AS Choices?

Hi there,

I've been looking at some University websites and I've found that, for most courses I might choose to do, I will need Mathematics and either Physics or Further Mathematics. That's one, perhaps two, subjects sorted.

Now then, onto a language. I prefer French to Spanish, but only because it's a bit of a 'challenge'. I really enjoy learning French, although I only did it for my GCSE years. I therefore know more Spanish - I just don't like it as much. Which should I go for? Am I right in saying French?

With regards to my fourth subject, I haven't got a clue. I want the broadest subject base possible (no specialising yet) as I don't know what I'd like to do in the future. I think I might want to do a degree in Computer Science, but I've heard that you don't need Computing at AS/A2 so it seems a bit of a waste. Any recommendations, or suggestions?

By the way, I got A*s in all 10 of my subjects at GCSE :redface:

. I thought I'd be able to distinguish by grades, but now I'm spoilt for choice :rolleyes:

Reply 1

Comp_Genius

why do you knowmore spanish?

you can consider taking physics, further maths and maths, and a language.

Reply 2

kellywood_5

I agree that you should stick to French. You might have studied Spanish for longer and feel slightly more comfortable with it, but if you don't enjoy it as much, there's no point taking it. For your other 3 subjects, you could take maths, further maths and physics, but if you want to keep your choices as broad as possible, you could take an essay subject such as English literature or history. If you wanted to, you could even take 5 subjects. It would be a lot of work, but if you're good at maths, taking both maths and further maths probably wouldn't be as much work as taking 2 different subjects, and with 10 A*s at GCSE you're obviously capable. Well done on your results :smile:

Reply 3

Craver

darkenergy - I took Spanish for 3 years prior to the GCSE years, and I also went on an exchange to Spain for a week.

kellywood_5 - you know what, I would love to do 5 subjects. The problem is that our college is making the Welsh Bac compulsory from this year onward, so there would be no time in the timeable for a fifth AS (unless I did most of it in my own time). I have a part time job for some evenings too which is well paid as well, so I think I'm realistically looking at just the 4. I'll certainly enquire about 5 though. Thanks for your help :smile:

Reply 4

Craver

Waiiiiiit I just remembered - I also did an AS in Critical Thinking a year early. I got a B (obviously was concentrating on my GCSEs etc), but still. Wouldn't this count as a fifth?

Reply 5

Pixelated

Craver

Waiiiiiit I just remembered - I also did an AS in Critical Thinking a year early. I got a B (obviously was concentrating on my GCSEs etc), but still. Wouldn't this count as a fifth?

Most universities don't accept Critical Thinking; so probably not.

Reply 6

Comp_Genius

well you obviously enjoy french more and your french is as good as your spanish anyway... maybe you should stick with french.

Reply 7

Craver

Pixelated - ???? I know that Cambridge actively look for Critical Thinking skills in their prospective students, and it's worth the same as any other AS. In fact, only 75% of people get A-E in it, which is one of the worst pass rates out of all of the AS levels. Surely it would, if anything, count for more?

Reply 8

kellywood_5

Craver

Waiiiiiit I just remembered - I also did an AS in Critical Thinking a year early. I got a B (obviously was concentrating on my GCSEs etc), but still. Wouldn't this count as a fifth?

Most top universities give offers based on grades in 3 A-levels, so it won't help you to meet your offer, and it's seen as the more intelligent version of General Studies, but universities will still respect you taking a 5th AS a yeatr early and getting a B. Do any of the courses you want to apply for requre or prefer further maths and physics? If so, I'd do both of those plus maths and French, but if not choose one of them and do maths, French and an essay subject as well.

Reply 9

Pixelated

Craver

That's news to me. Most universities I've been considering don't accept Critical Thinking.

Reply 10

Craver

Thanks for the advice guys. Pixelated - I guess I'll just have to wait and see, hehe

kellywood_5 - do you reckon that Computing would 'sort of' be 'somewhere' in the area of an essay-based subject? After all, there is a project that counts for 30% of the overall grade which is completely annotated and detailed.

Reply 11

Comp_Genius

I would say that computers are less respected than some traditional subjects, although I am not saying that its an easy subject to take.

Reply 12

kellywood_5

Craver

Well, it's more of an essay subject than your other choices, except French, which is an essay subject at A2. You don't have to take an essay subject if you don't want to though. I don't take any sciences because I hate them and would probably fail miserably :p:

Reply 13

leannemarie

Pixelated

That's news to me. Most universities I've been considering don't accept Critical Thinking.

Only 38% of people get A-C in it...I think!

Reply 14

leannemarie

Craver

Waiiiiiit I just remembered - I also did an AS in Critical Thinking a year early. I got a B (obviously was concentrating on my GCSEs etc), but still. Wouldn't this count as a fifth?

I did 4 established subjects and critical thinking as a fifth which is plenty! It does count as a fifth because by then you're doing more ASs than you need but for top unis/Oxbridge you would need AAA/AAB in subjects other than critical thinking at A2.

Reply 15

abc101

Congrats on the Critical Thinking - getting any AS a year early is a good achievement in itself, and though for most courses unis won't include General Studies (I don't know much about Critical Thinking so am assuming it is somewhat similar) some say a good performance in it will be taken into consideration if you fail to meet your offer. The fact you got it early will probably look impressive.

On the languages, I'd say take French - you enjoy it more, and if you got an A* in it, you're obviously just as capable as you are with Spanish.

For a fourth subject, a humanity such as History, RS or Geography would make you well-rounded, or English, Philosophy. What essay-based subjects do you enjoy?

Check with some university prospectuses and sites if they want Computing/IT so you can be sure if you need it or not.

Good luck.

Reply 16

7589200

Im sure within your A*s you are performing at different levels for different subjects. Having 10A* was never a reason to not have clear strenghts.. Just pick what you like to do. Try to stay out of the Mickey Mouse territory and you will do extremely well.

Reply 17

leannemarie

Vazzyb

I got A*s in all my sciences/maths and A*s in all my arts subjects apart from History. I still took History A Level and got an A at AS. Even though my grades said otherwise, I knew I was better at History and should have done some revision at GCSE! I would hate to be do Science A Levels now.

Reply 18

KAISER_MOLE

I might have missed it, but are you looking to study maths or physics or (other) at university? Nice GCSE results by the way, I would suggest maths, further maths and physics for sure, don't feel you need to do an essay based subject though, essay based subjects are flawed in their nature anyway.

Reply 19

Craver

Thanks for all of your help guys.

I would be doing computing (mostly programming) as opposed to ICT, which is generally looked upon as being far 'easier' in some respects.

Your replies have truly assisted me - thank you all once again!