Year 12 - 3 or 4 A levels?

I'm currently in Year 12 studying 3 A levels: Maths, Further Maths and Physics, all of them are linear ( I take all the exams at the end of Year 13). Everyone in my school is doing 3 but most people on TSR are doing 4 and the good sixth forms in my area are also doing 4. Will I be put at a disadvantage when applying to university?

Reply 1

thegalaxy

13

Original post by Doctor1234

I'm currently in Year 12 studying 3 A levels: Maths, Further Maths and Physics, all of them are linear ( I take all the exams at the end of Year 13). Everyone in my school is doing 3 but most people on TSR are doing 4 and the good sixth forms in my area are also doing 4. Will I be put at a disadvantage when applying to university?

I'm doing three - Maths, CS and French. I was intending on doing four, but none of the subjects in the final option block appealed to me. Universities base their offers on 3 A-levels, so you won't be put at a disadvantage.

Reply 2

username3593474

2

You definitely won't be put at a disadvantage - all unis put their offers/entry requirements as just 3!
The way I look at it , is that it really could be seen as an advantage because 3 rather than 4 is much easier and likely to get better results.
Good luck!

Reply 3

Fonzworth

16

Original post by Doctor1234

I'm currently in Year 12 studying 3 A levels: Maths, Further Maths and Physics, all of them are linear ( I take all the exams at the end of Year 13). Everyone in my school is doing 3 but most people on TSR are doing 4 and the good sixth forms in my area are also doing 4. Will I be put at a disadvantage when applying to university?

I'm doing 3 too because they are being taught as a linear course at my college. You can always do an EPQ if you feel it'll help your application. Quality > quantity.

Reply 4

Ellieg333

11

Only advantages of doing 4 are.. you can drop one if you don’t get the grades you’d want and you’re doing better in the others, and that if you’re doing as further maths it will be useful in like first year of uni

Reply 5

stoyfan

20

Original post by Doctor1234

I'm currently in Year 12 studying 3 A levels: Maths, Further Maths and Physics, all of them are linear ( I take all the exams at the end of Year 13). Everyone in my school is doing 3 but most people on TSR are doing 4 and the good sixth forms in my area are also doing 4. Will I be put at a disadvantage when applying to university?

You know what? I've asked the same question to TSR and they said that 3 is good enough.

However, I also noticed that pretty much flipping everyone who does Maths and Further Maths also does another 2 A levels, so I decided to also do computer science. Whether or not I regret my decision still remains to be seen...

The main reason why I am doing 4 A levels is because my careers advisor couldn't give me a straight answer to whether 3 A levels would put me at a disadvantage when pretty much everyone is doing 4.

(edited 6 years ago)

Reply 6

Niadavies123

5

Im also doing 3 A levels (not including the baccalaureate) as thats the advice my school gave me. I honestly believe that universities would be more inclined to offer you a place with 3 amazing grades rather that 4 average grades. However, if you're a person who enjoys being busy and you believe you could get 4 amazing grades then go for it!! :smile:

good luck!!

Reply 7

Doones

21

Original post by Doctor1234

I'm currently in Year 12 studying 3 A levels: Maths, Further Maths and Physics, all of them are linear ( I take all the exams at the end of Year 13). Everyone in my school is doing 3 but most people on TSR are doing 4 and the good sixth forms in my area are also doing 4. Will I be put at a disadvantage when applying to university?

3 is fine for any university, including Oxbridge.

What do you think you might want to study at uni?

Reply 8

Doctor1234

OP

9

Original post by stoyfan

You know what? I've asked the same question to TSR and they said that 3 is good enough.

However, I also noticed that pretty much flipping everyone who does Maths and Further Maths also does another 2 A levels, so I decided to also do computer science. Whether or not I regret my decision still remains to be seen...

The main reason why I am doing 4 A levels is because my careers advisor couldn't give me a straight answer to whether 3 A levels would put me at a disadvantage when pretty much everyone is doing 4.

Yeah I've noticed many further maths students choose 4 A levels, so I thought I may be put a disadvantage.

Reply 9

Doctor1234

OP

9

Original post by Doonesbury

3 is fine for any university, including Oxbridge.

What do you think you might want to study at uni?

Lol Although my username suggests medicine, I'll probably apply for a physic/ maths related course. I still don't know exactly what course I want to study.

Reply 10

stoyfan

20

Original post by Doctor1234

Lol Although my username suggests medicine, I'll probably apply for a physic/ maths related course. I still don't know exactly what course I want to study.

I chose 4 A levels because I might want to do engineering and I didn't know how the unis might react if I only did 4 A levels.

However, I do know many who got into uni for physics or maths just by doing Maths, FM and Physics.

I reckon you'll be fine.

Reply 11

Doones

21

Original post by Doctor1234

Lol Although my username suggests medicine, I'll probably apply for a physic/ maths related course. I still don't know exactly what course I want to study.

In which case your A-levels are perfect :smile:

Assuming you are interested STEM subjects: of course Maths and Physics but also CompSci, Engineering, etc are all open to you.

And good luck on your PhD when you get to that stage :wink:

Reply 12

Doones

21

Original post by stoyfan

I chose 4 A levels because I might want to do engineering and I didn't know how the unis might react if I only did 4 A levels.

However, I do know many who got into uni for physics or maths just by doing Maths, FM and Physics.

I reckon you'll be fine.

Correct. Those 3 are solid for Engineering.

4 are not required, and the risk of doing 4 is you might end up with, say, A*ABB instead of A*A*A...

Reply 13

Emma:-)

Entertainment Forum Helper

19

Original post by Ellieg333

Only advantages of doing 4 are.. you can drop one if you don’t get the grades you’d want and you’re doing better in the others, and that if you’re doing as further maths it will be useful in like first year of uni

I agree

Reply 14

Carbon Dioxide

14

Original post by Ellieg333

Only advantages of doing 4 are.. you can drop one if you don’t get the grades you’d want and you’re doing better in the others, and that if you’re doing as further maths it will be useful in like first year of uni

You're a bit too late to offer that advice. The OP is already doing his AS Levels.

Reply 15

humanteaparty

15

Most people on TSR aren't normal. Honestly it seems like everyone on this forum gets 100% A*s all the time and all they want to do is study. Having said that I'd do 4 subjects than drop the one your least interested in.

Reply 16

GovernmentEarner

14

I spoke to a guy who got into Cambridge medicine this year and he did 3 (Maths, Bio, Chem), so 3 is absolutely fine.

Reply 17

username3529814

10

Personally, I am doing three chosen A-Levels and one compulsory. As others have said, universities only look at three so maybe it’s for the best that you only do three to achieve the best you can.

Reply 18

Doones

21

Original post by cmurphy21

Personally, I am doing three chosen A-Levels and one compulsory. As others have said, universities only look at three so maybe it’s for the best that you only do three to achieve the best you can.