Are 5 AS levels too much?

Hi TSR,

I am currently in year 11 and studying to finish my GCSEs this year. I am a 'high-acheiver' according to my school and my teachers, and I am Gifted and Talented in more than three subjects (although I don't know which). I have submitted my application for College, but my A-level course choices are not set in stone yet, so there is some room to decide.

I am put down provisionally the following:

1. Biology (A2)
2. Chemistry (A2)
3. Mathematics (A2)
4. Psychology (A2)
5. English Literature (AS)
6. (French) --- (As a reserve choice, to fill all the gaps on my application form) (AS)

After taking my GCSE Maths early, I am studying AS Maths this year to hopefully bypass my first year at College studying Maths. However, if I need to retake my Maths AS level, it's okay by me (probably likely too :s-smilie:

aha)

I was speaking to one of my work colleagues, who has finished her A-levels and her degree, and she told me that 5 AS levels were too much, and that I wouldn't be able to handle the workload.

It is probably worth mentioning that I am aspiring to become a doctor, and study medicine as a degree.

So now I ask, for those of you who have done/are doing your A-levels, are 5 subjects too many to cope with?

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Reply 1

FloydRix

why do 5 when you can do 4

Reply 2

chickenonsteroids

If you plan your time well then no.

Is it necessary? No.

Reply 3

Intriguing Alias

Original post by FloydRix

why do 5 when you can do 4

Why work when you could be a bum?

Original post by SinghSTAR

5 is quite a lot, it is a heavy workload and it will tire you out. Unless you are some sort of prodigy it will also affect how well you do in each subject negatively (though it might not be by much). But if you actually really want to study 5 (as in you have an actual desire to study every one of those subjects) then go for it but be warned you'll have to put in a lot of work.

Reply 4

LifeIsGood

It's really good you're thinking about A Levels but really don't think GCSEs correlate with A Levels, a lot of people get really complacent and end up not reaching their full potential. I'm not saying that is you but I'd recommend you stick to 4 and if you do not feel challenged, take up another one :smile:

Reply 5

SebMurphy

If you put the work in its fine.
Looks like a good spread of subjects you have as well - pretty surprised you dont have further maths in there though.

Reply 6

333allicsirp

I took 5 AS-levels - Biology, Economics, English Lit, Politics and Psychology

I had never intended to see them all through to the end of year 12, but I did, only to decide that doing 5 A-levels is completely pointless. It's just added stress, and you may end up compromising across all subjects, rather than focusing on just 4 and doing really well on them.

I would however say its worthwhile doing 4 A-levels as one can act as a 'back up' in case you don't get the grade your uni requires in one of your 3 'main' subjects.

Reply 7

Tahooper

Original post by SinghSTAR

1. Biology (A2)
2. Chemistry (A2)
3. Mathematics (A2)
4. Psychology (A2)
5. English Literature (AS)
6. (French) --- (As a reserve choice, to fill all the gaps on my application form) (AS)

I'd normally say 5 AS's would be doable (not necessary of course, but achievable) but having arguably the hardest A-Level (Chemistry) in the mix will make it very difficult.

Also, all the subjects you have chosen are reputable subjects (apart from Psychology, which is fairly respectful but not as much so as the others) so there is little need to take 5 AS's.

Furthermore, I'd strongly advise against 4 A2 subjects as even the most intellectually capable students find it excruciatingly difficult to get good grades in all of them unless they are will to sacrifice their social life which isn't worth it seeing as you only need 3 A-Levels (having 4 does not benefit you as much as you might think) and by taking 3 you can still go out with friends and have some free time.

Reply 8

JoshC.

Original post by SinghSTAR

I am put down provisionally the following:

1. Biology (A2)
2. Chemistry (A2)
3. Mathematics (A2)
4. Psychology (A2)
5. English Literature (AS)
6. (French) --- (As a reserve choice, to fill all the gaps on my application form) (AS)

I did 5 last year, with the same balance of arts and science subjects (3 Maths, 2 essay based). I say without a shadow of a doubt, taking 5 was a mistake. It put under a fair bit of stress, and the added time you have to put into it makes it a lot difficult than you'd imagine.

In saying that, I had a friend who did Maths, Further Maths and the 3 sciences, and coped fine. I think that the relationship and cross overs in the subjects are important as to whether you'll be able to do 5.

Completely up to you, but if you know what you're thinking of doing after college, and think there's a subject that wouldn't really help you get there, then think why you want to do that.

In other words, I wouldn't say it's too much, but the subjects you're thinking of doing may take a toll on you..

Reply 9

SinghSTAR

I was under the impression that Medicine applications are not even LOOKED at unless they offer 4 A-levels. One of the ladies I work with took 4 AS which converted into A2 and seemingly coped very well, but even she said I wouldn't cope with 5. (Admittedly, she doesn't know me that well)

The thing is, if I chose my A-levels based on the subjects I enjoy and do well in, without thinking about where it will take me in the future, it would look like this:

1. Biology A2
2. English Lit A2
3. French A2
4. Psychology A2

Those are the subjects that I'm genuinely interested in and want to learn more of. However, I feel pressured by my friends, teachers and family that somebody of my 'calibre' should be doing the respected A-levels and degree; ie. Medicine, Dentistry, etc.

On a different note, would those A-levels get me anywhere? ^^

Thanks for the replies everyone, they have been very helpful and informative.

Reply 10

chickenonsteroids

Original post by SinghSTAR

Yes they are fine A levels. Whoever is saying they aren't are those people who are stuck in their views that science > everything else in life.

However if you want to do medicine you need chemistry and no you don't need 4 A levels to go into university.

Reply 11

tamii05

I did 5 last year and got 4A's and a C. Now if I'd only done 4, it would look a lot more impressive. I don't know how you are about studying but I found it very difficult balancing everything (studying, work experience, homework, family + friends, etc).

I got the C in chemistry if you were wondering. I don't think there is any real benefit to doing 5 as everyone in my year except 2 people did 4 and most of them have offers for really good unis. Of course doing 5 can make you look a better candidate but it's better to have 4A's then 3A's and 2B's or something like that.

Anyway, good luck.

Reply 12

rjm101

When/If you go to uni your just feel like you did A & AS levels just to get into uni so unless you intend to get into [Insert uni name here] that require a lot of UCAS points then it may not be worth it.

Reply 13

iyley

Original post by SinghSTAR

I

Those are the subjects that I'm genuinely interested in and want to learn more of. However, I feel pressured by my friends, teachers and family that somebody of my 'calibre' should be doing the respected A-levels and degree; ie. Medicine, Dentistry, etc.

I think this is a key point - what will make YOU happy? That is more important than what others tell you you should do really :smile:

And where you want to go in life?
I think making sure you have the right a levels for the course you want is important too though.

(edited 12 years ago)

Reply 14

Xotol

Original post by SinghSTAR

The thing is, if I chose my A-levels based on the subjects I enjoy and do well in, without thinking about where it will take me in the future, it would look like this:

1. Biology A2
2. English Lit A2
3. French A2
4. Psychology A2

Those are the subjects that I'm genuinely interested in and want to learn more of. However, I feel pressured by my friends, teachers and family that somebody of my 'calibre' should be doing the respected A-levels and degree; ie. Medicine, Dentistry, etc.

Believe me, if you do not have your heart set on doing Medicine, you will be eaten alive. My brother's friend went through pretty much the exact same thing and he was something of a prodigy, but he didn't really want to do Medicine and got 4 rejections. Don't let the same thing happen to you. Do not be bullied by anyone. It's your life, not your friends', family or teachers'.

On a different note, would those A-levels get me anywhere? ^^

Sure, you can do a lot of things in the arts, and biological sciences.

Ultimately, if you do those first 5 and bomb your AS because of lack of motivation and interest, you're unlikely to get the offers you want. If you do the 4 you're interested in, you're likely to do better and end up in a better uni.

That's my take. Think carefully about this.

Reply 15

SinghSTAR

I've worked out that my dilema is that there are so many subjects that I enjoy and would do well in, and for those reasons I don't want to drop those subjects.

I don't want to lose the talent I have in subjects that I like and have worked so hard for (for example, French). :frown:

But at the same time I want to have a career that fulfils my potential.

Reply 16

Tahooper

Original post by floralia

I disagree just to put another opinion out there OP. I did 4 A2s and did fine in them and I don't really feel like I missed out on much socially... it was definitely alot more work than I did at A level but most of the best social stuff happened in the summer after school anyway. But I guess it depends on how much socialising really matters to you.

What A2 subjects did you do?

Reply 17

username458263

Original post by SinghSTAR

You should consider which subjects would be good for uni, but you shouldn't choose based exclusively on that. And you mention feeling under pressure to do medicine/dentistry... it angers me that people are put through that. I have to say that I've rarely been told I should be doing medicine, but I do know someone who's applying for various maths and music courses who was told that applying for such course was "a waste of 5As [at Scottish Higher]". Is this the sort of thing you're talking about? I also know someone who was planning to apply for medicine until mid-September at the earliest, possibly even later, and then changed his mind to apply for physics, because he wasn't actually committed to becoming a doctor.

Bear in mind that while studying, for example, biology at university could lead to a variety of different careers, if you do medicine, you have fairly few options if you don't actually want to become a doctor. I have quite a few friends applying for medicine and I've seen how much work they need to do just to get in, and I'm sure this work pales in comparison to what they'll have to do on an actual medicine course. Don't put yourself through all that unless you're really dedicated to medicine.

Reply 18

Tahooper

Original post by floralia

History, Maths, Economics, Spanish. Not the same as OP, but I know a lot of people who did all science subjects/three science subjects and a non-science subject who did fine at A2 as well. I appreciate that it does fully depend on the individual though, so I'm not telling OP to definitely do 4, just that it is doable.

I said in my first post it was doable but it was unnecessarily difficult because you are having to spread the work out between 4 subjects instead of 3 so it will inadvertently affect your other subjects and having 4 A-Levels will not put you at an advantage when applying to university over someone who only did 3.

Reply 19

cberry

I did four a levels and 2 extra AS Levels (although only five at one time)- it was almost ten years ago (God I'm old!) but I didn't find it too difficult actually. I agree with other people- you'll know best yourself, you'll know how hard you are likely to work, how you'll cope with revision etc.