The Student Room Group

3 A levels in 1 sitting?!

Hi, I'm interested in medicine, and will be hopefully applying next year, whilst ghosting around on this site, I looked at the UCL site for applicants, which mentioned the 3 A lvls in 1 sitting rule.

I was wondering if any other universities had a similar rule? I am doing Further Maths, Biology, Chemistry and Philosophy/Theology.

My plan was to do Further Maths and drop it next year (I will have therefore done 6 modules which would equate to a Maths A level) and also dropping Philosophy/Theology, and instead use the spare time I will have next year for more work experience/voluntary work etc. Which would mean that I will only do 2 A levels next year, and therefore from what I understand means I will not be apply for UCL.

Is the UCL website outdated or is this 3 A levels in 1 sitting still in practice?

Thanks for reading! :biggrin:

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I think they mean not resitting the exam...
^^ I second that. As long as you get them without re-sitting a full year i don't think it matters.
Lol, they mean like you can't apply in your gap year without the grades.... i.e. you must complete all your A Level exams within two years. :smile:
Reply 4
Yes, as far as I am aware that means not retaking any A2 units - ie units 4, 5 and 6. I emailed Oxford and that is what they said anyways. They dont mind if you take an extra A Level in your gap year.
Unforgiven
Hi, I'm interested in medicine, and will be hopefully applying next year, whilst ghosting around on this site, I looked at the UCL site for applicants, which mentioned the 3 A lvls in 1 sitting rule.

I was wondering if any other universities had a similar rule? I am doing Further Maths, Biology, Chemistry and Philosophy/Theology.

My plan was to do Further Maths and drop it next year (I will have therefore done 6 modules which would equate to a Maths A level) and also dropping Philosophy/Theology, and instead use the spare time I will have next year for more work experience/voluntary work etc. Which would mean that I will only do 2 A levels next year, and therefore from what I understand means I will not be apply for UCL.

Is the UCL website outdated or is this 3 A levels in 1 sitting still in practice?

Thanks for reading! :biggrin:

there aren't any medical schools in this country that will consider you with only 2 a levels. drop one subject but you must continue with 3 of them. all it means is that you're not allowed to take longer than 2 years to do your a levels.
bright star
there aren't any medical schools in this country that will consider you with only 2 a levels. drop one subject but you must continue with 3 of them. all it means is that you're not allowed to take longer than 2 years to do your a levels.

this person WILL have 3...they have done the first one all in one year
^^ Yeah buts hes doing further maths but dropping it after one year meaning he'll already have an a-level in Maths. Plus two other A-levels.
no they just mean don't re-take a whole entire year...basically taking 3 years to finish ur alevels...if ur doing it early then that's fine :smile:
oh i see.... are you even allowed to use FP modules for a maths a level??
Reply 10
Thanks for the fast replies lol.

Bright star: I will have 3 A levels, I will just be doing my maths one a year earlier. (From what I have been told by the Maths department, the 6 modules can count as my A level if I wish to discontinue Further Maths. I've done my C1, C2, and S1, and am currently doing C3, C4 and M1, which are all modules for "Normal Maths".

Ahh, seems like I've misread/misunderstood lol, I was really worried because UCL is currently my first choice.

Would universities mind if I only take 2 A levels next year? I was thinking of dedicating the time so that I can ensure getting A's which I will need to consider medicine and for extra work experience etc.

I know this is a change in the subject, but I haven't had the best GCSEs, and was wondering which universities were "GCSE Nazis" and which universities prefer the fourth subject to be something different from science/maths such as philosophy/theology, which is what I'm currently doing.

Thanks again :biggrin:
I wanted to apply to UCL, but this stupid rule prevented me from doing so - I took my first maths module in year 11 because I'd done the GCSE in year 10, and by the end of year 12, I'd done 5 out of the 6 modules, with C4 left to do in January in Year 13 (i.e. next week - eep), which'll mean I complete my maths A-level. I was planning on dropping Latin and just doing biology and chemistry for A2, but this doesn't conform to their rule; I'd only have two A-levels done in the same sitting. I contacted the admissions office about it, and so did a head of 6th form, but they were really anal about it, despite the fact that I'm not a re-sitter. I ended up deciding not to drop Latin in the end, I should've applied for UCL =[

Most other universities didn't seem to care though, having emailed them. Apparently, Bristol asks for AAA if you're doing two in the same sitting and one earlier.
Reply 12
The Formidable Tani
I wanted to apply to UCL, but this stupid rule prevented me from doing so - I took my first maths module in year 11 because I'd done the GCSE in year 10, and by the end of year 12, I'd done 5 out of the 6 modules, with C4 left to do in January in Year 13 (i.e. next week - eep), which'll mean I complete my maths A-level. I was planning on dropping Latin and just doing biology and chemistry for A2, but this doesn't conform to their rule; I'd only have two A-levels done in the same sitting. I contacted the admissions office about it, and so did a head of 6th form, but they were really anal about it, despite the fact that I'm not a re-sitter. I ended up deciding not to drop Latin in the end, I should've applied for UCL =[

Most other universities didn't seem to care though, having emailed them. Apparently, Bristol asks for AAA if you're doing two in the same sitting and one earlier.


So basically you were unable to apply due to the fact that it took you 3 years (academically) to complete your Maths A-level? Since I'm doing it all in one year, it will not apply to me it will it?
bright star
oh i see.... are you even allowed to use FP modules for a maths a level??


I think FP has to stay in further and C1 etc have to stay in maths.. it's just the applied ones that are inter changeable... that's what i've been told anyway
Unforgiven
So basically you were unable to apply due to the fact that it took you 3 years (academically) to complete your Maths A-level? Since I'm doing it all in one year, it will not apply to me it will it?


No, they were more emphatic about the fact that I wasn't doing 3 A-levels at the same sitting, it was a little pedantic. You should probably try and contact the admissions office yourself.
Reply 15
"We require students to demonstrate that they can cope with the workload of taking three A-levels in one sitting. For this reason, candidates who take an A-level early, due to outstanding ability in that subject, or any other reason, will still be expected to take three A-levels at the end of the two 'sixth form' years. These students may therefore need to take more than the usual number of A-levels so that they can satisfy our requirement of taking three in one sitting."

>.>... XD... someone please tell me this is outdated lol...
Where does it say that..I cant seem to find anything about the 1 sitting rule?
ManxKirsty
I think FP has to stay in further and C1 etc have to stay in maths.. it's just the applied ones that are inter changeable... that's what i've been told anyway

yeah so how can you be combining maths and f maths ASs to form a maths a level? are you sure you can do this? have you just explained badly?
Reply 18
bright star
yeah so how can you be combining maths and f maths ASs to form a maths a level? are you sure you can do this? have you just explained badly?


1st year - all the A level modules: c1,c2,c3,c4,s1,m1
2nd year - FP modules

Therefore I can do my A levels in one year
guys I have looked all over..where does it say for ucl that its one sitting