 1) I do A LOT of extra curricular (international athlete) so the workload would be quite a lot especially as I wouldn't even get a grade for one of them 2) it gives you time to concentrate on other subjects you may be struggling with instead of having to spread time over 4 subjects. Idk that's what I've been told but it's completely up to you, the new a level reform makes it hard to choose!

I'm in the same boat at the moment.

Posted from TSR Mobile

If only they still had AS for some subjects, to me it just seems pointless studying a subject for a year only to drop it with no qualification at the end of it. I'm probably going to do all four subjects for a month and also ask my maths teacher (whom i've had for all 5 years) if she thinks I would be capable at A2 to achieve a decent grade. The stress has begun before they've even started!

It's not pointless, AS is a separate qualification on its own right now.

Sorry about the confusion, I probably didn't explain it well in the first post, the subjects that I am deciding about what to drop are Economics and Politics, with the new syllabus it scraps AS altogether and they are examined at the end after the two years. That's as far as I am aware

It's still not pointless, even if you drop one or the other, you will still have achieved a qualification for it. It doesn't matter if you carry on to A2 or not with it

Now I'm truly confused, do you mind me asking what sort of qualification i would get as i would't have achieved an AS?

Oh, you mean like, if you dropped it after a few weeks? Haha then nothing, my friend sorry for the confusion!

No, sorry I mean if i dropped it after the year as there are no AS exams! Confusing each other now

I guess you'd have to clear that with your college, as like I said some colleges still do AS exams some don't, so evidently your college will decide what kind of grade you get you will achieve a qualification whatsoever but what matters is how you'll be assessed for the grade, it's eithe a mock or coursework or... just a teacher's decision? I'm only speculating here

Thanks for the help! I'm probably going to go down the four subject route for the first year as it does account for different possibilities, the thought of a wasted subject did put me off a little but by the sounds of it, it won't be wasted! I'll have to find out more information when I get to sixth form but your words have been reassuring, thank you

Considering the fact that most universities require 3 A levels, it's really unnecessary to take 4 unless you're very much interested in the 4th; as well as that, you kind of already have a fourth subject, your extracurricular activity! Since you mentioned it being a lot, then it probably already takes up as much time as a 4th subject would, so I say think about it before choosing 4 chances are, you'll get way too stressed otherwise. Good luck!

Thank you for this! Yes I'm 99% sure I'm going to take biology, chemistry and geography now so only 3! I'm determined to work hard especially at chemistry so hopefully I will enjoy it. I think 3 is the best option for me as it means I can still keep up my sport, a levels and everything else without getting too stressed or have to sacrifice anything.