6 A-Level Options - Will I die?!

You're making assumptions about OP. People said exactly the same sort of stuff to me when I was doing my GCSEs (although I never posted a thread on TSR).

I am saying there is the possibility that he/she will be able to do it, if s/he wants and s/he thinks s/he will get something out of it (not everything you do in sixth form has to be for the benefit of university admissions tutors, you know.)

In terms of actual workload, 6 AS is pretty similar to doing the IB, with the advantage that you have total flexibility in what you study. It's a workload that lots and lots of people take on and do well with. You don't have to very exceptional at all to do 6 AS levels, or even eight like I did. You just need to be above average and prepared to make sacrifices in other areas.

Thanks, I think I'm going to go with it.

If it goes badly, I can always drop Economics.

It really annoys me when people use threads like these as an excuse to show off. Yes, it's wonderful that you're taking a billion A Levels, woohoo, good job. Unfortunately, you are not representative of the average person and above all, I would regard taking so many as quite a silly - and potentially dangerous - decision. You taking so many A Levels does not change the OP's ability in the slightest. You can't say "You'll be fine" because you don't know the OP's academic position and the overwhelming majority of people would not be "fine" doing that many A Levels. Someone who is capable of doing that many A Levels would not be panicking about whether it's possible.

I'm sorry, but I fundamentally disagree with you there. I don't understand how you can possibly claim that you don't have to be exceptional to take 6 AS Levels (or more), because every single teacher and most students would dismiss that as nonsense.

I'm not making assumptions about OP, the people who are saying "Go for it" are. The overwhelming majority of people will not be able to pull it off. If OP is an exception then good for him/her, but 99% of people won't be able to do it.

And you cannot compare IB to doing 6 AS Levels.

If they've already taken an AS early alongside their A Levels and their school is willing to let them take that many, I think they'll be able enough.

I'm sorry, but I fundamentally disagree with you there. I don't understand how you can possibly claim that you don't have to be exceptional to take 6 AS Levels (or more), because every single teacher and most students would dismiss that as nonsense.

I'm not making assumptions about OP, the people who are saying "Go for it" are. The overwhelming majority of people will not be able to pull it off. If OP is an exception then good for him/her, but 99% of people won't be able to do it.

And you cannot compare IB to doing 6 AS Levels.

I'm sorry, but I fundamentally disagree with you there. I don't understand how you can possibly claim that you don't have to be exceptional to take 6 AS Levels (or more), because every single teacher and most students would dismiss that as nonsense.

I'm not making assumptions about OP, the people who are saying "Go for it" are. The overwhelming majority of people will not be able to pull it off. If OP is an exception then good for him/her, but 99% of people won't be able to do it.

And you cannot compare IB to doing 6 AS Levels.

How can you "think they'll be able" since you don't know the OP? Besides, there's a huge difference between "coping" and "doing well". I'd exchange AAAAAA for A*AA any day.

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Thank you! Someone who agrees with me.

He hasn't even started his A levels...

Who's he?

chlorophile...actually in the same position as OP, peering into the unknown

I know of about 15 people offhand that did 6 AS levels, and that's just at my college.

What reason do I have to assume that OP won't be able to cope with it? The fact they're considering it suggests that they're a top student. You'll notice that I asked OP for his/her GCSE predictions, as that can tell you a lot. OP may start it and find it too difficult: fair enough, but it's not an option that's to be automatically dismissed outright as it is in so many of these TSR threads.

chlorophile...actually in the same position as OP, peering into the unknown

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It's not pointless, some people have the ability to succeed in them all, and so they can keep their options open.

You must go to an exceptional college then. I don't know a single person who's doing 6 AS Levels at my sixth form, and it's the best one in the borough.

Additionally, a very successful grammar school in London (Latymer) doesn't allow students to take more than 4. I doubt they'd do that for no reason.

The reason why you should assume that OP won't be able to cope is because most people won't. A lot of people on TSR are living in some academic delusion and assume that everyone else finds things as easy as them, when that's completely not the case. On top of all of this is the fact that doing 6 is absolutely pointless and gives you no benefit whatsoever. The fact that you'd be able to 'cope' does not mean you should do it. It's a much more sensible decision to concentrate time on 4 than spreading it out over 6.

That's a little bit unfair. I was in the exact position as OP, with the possibility of doing 6 AS Levels. However, I did proper research (rather than asking the academic elite on an already over-represented forum) by talking to a number of teachers as well as people from several Universities (including Cambridge) and the overwhelming consensus I got is that doing 6 is completely pointless and not worth the time and potential stress it could cause.

How is the OP keeping his/her options open? No University courses have Economics or Computing as compulsory subjects. Maths, F Maths, Physics and Chemistry keep the same number of options open as those in combination with Economics and Computing!