4 A-levels vs. 3 A-levels

If you hate it, drop it. Also find out how much Cambridge look at grades after you meet the minimum requirements, some places just want minimum grades then look at your PS

Hi,

I'm in the process of applying to university and my school are sending in my application tomorrow. Currently I'm on four A-levels, one of which is Chemistry and I want to study English at university. Out of my five uni choices, one of them is Cambridge and when I spoke to an admissions officer, they said 3 A-levels is fine. My school, however, are saying I need to do four in order to stand a chance against the competition.

I'm unsure of what to do and I've been trying to make a decision of whether or not to drop Chemistry for months now, but I haven't gotten anywhere.

Being honest with you even if you keep Chemistry you are less likely to be accepted than you are of getting in with Cambridge. This is the case for everyone. the only one I know of who makes offers for 4 a levels is Imperial so I would go with dropping Chemistry. Places like Durham and Exeter are likely to want A*AA for English so give it your best shot and concentrate on your other subjects

Thank you. That makes sense. I'll think over everything tonight and go in first thing tomorrow, knowing what I'm going to do, and inform my head of year of my decision. I actually have a Chemistry test tomorrow and my form tutor is my Chemistry teacher, so I know that if I see him first I'll convince myself to keep at it.

He probably wont be happy but you have to put yourself first as your future is at stake. a few years ago my son decided to drop a subject after a B at AS then the subject teacher tried to get us to convince him to alter but we told him in no uncertain manner that the students future was at stake and that the decision was taken for that reason.

It's not that I hate it. I've grown to like the subject but the amount of content that needs to be learnt and the time spent working on exam technique is what puts me off. I think I'd be able to handle the workload, but I don't want it to take priority over English and my other subjects in the process.

In regards to finding out how much Cambridge look at grades, I can never seem to get a straight answer, or everyone will give me different answers. An admissions tutor at the summer school this year said that competition is high and most people tend to get 2A*s or more on results day for humanities subjects, though only 1 A* is part of their offer. I don't know if that affects who they give offers out too. Other Cambridge undergraduates I've spoken to have said that the normal 3 A-levels and standard offer are fine, whilst my school are insisting 4 A-levels at high grades are necessary, because others will be applying with 4 or 5 A-levels too.

The Christ's admissions tutor always emphasises quality over quantity. Ask him yourself: http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=3619547

It's not that I hate it. I've grown to like the subject but the amount of content that needs to be learnt and the time spent working on exam technique is what puts me off. I think I'd be able to handle the workload, but I don't want it to take priority over English and my other subjects in the process.

In regards to finding out how much Cambridge look at grades, I can never seem to get a straight answer, or everyone will give me different answers. An admissions tutor at the summer school this year said that competition is high and most people tend to get 2A*s or more on results day for humanities subjects, though only 1 A* is part of their offer. I don't know if that affects who they give offers out too. Other Cambridge undergraduates I've spoken to have said that the normal 3 A-levels and standard offer are fine, whilst my school are insisting 4 A-levels at high grades are necessary, because others will be applying with 4 or 5 A-levels too.