How important is a 4th AS Level?

So if you were to get AAAC at AS level, although predicted A*A*A at A2 (having dropped the subject you got a C in) what's the best bet for getting into Cambridge?

a) resit the C and therefore have to take a gap year?
b) Leave the C alone and just concentrate on getting the prediction mentioned above?

Essentially, how important is the 4th As level to Cambridge if it's not related to your course?

Its of marginal importance if its genuinely not related to the course. For humanities courses you are ranked on your best three and even for science courses the fourth is only included if it is maths/science. In the overall holistic assessment a C in English might be a mild disadvantage even for science courses but nobody is going to worry about a C in maths if you are applying for French for example. Definitely dont take a Gap year. Don't worry about predictions either, Cambridge make their own assessment based on your AS UMS achieved.

If you got AAAC at AS level, and predicted A*A*A at A2 what would your chances be of getting an interview for Cambridge for law? Also the C would be in Maths so fairly irrelevant to law.

I wouldn't necessarily characterize maths as "irrelevant to law," particularly since you can get into law with a number of different subject combinations. Also, since mathematics is based on applying logic and making inferences, these skills are undoubtedly useful if not necessary for the legal profession.

I got in for law with a full A-level C in maths, so I don't think they'd be overly concerned with the grade, although I was doing 4 other A-levels (and had to explain myself at interview!). Generally, though, it's hard to tell and different colleges may have different opinions of it - some might expect that you do well in anything you have the opportunity to study (and thus restrict their 3 A-level offers to people who haven't had the chance to do any more than that); others might think it's fine as long as you do well in your other 3. If it concerns you, try phoning an admissions tutor at your chosen college, but I wouldn't be put off applying in any case.

I got AAAB last year, the B was only 2 marks off an A too annoyingly. But I have resat that AS level during my A level exams and have hopefully got it up to a pretty high A. (I am a law applicant and possibly thinking about applying to Cambridge during my forthcoming gap year) My advice would be to resit the AS level if you think you stand a good chance of improving it while having a much harder work load with your A levels. However, if you think there is a chance it may affect your other results don't bother, as they are far more important.

How did you find the workload? Also did you take the gap year just because you really wanted to get into Cambridge? Or were there other reasons?

Which college are you at?

So if you were to get AAAC at AS level, although predicted A*A*A at A2 (having dropped the subject you got a C in) what's the best bet for getting into Cambridge?

a) resit the C and therefore have to take a gap year?
b) Leave the C alone and just concentrate on getting the prediction mentioned above?

Essentially, how important is the 4th As level to Cambridge if it's not related to your course?

I had exactly this problem - what a coincidence!

I got 'A', 'A', 'A', 'C' at AS (completely baffled by the 'C' as it was in my best subject). Resat the 'C' without revision and got an 'A' (the teachers and I believe the former was mismarked before as it happened to a few people that could afford remarks). Went on to get A*A*A at A2, took a gap year and now I'm off to Cambridge. I strongly recommend resitting the 'C'.