Any tips for year 12 ?

The title is pretty self explanatory I’m planning to study Biology, Chemistry, English literature and Maths ( + an EPQ ). Is there anything I can prepare for in the summer ?

The title is pretty self explanatory I’m planning to study Biology, Chemistry, English literature and Maths ( + an EPQ ). Is there anything I can prepare for in the summer ?

Four A levels and an EPQ is too much. Unis only require three A levels and you don't get extra credit for taking a fourth, and AAA will always look better than AABB. A levels are a big step up from GCSEs and year 12 is also the time when you need to research unis and courses, get work experience/volunteer if you are going to study a vocational course, do supercurriculars to add to your personal statement, learn to drive, etc. Do you have a uni course/career in mind at this stage?

At our school, people who did 4 A Levels had to do the AS exams in year 12, if they didn't do so well, you had to drop one. So by year 13, no one had 4 A Levels - doing 3 and getting higher grades is better than 4 with lower grades

Four A levels and an EPQ is too much. Unis only require three A levels and you don't get extra credit for taking a fourth, and AAA will always look better than AABB. A levels are a big step up from GCSEs and year 12 is also the time when you need to research unis and courses, get work experience/volunteer if you are going to study a vocational course, do supercurriculars to add to your personal statement, learn to drive, etc. Do you have a uni course/career in mind at this stage?

The title is pretty self explanatory I’m planning to study Biology, Chemistry, English literature and Maths ( + an EPQ ). Is there anything I can prepare for in the summer ?

AS exams are no longer a thing in England (with the exception of AS maths). A levels are now linear - two years of study with one set of exams at the end of the course.

AS exams do still exist for all subjects, however they are a separate qualification to the current A levels in the linear system.

I believe fairly recently it was made an option to be able to sit AS exams in the subjects you planned to sit as A levels at the end of year 13, though I’ll need to check this.

The title is pretty self explanatory I’m planning to study Biology, Chemistry, English literature and Maths ( + an EPQ ). Is there anything I can prepare for in the summer ?

Four A levels and an EPQ is too much. Unis only require three A levels and you don't get extra credit for taking a fourth, and AAA will always look better than AABB. A levels are a big step up from GCSEs and year 12 is also the time when you need to research unis and courses, get work experience/volunteer if you are going to study a vocational course, do supercurriculars to add to your personal statement, learn to drive, etc. Do you have a uni course/career in mind at this stage?

Hey are you an international student? 2 of my friends actually chose the same subject combination as you but later dropped Math/English after AS. At my school, half of the year took 4 A levels + the EPQ (which was compulsory). Although not necessary, some of these students wanted to apply to the States where taking a range of different subjects would put them at an advantage. One of my friends successfully received an offer from an Ivy uni and was test optional. He didn’t need to take the SAT as our uni counsellor told him that as he did both math and English lit (and was predicted both an A*), that this would be a good enough reflection of the score he would have received had he completed the SAT. I also did 4 A levels to start with (Math, bio, chem, and Chinese + the EPQ) but dropped Chinese after year 13 due to its growing commitments as a med candidate. Did I regret it? No at all as I was able to learn beyond GCSE content and refine my skills. I also certainly didn’t try to compromise on my other subjects during year 12. At my school only half of the subjects are AS but I know that most schools abroad, especially in Asian countries, where everyone sits the AS exams (for all subjects) as they only follow the CIE exam board. Taking another subject is never wrong as it would benefit you in one way or another. For my friend who will be attending Imperial for med this September (he took all the sciences and maths + the EPQ), doing all these subjects made every bit of an impact in his application. Studying for the medical school entrance test (BMAT), which tests all 4 of these subjects, was certainly made an easier task. He achieved all A*s this year. To close, I think you should truly consider what you want to do at uni and where you would like to go for uni. Always prioritise your well-being and mental health and do what feels right to you. Hope this helps!

Yeah, I’d like to go into Biochem or neuroscience. + the whole reason I applied to the college I’m going to is so that I can study 4 A-levels, I just really like all 4 subjects