Will doing 3 AS-Levels disadvantage me?

Hi there,

A few days I moved schools from secondary to grammar and was a few points short of doing 4 AS( (had I have done the same number of GCSEs as them and not picked a BTEC I'd have certainly got the points, I argued it was a case of being at a below average school not a lack of ability but they had none of it). Anyway, since I'm not doing 4 AS will I be disadvantaged when applying to university or should I not worry too much and just make sure that the 3 A-Levels I get are as high grades as possible?

PS: 100th post! Woot!

Not really
As long as your course / university does not ask for one. (Ill take a punt saying 90% of courses/universities do not ask for one )

In fact 3 AS levels can make you a lot stronger than a person who did 5 but struggled
E.g I did 5 because I'm a bit stupid achieving AAB but my 'medicine' friend did 5 and achieved ABBCD
From my position, I'm in a better spot
For A2 core subjects which is the main thing universities want from the grades.

Just remember if your doing 3, not to waste your frees. Make sure you do plenty of extra stuff outside your subjects for (university?) if your applying


Posted from TSR Mobile

I'd take a look around universities first. Certain courses may require the 4th AS, although it's fairly unusual for this to happen. The only universities I know of that ask for it are Oxford, Cambridge, UCL, Warwick and Nottingham.

If it doesn't say you'll need a 4th, don't worry about it! The main purpose of an additional AS is so that you've got something to fall back on if you don't do too well in another subject (hence why 4 subjects in first year, usually 3 in second). However, if you really enjoy 3 subjects in particular and you know you'll do well in them, I'd say do it.

From personal experience, 3 AS subjects was one of the best decisions I've made. I got my results a week ago, my two A grades were 88% overall for Geography and 94% overall in Politics, and I don't think I would've been able to do that if I'd had the pressures of a 4th subject.

You can also take up an additional AS in your second year, once you're into the swing of A Levels.

Yea that's what I thought but I get the feeling that compared to someone with a 4th AS my application may be slightly weaker, especially since I'm hoping to go to a RG university.