3 vs 4 A2s

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  1. wombat10's Avatar
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    3 vs 4 A2s
    I am currently taking History, Math, Economics and Physics at AS and am thinking of applying for PPE at Oxford and PP at LSE.

    Although I think I could still get good A2 grades with all of them, I just feel Physics isn't really where my interests lie and my teacher is leaving (only good one in the school!).

    Would it disadvantage me taking three A2s? Any help?
  2. Extricated's Avatar
    • Overlord in Training
    • Posts: 2,697
    Re: 3 vs 4 A2s
    A*A*A* is better than A*AAC.

    Do 3 If you feel that physics is going to cause your downfall. Besides, Physics is hardly useful for PPE anyway..
  3. Ben Kenobi's Avatar
    • Full Member
    Re: 3 vs 4 A2s
    A*A*A*A*>A*A*A*
    Just telling the facts.
    And I am not saying that you should take four A-Levels if you don't enjoy physics and couldn't cope with taking four subjects.
    Last edited by Ben Kenobi; 18-03-2012 at 17:47.
  4. Nick526's Avatar
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    • Posts: 124
    Re: 3 vs 4 A2s
    I'm taking 4 A2's and I don't regret it but it is a lot of work :/

    Just think though, one year of hard work could set you up for life
  5. Perseverance's Avatar
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    Re: 3 vs 4 A2s
    Normally I'd say take the four if you think you can, but sounds like you should drop physics - there's no point doing a subject that you dislike.
  6. Zhy's Avatar
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    Re: 3 vs 4 A2s
    You need at least 5 A2s to get into Oxford.
  7. KCosmo's Avatar
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    Re: 3 vs 4 A2s
    If you're hearts not in it, don't do it. Just think, all the time you study for physics, you could be shoring the other 3 up. I'd say the fact that you've even made this thread means that you should drop physics
  8. Nick526's Avatar
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    Re: 3 vs 4 A2s
    (Original post by Zhy)
    You need at least 5 A2s to get into Oxford.
    No you don't
  9. v2p's Avatar
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    • Posts: 378
    Re: 3 vs 4 A2s
    (Original post by Zhy)
    You need at least 5 A2s to get into Oxford.
    Not true, my brother's friend's cousin who knew a guy that used to go to his old school five years ago said that an admissions tutor at Oxford once told him you need at least eleventy thousand A2s.
  10. funsongfactory's Avatar
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    Re: 3 vs 4 A2s
    You'd be better off doing 3 A2s and getting As and A*s than doing 4 and getting Bs
  11. CHY872's Avatar
    • Adored and Respected Member
    Re: 3 vs 4 A2s
    (Original post by v2p)
    Not true, my brother's friend's cousin who knew a guy that used to go to his old school five years ago said that an admissions tutor at Oxford once told him you need at least eleventy thousand A2s.
    That's rubbish. I contacted Magdalen and they said that with the introduction of the A* grade you only need 1024 A2s.
  12. marianne93's Avatar
    • Junior Member
    • Posts: 45
    Re: 3 vs 4 A2s
    I'm doing 4 A2s (English lit., maths, spanish and politics) and really regret it. If you're certain of what you want to do at uni, I'd recommend dropping the subject that will contribute least to your course. I'm finding it hard to dedicate enough time to each subject and wish I had dropped Politics (the most content-heavy and irrelevant of my subjects).
  13. Boom.Squish's Avatar
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    • Posts: 380
    Re: 3 vs 4 A2s
    You'll be fine with 3. I did 3 and have 5 offers from good unis. My friend has 3 and she applied to LSE too and got an offer for Law. There's no point suffering through a subject you don't enjoy when you aren't at all disadvantaged by dropping it.
  14. NightBear's Avatar
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    • Posts: 568
    Re: 3 vs 4 A2s
    Three is sufficient at A2. 4 is optimal and 5 can look impressive if, and only if, you can pull it off.

    In your case it obviously sounds like you dislike Physics, in which case you're likely to have a better time in Year 13 if you drop it. No need to take the extra workload if you do not particularly like it.
  15. TLK's Avatar
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    • Location: Lancaster
    • Posts: 463
    Re: 3 vs 4 A2s
    You would be at a disadvantage if you were compared to someone with 4 A levels but most/all uni's really ask for 3. I only do 3 (I got a E in my 4th AS subject xD) and still got offers from the uni's that I want to go to. I'd suggest that you look up on the uni sites that you wish to go to too see what they ask for.
  16. Extricated's Avatar
    • Overlord in Training
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    Re: 3 vs 4 A2s
    (Original post by Nick526)
    No you don't
    If you couldn't sense the sarcasm in that post then you need to get out more.
  17. Id and Ego seek's Avatar
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    • Location: It's a London Thing
    • Posts: 2,769
    Re: 3 vs 4 A2s
    Quality > Quantity. Taking 3 A Levels won't disadvantage you at all.

    If you're not enjoying Physics, I'm confused as to why you want to continue doing it, especially since you want to study PPE not, you know, something Physics related.
  18. Intriguing Alias's Avatar
    • TSR Idol
    • Location: Yorkshire
    Re: 3 vs 4 A2s
    (Original post by wombat10)
    I am currently taking History, Math, Economics and Physics at AS and am thinking of applying for PPE at Oxford and PP at LSE.

    Although I think I could still get good A2 grades with all of them, I just feel Physics isn't really where my interests lie and my teacher is leaving (only good one in the school!).

    Would it disadvantage me taking three A2s? Any help?
    Don't bother if it's not something you enjoy. I only do 3 and I was fine with Cambridge and LSE (mind you it was for maths), it won't matter especially considering the fact it's irrelevant to your subject.
  19. cl_steele's Avatar
    • Banned
    • Location: Wellington
    • Warning points: 10
    Re: 3 vs 4 A2s
    considering offers are only awarded based on 3 a2s no it wouldnt be a disadvantage.
  20. chaosdestro0's Avatar
    • Adored and Respected Member
    Re: 3 vs 4 A2s
    I dropped from 4 at AS to three at A2. Had a massive impact on my grades, doing 4 at A2 is just a waste of time for most courses.
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