Do universities look at your GCSE grades?

I know GCSE's are important but do universities even look at your GCSE grades or do they only care about A-levels?

Yes they certainly look. As to their importance that will depend on the course and the university.

I know this is a bit early, but what sort of university courses are you thinking about?

I know it sounds ambitious but either maths or economics at oxbridge?

Well for Maths at Cambridge or Oxford your maths is by far the most important thing. For Oxford the MAT is more important than GCSEs, and for Cambridge there's no GCSE requirements and STEP plays a big part of the process.

Also, I noticed your other thread asking about doing 5 A-levels... what are your predicted GCSE grades? Having 3 (or at most 4) good A-levels are much more important that attempting 5...

the sixth form I want to go to makes you take 5 A levels if you want to do further maths because they require all students to do 4 A levels anyway but count maths and further maths as one option

That's sounds daft. Are you sure you have got that right? Usually the only time you would consider doing 4 is if you are doing Maths & FM. But that doesn't mean you have to do 5.

Yeah I'm sure as I've already had an interview with them and asked about it. But I would be able to drop 1 subject at the end of year 12 and just do it as an As, which I would probably do

Exactly the same as my school - everyone starts with 4 and drops one or start with 5 (you can only do 5 if one of them is further maths) and drop 1. A Levels are more important but having good GCSEs mprove your chances of getting into top unis. Do your best & good luck

Does your school allow you to include an EPQ in your 4? That would be a more useful qualification than a spare subject.

No - EPQ is an extra thing done in year 13 if you choose to do it