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Two intensive A levels in one year?

I want to take two full A levels in one year, namely in History and English Lit. Also, possibly GCSE Spanish. What are your thoughts?

Has anyone attempted this before? Is is feasible?

Reply 1

Dionysus

It's possible but difficult. English you will actually find easier I imagine, since a lot of it is transferable from one module to another, but History is going to be tough, especially if it's not modern history. If it's 20th century, it's not so bad. The Spanish, again is doable but only if you're willing to put in extra hours. It's no worse than doing 4 full A2s, I suppose.

Reply 2

Militia

I know some-one who's just finished doing an intensive A-level in history and he got a B! He said it was okay doing it aswell, not overly hard or anything. This was whilst he was doing AS Critical Thinking, AS Classical Civilisations and A level (or AS can't remember...) distance-learning German..

And he didn't even need to sit any more AS/A levels as he had an unconditional offer for History at Aberystwyth :rolleyes:

Anyway...yeah, i think it should be possible! :smile:

Reply 3

Laus

shanghai

I want to take two full A levels in one year, namely in History and English Lit. Also, possibly GCSE Spanish. What are your thoughts?

Has anyone attempted this before? Is is feasible?

I just did this. It's a LOT of hard work but if you enjoy a challenge and are willing to put the work in, it is do-able! You may feel a bit overwhelmed part way through but it soon comes together. Doing AS and A2 English Lit side by side is actually beneficial in many ways; you learn more at A2 level and can apply the same techniques to your AS papers.

Reply 4

shar7p

i have seen other people talk about doing more than once instensive course in 1 year-they managed good grades :smile:

http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=440327

im planning to do chemistry in 1 year,alongside with a2 bio,a2 eng and another AS

i think it can be done
yoou just have to now let the intensive workload overwhelm you
best of luck

Reply 5

shanghai shanghai

Thanks for the feedback guys!

Laus, how did you find the History? Was it modern European? I've had little experience of studying recently and to be honest, history isn't a favourite of mine. But it will be useful for course I'm hoping to do at uni.

Reply 6

superbrain147218

I did GCSE Spanish in one year. It is all very rushed but it is still possible to get top grades in. I got a B. However, the main disadvantage is that i still don't feel as if i can speak spanish because cramming so much stuff into one year doesn't teach you anything in depth so i've just forgotten most of it now. I had 5 years to study my french GCSE and 4 for my German GCSE so the languages have stuck in my mind more becasue i did them for longer. good luck anyway

Reply 7

emsy88

I studied English Literature and Economics intensively this year alongside Law A2. I found English Lit difficult up until about Christmas because we were doing A2 stuff without any of the foundations given by AS and as someone said there is a big crossover. After Christmas it was no problem at all. I had no real issues with regards to workload apart from when I had the first draft of my Economics coursework (it was REALLY long- like 60+ pages) and two pieces of English Lit coursework due in within a week of each other.

I also studied History for A Level although not intensively (finished 2006). It would depend on the exam board etc for History but I found the AQA course fairly enjoyable although rather regimented. The only problem I can forsee with doing History and English Lit intensively is that they are both essay based subjects and in terms of homework I would imagine at times your workload may be rather heavy. Check the syllabus and see whether there is much crossover between AS and A2 as well. With my AQA course there wasn't a huge amount but this may be different with other exam boards and obviously has the potential to cause problems for you.

Overall I think two subjects in one year is certainly doable provided you are alright at time management. If you don't like History though why not study another essay based subject? The main benefit of having History A Level (in my opinion) is that it helps with analysis skills and also essay writing and is well respected. I found the History and English Lit course interesting and therefore enjoyed studying them but if you don't especially like a subject you are less likely to do well in it.

Reply 8

shanghai shanghai

Thanks annie & emsy.

My problem with History is more so with the syllabus (Modern European), but as I'm hoping to study Eng Lit. at uni- and applying with only 2 A levels- it's the most sensible A level to take (alongside Eng Lit, of course). The only other subject I would consider is Philosophy, but I have no background in it.

What exactly do you mean by crossover?

Also, I found a recording of Plath reading Lady Lazarus aloud on the BBC website yesterday. It's chilling!

Reply 9

WokSz

It'll be hard but feasible. English is definitely useful for History, but the latter will be hard. You need to really work a lot for it.

Reply 10

Saint

i want to do something similer, i have just completed engish lit, media and law as levels and am hoping/expecting : ) As! then i plan to carry on with english to A2 and do intensive A levels in History and goverment and politics.
Had no idea media and law are soft options !!

i honestly think i will be able to acheive good grades and you probly will too.
i dont think you can go straight from GCSE to intensive a-level though. colleges want 'a proven record of acheivment at an advanced level'.

Reply 11

encyclopedia

Do you have to pay for the intensives?
Also, what colleges provide it. I am 18 and will be 19 in December 2009.
Do you have to pay to do an intensive?

Reply 12

Hibz123

If you are willing to work extremely hard then I would think that this aim is feasible :smile:

Reply 13

Mizz Jones

Yea, I would also like to know where you can do it and how much it costs?

Reply 14

Blubber

This sounds like a good idea. Where did you do the one year intensive program?

Reply 15

OAT

It is possible..but hard. I did 3 ALevels in 11 months and got A* and 2 As, i tried to do 4 at first but my AS results were poor so dropped one. A friend of mine got 4As in the same time span.

Reply 16

KennedyGarcia

Hi guys,

I'm debating the same thing. I didnt chose the appropriate A levels last year to go to med school, so i've applied for the 6 year course with a foundation year to become a doctor.

It is such a competitive course and i wanted to have a backup plan, so was thinking of staying on at 6th form to do any intense year of Chem and Bio (As and A2 in one year) then applying for the 5 year medicine programme?

Any opinions on whether this would be a good idea?

K :0)

Reply 17

diamondluck

I know this is an old thread but...

Which subject would be most suitable to do intensive at A Level in 1 year? I'm keeping my business and sociology A2s so I just need one more.

I don't want to do languages or drama/music etc.

Also I'm turning 17 soon will it cost money?

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