♡ AS and A2 in 1 year ♡

I'm starting my A Levels this year in: English Literature, History, Economics and Biology. (AQA exam board) I've been told I can complete both AS and A2 by June 2014 so that I'm finished in a year rather than two. Do you think this would be okay? I mean I'm willing to work hard. Does anyone have any tips, etc? Thanks! :smile:

Reply 1

Horchata

11

Complete all 4 in a year? I really wouldn't advise that - it's hard enough taking 4 a levels over two years, let alone squishing them into one!

Is there a particular reason why you want to finish them within a year?

Reply 2

saliha16

OP

1

Original post by Horchata

Complete all 4 in a year? I really wouldn't advise that - it's hard enough taking 4 a levels over two years, let alone squishing them into one!

Is there a particular reason why you want to finish them within a year?

I don't really have a specific reason but seeing as I've been given the opportunity I was considering it, not too sure now

Don't!

you'll drop at least a grade more likely two on what you would get in two years

Reply 5

magicmuggle

2

If your exam boards have coursework, doing two years worth in one will be a bitch. If you don't have a specific reason to, why bother? Your grades will be lower and you'll have to take all your exams in June as there are no January exams, which will be a LOT of work. Plus, if you're in normal schooling, you'll be a year younger than everyone else if you decide to go to uni without a gap year.

Reply 6

Arketec

14

That works out at about 32 hours a week that's the equivalent amount of hours you'd do on a degree course.

Reply 7

x[Aa$iyah]x

1

strongly advise against it!!!

Reply 8

saliha16

OP

1

Original post by magicmuggle

If your exam boards have coursework, doing two years worth in one will be a bitch. If you don't have a specific reason to, why bother? Your grades will be lower and you'll have to take all your exams in June as there are no January exams, which will be a LOT of work. Plus, if you're in normal schooling, you'll be a year younger than everyone else if you decide to go to uni without a gap year.

I'm being home schooled for college :biggrin:

I was thinking I could revise all the AS units by December and then the A2 units by March, so that I've got time to revise after that? Or is that crazy?

Reply 9

laura0701

13

You'd have to work so hard to get top grades that it'd probably affect your health, relationships and other things outside of A Levels. Those are four pretty demanding subjects and you'd have plenty of coursework as well as revision. Plus the fact that there are now no January exams - I can't even imagine how stressful that summer exam period would be.

TL;DR: Don't! :eek:

Reply 10

saliha16

OP

1

Guys I'm aiming for all A*'s by the way, lol! :tongue:

Reply 11

magicmuggle

2

Original post by saliha16

I'm being home schooled for college :biggrin:

I was thinking I could revise all the AS units by December and then the A2 units by March, so that I've got time to revise after that? Or is that crazy?

The trouble is, those subjects are less about cramming and more about taking time to develop your critical analysis, writing style etc. (at least in English and History). I did the same as you except with maths instead of biology, and I had to work reasonably hard this year, certainly much harder than GCSEs. I can't imagine trying to fit it all into 3 months! Given your subject choice, I'd say it's unlikely you'd be able to learn everything in 6 months. If you're homeschooled you could see how you get on, but don't underestimate how much work it is.

Reply 12

TommehBoi

12

Original post by saliha16

I'm starting my A Levels this year in: English Literature, History, Economics and Biology. (AQA exam board) I've been told I can complete both AS and A2 by June 2014 so that I'm finished in a year rather than two. Do you think this would be okay? I mean I'm willing to work hard. Does anyone have any tips, etc? Thanks! :smile:

The best tip I could probably give is don't ****ing do that, unit 5 AQA biology requires stupid amounts of practice and revision and I also did history (except for edexcel) which would be impossible to do well at in just 1 year. Seriously don't do it

Reply 13

Gnome :)

2

2 years, definitely! 4A*s with a part time job, voluntary work, a healthy social life and good health would be a lot better than 4 lower grades, increased stress and very little time to socialise or do something aside from schoolwork.

Reply 14

saliha16

OP

1

Original post by Gnome :)

2 years, definitely! 4A*s with a part time job, voluntary work, a healthy social life and good health would be a lot better than 4 lower grades, increased stress and very little time to socialise or do something aside from schoolwork.

Hmmm, I think I might do 2 years then but I'm gonna see how I get on with both first

Reply 15

TerribleTej

9

it depends on your academic ability, even if you are clever, you would still have to start from today and work for atleast a few hours each day until exams. But if you are able to consistently work then it could be possible although I would advise against it especially if you are 16 as you won't have time for anything else (social life etc...). Maybe you could just finish one of these a levels (like how a lot of people finish maths A2 in their AS year), which would give you more time to focus on your other subjects next year. Also there are no January exams from this year so having around 15 exams in the summer will be immensely stressful no doubt about it (I found 6 exams stressful I cant imagine doing even 11 which I will be doing next summer).

Reply 16

saliha16

OP

1

Original post by TommehBoi

The best tip I could probably give is don't ****ing do that, unit 5 AQA biology requires stupid amounts of practice and revision and I also did history (except for edexcel) which would be impossible to do well at in just 1 year. Seriously don't do it

How did you find biology overall since we've got the same exam boards? It's one of my favourite subjects tbh so I'm excited to be learning about it

Reply 17

saliha16

OP

1

Original post by TerribleTej

it depends on your academic ability, even if you are clever, you would still have to start from today and work for atleast a few hours each day until exams. But if you are able to consistently work then it could be possible although I would advise against it especially if you are 16 as you won't have time for anything else (social life etc...). Maybe you could just finish one of these a levels (like how a lot of people finish maths A2 in their AS year), which would give you more time to focus on your other subjects next year. Also there are no January exams from this year so having around 15 exams in the summer will be immensely stressful no doubt about it (I found 6 exams stressful I cant imagine doing even 11 which I will be doing next summer).

Oh yeah, that's actually true. So for example I could do AS and A2 for Biology this year, but do only the AS units for the rest, and then continue with the other A2 units the following year, if that's what you're tryna say?