[ttoby]

(Original post by sam-jennings)
How important would the AS be (if you only carried on 3 out of 4 A Levels) in entry requirements?
For example if I got:
A*A*A in maths, further maths and physics (Full A Level)
and C in chemistry (AS)

Offers are usually made on only three A-levels, so once you've got an offer you can just forget about chemistry and concentrate on getting those A*s and As.

However to get an offer, bear in mind that you will be competing against applicants with higher grades so for the really competitive places (e.g. Cambridge) this could count against you. But remember that they do also look at the whole application and the grades they're most interested in are maths/further maths. You're clearly very strong on these.

So I'd be pretty sure that if you did apply to the top universities for maths, you'd certainly get some offers.

[Sjefferies]

I am predicted A, B, B, B (Maths, Economics, History and PE) , but I feel I should easily be able to get 3 A's and a B for AS. I intend on dropping one subject and taking up further maths AS next year.

Would these grades (provided I then got the same for A2 and A in further maths AS) be good enough for the following universities, and would I be better off dropping history or PE (I might not be able to do as well in history, but is it seen as a "better" subject?)

Oxford
Warwick
Imperial College
Bristol
Bath

[alibee]

(Original post by sam-jennings)
How important would the AS be (if you only carried on 3 out of 4 A Levels) in entry requirements?
For example if I got:
A*A*A in maths, further maths and physics (Full A Level)
and C in chemistry (AS)

The chemistry is the least directly applicable subject there so I think you'd get away with it. Make sure your marks in maths/fm make up for it.

[Rickelton]

(Original post by mindlessinvalid)
ok some of it is different but all the mechanics stuff overlaps
its just you seem really clever with the a* and stuff so i was wondering
never mind lol

You can do further maths without touching mechanics if you want.

[ttoby]

(Original post by Sjefferies)
I am predicted A, B, B, B (Maths, Economics, History and PE) , but I feel I should easily be able to get 3 A's and a B for AS. I intend on dropping one subject and taking up further maths AS next year.

Would these grades (provided I then got the same for A2 and A in further maths AS) be good enough for the following universities, and would I be better off dropping history or PE (I might not be able to do as well in history, but is it seen as a "better" subject?)

Oxford
Warwick
Imperial College
Bristol
Bath

Your main problem here is that you're not doing the full A-level in further maths. Is there any particular reason for this? Unfortunately with just the AS in further maths you'll have to rule out Warwick and Imperial. Bristol and Bath should be fine though. As for Oxford, bear in mind that you'll be up against a lot of competition so don't count on getting an offer. I don't know much about history and PE so I couldn't say which is better to carry on with.

When choosing universities, you can find out their standard offers by going on their websites. You may want to make some changes to your choices after the AS results in case you do differently to how you expected. Also bear in mind that universities do change their offers from year to year. For example, Warwick used to not require further maths at all only a few years ago.

[Sjefferies]

(Original post by ttoby)
Your main problem here is that you're not doing the full A-level in further maths. Is there any particular reason for this? Unfortunately with just the AS in further maths you'll have to rule out Warwick and Imperial. Bristol and Bath should be fine though. As for Oxford, bear in mind that you'll be up against a lot of competition so don't count on getting an offer. I don't know much about history and PE so I couldn't say which is better to carry on with.

When choosing universities, you can find out their standard offers by going on their websites. You may want to make some changes to your choices after the AS results in case you do differently to how you expected. Also bear in mind that universities do change their offers from year to year. For example, Warwick used to not require further maths at all only a few years ago.

I did not realise I definitely wanted to do maths until this year, by which time it was too late to change my subjects..... I also understand about Oxford (just a nice thought) but did not realise Warwick and Imperial did not accept those without the full a-level FM. Wish I'd realised I liked maths earlier..

[laughylolly]

(Original post by ttoby)
Your main problem here is that you're not doing the full A-level in further maths. Is there any particular reason for this? Unfortunately with just the AS in further maths you'll have to rule out Warwick and Imperial. Bristol and Bath should be fine though. As for Oxford, bear in mind that you'll be up against a lot of competition so don't count on getting an offer. I don't know much about history and PE so I couldn't say which is better to carry on with.

When choosing universities, you can find out their standard offers by going on their websites. You may want to make some changes to your choices after the AS results in case you do differently to how you expected. Also bear in mind that universities do change their offers from year to year. For example, Warwick used to not require further maths at all only a few years ago.

What if you can't do Further Maths? I'm in the Scottish system doing highers/Advanced Highers. There is no such thing as further maths... only Higher Maths then Advanced Higher Maths, Stats and Mechanics.

Just curious because I'm thinking of applying at least to Warwick.

[matt2k8]

(Original post by laughylolly)
What if you can't do Further Maths? I'm in the Scottish system doing highers/Advanced Highers. There is no such thing as further maths... only Higher Maths then Advanced Higher Maths, Stats and Mechanics.

Just curious because I'm thinking of applying at least to Warwick.

You'll be fine, just check the website for what they do require you take though.

[laughylolly]

(Original post by matt2k8)
You'll be fine, just check the website for what they do require you take though.

Alright, thanks! Yeah the website just says:
Grade A in Mathematics, A, A, B, B in Scottish Highers PLUS grade A in two Advanced Highers including A1 in Maths (C100), plus Grade 2 / Distinction in STEP / AEA.

[Farhan.Hanif93]

(Original post by Sjefferies)
I am predicted A, B, B, B (Maths, Economics, History and PE) , but I feel I should easily be able to get 3 A's and a B for AS. I intend on dropping one subject and taking up further maths AS next year.

Would these grades (provided I then got the same for A2 and A in further maths AS) be good enough for the following universities, and would I be better off dropping history or PE (I might not be able to do as well in history, but is it seen as a "better" subject?)

Oxford
Warwick
Imperial College
Bristol
Bath

For Warwick and Imperial, it'll be worthwhile for you to consider whether you think you're capable of getting an A* in Maths AND Further Maths. Getting As in them isn't enough to meet the standard offer. If you can't do that, you can't get in. There's also the issue with STEP, which is A LOT harder than getting an A* in FM.

[maths134]

Ive already spoken about this with the cambridge thread people, but this seems like a better place, being specifically for maths <3.

Ok GCSE results - in sig, but if you cba to look
Maths A*
Science A*
Add science A*
English Lit A*
English lang A*
RE full course A*
ICT (distinction) A*
ICT (merit) A
ICT (merit) A
Classics A
History A
Spanish C (what happened =[)

A level subjects
Maths, further maths, physics and classics. Predicted A in all of these.

Extra curricular stuff - Did royal institute master classes a while back, enjoyed them so became a member of the royal institute and now attend there lectures with a friend of mine (mainly the maths ones..). Going to villiers park in march for 5 day course. Reading quite a few maths books atm and run a maths 'club' at my school as well as a few other things. Oh and doing an EPQ - also maths based.

Now what I really wanted to know was about retakes at AS and how high maths ums scores should be. It seems that for maths they expect us to have the highest of most applicants due to the complete lack of being subjective (like english etc).What do you guys think about this? My jan exams have come and gone and looking back at them Im sure i got 95+ on C1 and D1, but my S1, well im not so confident (stupid errors ftw) . Say i got 80 on it, would it be better to leave it at a low A or re-sit it and get 95+ assuming im applying for Cambridge and will have to fill in the SAQ.

Thanks, sorry for long post.

[maths134]

anyone ?

[Schnecke]

(Original post by maths134)
anyone ?

Your GCSE's are fine, your extra-curricular stuff is good (way more than I did). In terms of A level modules, obviously it's best to get high UMS to begin with but I'm sure they will look round one poor module (especially if it's stats), there are people with Cambridge offers who didn't get all As on their maths modules.

It would be worth finding out from your UCAS co-ordinator/head of sixth form/whoever who will know about these things whether you have to declare a resit on your UCAS form/SAQ if you resat it the summer before applying. If not then there's no harm in resitting a lowish S1 result in June.

[maths134]

(Original post by Schnecke)
Your GCSE's are fine, your extra-curricular stuff is good (way more than I did). In terms of A level modules, obviously it's best to get high UMS to begin with but I'm sure they will look round one poor module (especially if it's stats), there are people with Cambridge offers who didn't get all As on their maths modules.

It would be worth finding out from your UCAS co-ordinator/head of sixth form/whoever who will know about these things whether you have to declare a resit on your UCAS form/SAQ if you resat it the summer before applying. If not then there's no harm in resitting a lowish S1 result in June.

Thanks, I asked if the retake would show up, it would. I might just take the hit of a low A and get high marks in my next three in June. Stupid Stats...

[maths134]

Question. What exams can be put together for your as modules ? S1, D1, M1, C1, C2, FP1... anymore ? I was thinking of self teaching one because my june timetable is quite light. If there are any other as modules i could do..

[ttoby]

(Original post by maths134)
Question. What exams can be put together for your as modules ? S1, D1, M1, C1, C2, FP1... anymore ? I was thinking of self teaching one because my june timetable is quite light. If there are any other as modules i could do..

That all depends on whether you are studying for maths/further maths and for AS/A2. If you have a look at the specification document from the exam board's website, it will tell you how the modules can be combined. Also bear in mind that the modules might get rearranged automatically to get the best mark, so in some occasions you might get A2 modules counting for AS and/or maths modules counting for further maths.

Alternatively, you could post back here with more details of your specific situation - exam board, modules you've already taken, how you found them, modules you'll be taking in the future, grades you're aiming for, what you want to do at university, other a-levels you're taking.

[maths134]

(Original post by ttoby)
That all depends on whether you are studying for maths/further maths and for AS/A2. If you have a look at the specification document from the exam board's website, it will tell you how the modules can be combined. Also bear in mind that the modules might get rearranged automatically to get the best mark, so in some occasions you might get A2 modules counting for AS and/or maths modules counting for further maths.

Alternatively, you could post back here with more details of your specific situation - exam board, modules you've already taken, how you found them, modules you'll be taking in the future, grades you're aiming for, what you want to do at university, other a-levels you're taking.

Subjects im taking are about two posts up ^(I posted a lengthy post on it). Im aiming for 90-95% on them. Exam board is edexcel. Ive already taken D1, C1 and S1. After looking at it, I think about 98-100 in D1. 95 in C1 (yay for not reading 1b correctly) and my main problem is S1 (80-90, I think i scan questions to quickly =/). In the summer im sitting C2,M1,FP1.I'd really love to study maths at cambridge and I know you need high UMS scores with no resits, thats why I asked if I could do another unit for AS. Im thinking of self teaching D2, getting a high UMS score so it eclipses stats, the exam is quite far apart from all my others (7 days before and after, 2nd last exam before FP1) if i was to do it.

[ttoby]

(Original post by maths134)
Subjects im taking are about two posts up ^(I posted a lengthy post on it). Im aiming for 90-95% on them. Exam board is edexcel. Ive already taken D1, C1 and S1. After looking at it, I think about 98-100 in D1. 95 in C1 (yay for not reading 1b correctly) and my main problem is S1 (80-90, I think i scan questions to quickly =/). In the summer im sitting C2,M1,FP1.I'd really love to study maths at cambridge and I know you need high UMS scores with no resits, thats why I asked if I could do another unit for AS. Im thinking of self teaching D2, getting a high UMS score so it eclipses stats, the exam is quite far apart from all my others (7 days before and after, 2nd last exam before FP1) if i was to do it.

Thanks for pointing out that post above. From the looks of it, you're already a very strong candidate and you should have no problems getting an A* in maths and further maths. So you don't really need to worry about boosting your overall grade. This means you could basically take any module from the syllabus.

So any extra module you take would be just to look good on the Cambridge form. So the most important thing is that you mustn't let any of your other subjects suffer by taking the extra module.

So here are the options available to you:

D2: After doing really well in D1, you should be able to get a really good mark here as well. However I have heard that decision modules are not as highly regarded as other modules.

FP2/FP3: You will be studying at least one of these next year. If your school teaches you one of these modules but not both then you could consider studying the other module yourself. FP2 and FP3 both depend on FP1 but not on each other, so you could take one of these at the same time as studying FP1. Bear in mind that further pure modules are regarded as much harder than other modules so if you did do well then it would look really good on your application. However it would require more work.

M2: Because mechanics modules follow on from each other, this would be your only option if you wanted to do an extra mechanics module. It's a pretty well regarded module although there's a good chance that you might be doing it in year 13 anyway.

S2: If you did do well in this module then it would show that you're good at stats, despite your S1 mark. However you may also be doing this module next year.

Another thing you need to bear in mind is that if you have one mark that's a bit less than the others, they will be willing to overlook it. There are other factors that are heavily weighted. Also bear in mind that taking an extra module is no guarantee for getting in - I knew someone who was really strong at maths and he took M3 in addition to all the other modules and he didn't get in.

[maths134]

(Original post by ttoby)
Thanks for pointing out that post above. From the looks of it, you're already a very strong candidate and you should have no problems getting an A* in maths and further maths. So you don't really need to worry about boosting your overall grade. This means you could basically take any module from the syllabus.

So any extra module you take would be just to look good on the Cambridge form. So the most important thing is that you mustn't let any of your other subjects suffer by taking the extra module.

So here are the options available to you:

D2: After doing really well in D1, you should be able to get a really good mark here as well. However I have heard that decision modules are not as highly regarded as other modules.

FP2/FP3: You will be studying at least one of these next year. If your school teaches you one of these modules but not both then you could consider studying the other module yourself. FP2 and FP3 both depend on FP1 but not on each other, so you could take one of these at the same time as studying FP1. Bear in mind that further pure modules are regarded as much harder than other modules so if you did do well then it would look really good on your application. However it would require more work.

M2: Because mechanics modules follow on from each other, this would be your only option if you wanted to do an extra mechanics module. It's a pretty well regarded module although there's a good chance that you might be doing it in year 13 anyway.

S2: If you did do well in this module then it would show that you're good at stats, despite your S1 mark. However you may also be doing this module next year.

Another thing you need to bear in mind is that if you have one mark that's a bit less than the others, they will be willing to overlook it. There are other factors that are heavily weighted. Also bear in mind that taking an extra module is no guarantee for getting in - I knew someone who was really strong at maths and he took M3 in addition to all the other modules and he didn't get in.

Thanks for the advice =D. Sorry, i should have said that I am taking S2,M2,FP2,FP3,C3 and C4 next year. So this leaves me with D2 for june. I think I might just do it, it doesnt look to difficult and its well clear of my other exams. It shouldnt interfere with my other studies, I just hope my stats grade isnt as low as I think it is and you bring up an interesting point about S2. Thanks again, perhaps now I can stop being so stressy about S1 hah.

[maths134]

Now definitely doing D2 in summer, feel better now =p.

Also, out of curiosity, what do you consider to be a 'good' ums score ?