Should I do 5 AS Levels?

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I did 5 AS Levels this year, so I feel like I could give some input into the topic. if you feel like you can handle the workload, then do it. You seem like a very bright individual so you probably could deal with all of the work. Keeping on top of stuff like homework was probably the hardest thing for me this year but understanding the topics in my subjects were fine throughout the year. However, I would only recommend doing 5 AS Levels if you enjoy the subjects, not just because you want to look better for uni applications. Cambridge only really care about the UMS in your three best subjects so apart from demonstrating time management skills, which can be achieved by much simpler methods, there's honestly no real advantage to doing 5 AS Levels.

I must reiterate this point. ONLY DO 5 AS LEVELS IF YOU REALLY ENJOY THE SUBJECTS!

Spoiler

Reply 21

fefssdf

There's really no point. The likelihood of you getting A's in all of them is very very very slim. How are you going to physically have enough time to revise for that much subjects and ensure you put maximum effort into each one. You won't.
I started off doing 5 alevels thinking I could handle it. I ended up dropping out of biology after getting a U in the mock because I could never find the time to revise for it. It was a complete waste of time and I don't recommend it whatsoever. You're better off going 3 subjects cause unis only want 3 grades at the end of the day.

Reply 22

Student403

Original post by nobodycarescarla

My mate got into oxford with 3, but she got 100ums (100%) in 2 of them! Think more quality over quantity.
I know someone in the year above who did 8 (yes really!) and achieved something like 4A*s and 4As and got rejected by cambridge and went ucl instead for chemistry. So Alevels arent everything. May not be worth putting yourself through extra Alevels as there is a chance you wont get into oxbridge (sorry if that sounds harsh but they do have a high rejection rate, but thats a disscussion for another day).
Best of luck regardless!

UMS makes no difference to Oxford as they do not ask to see this

Reply 23

Abstract_Prism

Most people I've seen on here who took 5 A-levels got something like AABCC. Honestly, they've shot themselves in the foot by doing that, thinking that it would make them stand out and they could handle it.

I would say try 5 AS-levels. After the first month, drop to four if you are not doing as well as you could. Definitely drop one after AS though. Yes, even if you get all A's.

Just remember that you will not give yourself any advantage over people who are doing three. I'm not actually sure why people say you should take more if you can handle it if this is true though.

Have a look at this guy. He got rejected from Oxford even though he got 7 A*'s. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2395440/A-Level-results-Student-7-A-s-heads-Stanford-REJECTED-Oxford-University.html

Do 6 if you want to.

Original post by yaystrawberries

I've just done my GCSEs and am predicted to get A*s in all of them. The four A Levels I've decided on are Maths, Chemistry, Physics and Further Maths. The fifth would either be French or Biology, and I'd drop it after doing the AS Level. My teachers have told me repeatedly that I should consider taking 5 A Levels because they think I can handle the workload - for Maths/FM I've already tried a few of the C1, C2 and FP1 papers and done pretty well in them.
I want to study Chemical Engineering at university.
I know this isn't the only thread asking about taking 5 A Levels! But I want to ask anyone on the new specification for the sciences, what the workload is like and if it's doable. What are the advantages of doing 5 (apart from bragging rights)? Even though I found some of the units easy, have I totally underestimated how hard Maths A Level is?

Where I teach [high performing selective school] we don't allow anyone to do 5 with the new A levels. There is absolutely no benefit - be sensible and take four.

Reply 26

Ayman!

Original post by Abstract_Prism

Have a look at this guy. He got rejected from Oxford even though he got 7 A*'s. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2395440/A-Level-results-Student-7-A-s-heads-Stanford-REJECTED-Oxford-University.html

The lad got into Princeton and Stanford though... way more impressive than Oxford in my opinion.

Reply 27

Abstract_Prism

Original post by Ayman!

The lad got into Princeton and Stanford though... way more impressive than Oxford in my opinion.

Ah that's just subjective.

The point is that doing a lot of A-levels won't necessarily put you at an advantage.

Reply 28

Ayman!

Original post by Abstract_Prism

Ah that's just subjective.

The point is that doing a lot of A-levels won't necessarily put you at an advantage.

No, I agree - more than 5 A-levels is overkill. I'm just wondering why he got rejected from Oxford if he could get into both Princeton and Stanford. Perhaps it was a bad interview.

Reply 29

Cari98

Firstly, massive well done to you for even being in the position to consider taking five! :smile:

I took 4 AS subjects. At my college, Welsh Baccalaureate is compulsory, and is now graded using the same marking schemes as normal subjects, so it's seen as an A level in its own right. So essentially, I took 5 AS levels. It wasn't horrendously awful, and with appropriate time management it is completely doable, but I honestly don't think it was worth it in hindsight. Universities only look for 3 A levels, so doing 5, or even 4 gives you no advantage over those doing 3. If anything, I'd say it gives us less of an advantage, as with 3 subjects you can split your time effectively between them. With 4/5, you're spread very thinly indeed, and that could mean you'd get 5 average A levels when you could have got 3 outstanding ones.

Good luck with whatever you decide! :biggrin:

Reply 30

3121

Maths, F. maths, Physics and chem are a perfect combo they overlap with each other A LOT. biology and French have no place so it's not just an extra a level it's a whole new topic and I don't think that's a good idea, it's different if you said like you wanted to do F.maths/maths to compliment physics but seriously do the 4 and enjoy your time. Maybe do an EPQ?

Reply 31

yaystrawberries

Thanks everyone for your help! The unanimous answer from virtually everyone I've asked about this has been 'NO! DON'T DO IT!' so I think I'll be sensible and stick to 4 :biggrin:

My reason for wanting to take Bio was that when I go into chem eng I'm looking to go into the biochemical side of it so I thought it might be useful, but I think I'd be better off researching it in my own time rather than doing the A Level. My reason for wanting to take French was that I want to work in a foreign country/for engineering companies knowing a foreign language is attractive, but I guess I can always self study it!

Original post by zayn008

Maybe do an EPQ?

I have the opportunity to, so I think I'll do this instead :smile:

Reply 32

Student403

Original post by Ayman!

No, I agree - more than 5 A-levels is overkill. I'm just wondering why he got rejected from Oxford if he could get into both Princeton and Stanford. Perhaps it was a bad interview.

Definitely

For a given person who applies to all, much more likely to find the person gets an offer from Oxford and not from either Stanford/Princeton, than Princeton/Stanford and not Oxford.

(edited 7 years ago)

Reply 33

3121

Original post by yaystrawberries

I have the opportunity to, so I think I'll do this instead :smile:

Might i suggest you do an EPQ in something biology oriented, I think an EPQ on cancer research will be amazing and will give you a chance to demonstrate your knowledge of the real world and real world issues while also showing your knowledge and interest in biology :smile:

Reply 34

Swifty139

Original post by yaystrawberries

I did 5 AS Levels: Maths, Further Maths, Physics, French and Classics (Did general studies as well but no one cares about that sooo) so really quite similar to yours as well as working 16 hours a week and in all honesty, I didn't have much free time but I didn't find it stupidly difficult to keep up with, I came out with AAAAB and dropped Physics and Classics because I realised Maths was for me. I'd therefore say do it if you want to try out a range of subjects so you can find out which ones are your favourite and as long as you're ready to work hard

Reply 35

Swifty139

Original post by zayn008

French and languages in general take a place in any form of education. I studied French, Maths and Further Maths during year 13 and just doing a language hasn't just opened by eyes to other cultures and increased my job prospects, it's developed my mental agility and confidence in communicating with others. It might not seem like it goes with the other choices well, but the skills it provides have been more useful to me than a subject like Physics could ever be.

Reply 36

Ayman!

Original post by Student403

Definitely

For a given person who applies to all, much more likely to find the person gets an offer from Oxford and not from either Stanford/Princeton, then Princeton/Stanford and not Oxford.

Exactly what I was wondering. Stanford and Princeton are basically the hardest Ivy leagues to get into, so it surprises me that he could get into both and not Oxford.

Oxford's official acceptance rate is 18% which is just a little higher than most liberal arts colleges

Reply 37

hmurg

Save yourself and don't do that. Not only is it pointless, but it will crush you. I know people who got all A*s at GCSE and then dropped out of a levels.

Reply 38

Abstract_Prism

Original post by Ayman!

No, I agree - more than 5 A-levels is overkill. I'm just wondering why he got rejected from Oxford if he could get into both Princeton and Stanford. Perhaps it was a bad interview.

Could be. Then again, it's no lie that many excellent applicants are rejected from Oxford and Cambridge. I think that a big part of it is luck really, and that some people are there who you think don't deserve it as much as people like that guy who got 7 A*'s, and people are rejected who really ought to have gotten in.

Reply 39

h8skoooooool

I've done exactly your combination (did French AS in y11 though and bio for y12), so I have managed 5 AS levels at once. Honestly, it was worth it because I enjoyed all the subjects and the workload was certainly doable because they aren't loads of essays to write every week
:tongue:

Just do every past paper you can find in maths and you're set!

However, with the reformed sciences, I wouldn't carry 5 subjects on to A2. French A2 was also a massive step up before it was reformed, from what I can remember, so I imagine it's much harder now. You'll see how much content there is in biology (even just in AS year). I'm doing maths, FM, physics and chemistry next year.

People are trying to scare you away, and rightly so, but if you really work hard then go for it!