A-levels: Relative Difficulty and Uni Admissions Selection criteria

Thankyou for compiling this list, it's very useful. It's a shame schools/colleges arn't more open about the relative worth attached to A Levels as many students don't realise they can seriously jeoporadise their chances of studying at the best/most prestigious unis before they've even taken an exam!

I too would have thought Eng Lit would be higher than (at best) 18th. Alongside History it's one of the traditional essay subjects.

Whilst some may claim you should choose "subjects you like" its certainly more pragmatic to choose the most respected and challenging courses if you have ambitions for the most selective universities. I adore Economics, History and Eng Lit but would have certainly chosen Physics over Eng Lang if I'd known how revered the subject is (and how life affirming having begun reading 'A Brief History of Time'). Choosing traditional subjects to attain entry to the more traditional universities has always been logical to the more academiccly aware but unfortunately many people who arn't are never overtly told this by teachers or admissions staff.

Lolwut? My Cambridge offer is based on a subject blacklisted by Cambridge? Wow

Well there is no uni representation data for English and perhaps English is one of those subjects that students take becuase they love it rather than because they have to. Hence students do well at it and hence it can look 'easy'.

Economics, History and Eng Lit are all good subjects and I don't think your subject choice will stop you getting into a good uni. (Unless you want to do econ at uni in which case Maths is pretty much mandatory at the top 11 unis). But yes Physics would show that you have a different set of skills from essay based subjects.

Glad you like 'A Brief History of Time'. I read it when it first came out in 1988. (I guess you were not even born then?). depending on how well your summer exams go and what other demands there are on your time you could even think about doing Physics AS next year.

True I think English draws an emotional response from students unlike any other subject.



Yes I unfortunately developed ambitions for a PPE/Economics degree after choosing my AS's so I'm also teaching myself Maths for the summer AS exams. It's hard and nerve wracking learning it so close to exams but thanks to www.mathsnetalevel.com I am progressing.

That's an intriguing suggestion a Physics as would give my application an edge, though I'd only be able to mention it pre-emptively on my PS.

Eng Lit, Eng Lang, History, Economics, Maths and Critical Thinking.

I have attended some of the maths lessons but the teacher is terrible (20% fail rate for the year in January modules!) so I am better off teaching myself. I got two A(*)s in History and Econ in the Jan modules with full marks in Econ and am predicted AAAA (excluding Maths and Crit Thinking).

My GCSE's are very medicore: AAAABBBCCC, but as I worked for three years post-school they were a while ago and I hope more emphasis will be placed on my A levels.

I am more interested in PPE as both the study of Economics and Philosophy as independent subjects (Existentialism in particular) and the interdependence of the three areas appeal- something which Warwick is exploring from what I've read.

I would want to study the best PPE course, but with my GCSEs and the brutal competiton for places Oxford is out of the question.

York's course has a great reputation and the prospectus informs me it is intense, requiring a forty hour working week, which appeals. Manchester, Warwick and Exeter also appear the best institutions to apply to.

Do you think my GCSE's make my acceptance on any of these courses unlikely?

1) Firstly don't do Physics. e.g. 6 AS-levels is plenty for anyone.

2) So are you thinking of doing all 6 to A-level?

5) What makes you think that Oxford is not possible

You should apply to a range of places.
So
1) Find all the places that offer PPE.
(UCAS Course Search 2009 gives 16 places for PPE).
2) Find the Typical offer for each uni
3) Look at one of the Newspaper League Tables (e.g. Times) and get the average points for each of the 3 subjects (Politics, Philisophy and Economics) at each of the 16 unis.
4) Work out your approximate UCAS tariff points.
e.g. AAAAAa is 5*120+60=660 points.
Then compare how your points c.f. the average points at each uni.
5) Select 5 unis which vary in terms of how competitive they are. e.g. both in terms of offers and average points.

Finally check out my (long) sticky threads in the economics forum. They should be of some value even for PPE.

I was thinking of dropping Eng Lang for A2 and taking up Physics AS. However this may be too much work and would probably have little affect on my application as I could only use the Physics post-qualification

No I will drop English Language as A2 Maths and History will be very demanding.

My sub-standard GCSE's (from a successful grammar school), break from education and lack of impressive EC's such as music, sport or debating.From what I've now read on here Oxford's admissions procedure is far more rigorous than simple grade fascism a la LSE and many candidates who have progressed greatly since GCSEs receive offers. Knowing this, if I recieve the grades I aim for, I will apply to one of the mature colleges.

Thanks for all the help .

Do you mean if you get good AS-level grades or good A-level grades?

AS grades as these are what I will have to apply with.

ergh no offence but who cares if theyre blacklisted by LSE and Cambridge? not me for one.

ergh no offence but who cares if theyre blacklisted by LSE and Cambridge? not me for one.

I'm currently studying Maths, Chemistry, Eng Lit and History. Do you recommend I do all 4 at A2?

Thankyou for compiling this list, it's very useful. It's a shame schools/colleges arn't more open about the relative worth attached to A Levels as many students don't realise they can seriously jeoporadise their chances of studying at the best/most prestigious unis before they've even taken an exam!

I too would have thought Eng Lit would be higher than (at best) 18th. Alongside History it's one of the traditional essay subjects.

Whilst some may claim you should choose "subjects you like" its certainly more pragmatic to choose the most respected and challenging courses if you have ambitions for the most selective universities. I adore Economics, History and Eng Lit but would have certainly chosen Physics over Eng Lang if I'd known how revered the subject is (and how life affirming having begun reading 'A Brief History of Time'). Choosing traditional subjects to attain entry to the more traditional universities has always been logical to the more academiccly aware but unfortunately many people who arn't are never overtly told this by teachers or admissions staff.