is it true? 4 A-level is a minus?

Im quite pissed off with my school. I dont know if its true or not, but my head department for UCAS in the school dont let/want me to do 4 A-levels (Chem, Bio, Maths, and French) He told me that Cambridge only prefer 3, there is no big difference if u do french. Is it true? Meaning that even though u do 1 more A2-French, Cambridge still wont look at it? I always thought that 4A2 is always better than 3A2? Is he really really right or what?

thanks for replying me.

Reply 1

evoraah

OP

by the way, I want to apply for Medicine. :smile:

Reply 2

MadNatSci

12

I did that combo of A levels; I had to fight and fight hard but they did let me do it eventually, albeit with two lessons of French a week. However I didn't do it for Cambridge: I only took the four because I really really didn't want to drop French. They say you're not disadvantaged by having 3 A levels and certainly a fair few people I knpw have that many. Therefore it follows that you can't have an advantage through doing four. So if you'd only be doing the extra for Cambridge and not for its own sake, I wouldn't bother really.

Reply 3

Seth

8

They may think it is a better idea if you focus on the subjects that are directly relevant to your course to make sure that you get A grades in the three.

There is also a chance that the advice is based on mindless statistics, in that your school wants to make sure that students get the top grades to keep up their reputation.

However, If you are fully able to cope with the workkload of 4 a levels and achieve A grades in them then I don't see why you shouldn't do them. Have a word with whoever organises your subjects and ask if it would be possible to carry on with 4 again

Gd luck! :smile:

Reply 4

Cvb

Providing you can cope with the pressure, doing 4 A-levels will give you a better chance of getting the 3 offers they will give you. Cambridge will look at all 4 As-levels and if you do well in all 4 they will be impressed with that. Hope this helped xxx :smile:

Reply 5

Helenia

20

Cvb

Providing you can cope with the pressure, doing 4 A-levels will give you a better chance of getting the 3 offers they will give you. Cambridge will look at all 4 As-levels and if you do well in all 4 they will be impressed with that. Hope this helped xxx :smile:

Actually, though obviously it varies from college to college, if it's Medicine they may well not include French in any offer they give you - I did Bio, Chem, Maths and German, and my offer was AAA excluding German (that's at Clare). I do know of another college where a friend of mine got in with a language as part of his offer, but this is not universal.

Evoraah: doing four A-Levels will definitely not put you at a disadvantage, unless of course the pressure of the fourth causes you to miss your grades in the other three, but that may well not happen. If you want to do French, then do it, and they may well take it into consideration, even if they don't include it in your offer.

Bear in mind though that an A-level in a non-science subject will definitely be an advantage at other medical schools, so do it for them even if it doesn't matter for Cambridge. Medicine is so competitive really I would concentrate on getting into Medicine, rather than Cambridge specifically.

Reply 6

Cvb

Helenia

Actually, though obviously it varies from college to college, if it's Medicine they may well not include French in any offer they give you - I did Bio, Chem, Maths and German, and my offer was AAA excluding German (that's at Clare). I do know of another college where a friend of mine got in with a language as part of his offer, but this is not universal.

That's true, forgot that point... :smile:

Reply 7

Comma

My friend did exactly the same subjects as you want to do, and applied for Medicine at Downing.

However, they didn't bother about the French grade in her conditional offer. They just wanted AAA in the Maths, Chem and Bio. So I guess it's true they don't care about the French.

Reply 8

Katie J

10

I had to fight like mad to do 4 A-levels, I ended up doing one on my own (did AS with an adult learning class thing, one night a week, incredible waste of time so did A2 on my own) I think if you reckon can handle it, and are doing it for enjoyment more than anything else then go for it. The way I saw it, if I didn't do the A-level I'd be doing it anyway but without the certificate at the end.
If your teachers dig their heels in, find somewhere else that offers french, to learn it like that could be really cool!! The experience of working solely on your own could also be really valuable!

Reply 9

dreamer

I got into Bionatsci with those A-levels. A tutor at the Open Day said they wouldn't look at my French when considering offers I think. But for Medicine I think nowadays a contrasting subject is very favourable at AS, certainly for the London medical schools.

Like others here, I did French for the heck of it and I'm so glad I did: I relished literature at A2. I don't think 4 A-levels will kill you if you really want to do the subjects as your enjoyment would motivate you.

Think 'If I didn't get Cambridge, would I be irritated that I didn't do the subject?' and you will have your answer.

Reply 10

musicman

evoraah

Im quite pissed off with my school. I dont know if its true or not, but my head department for UCAS in the school dont let/want me to do 4 A-levels (Chem, Bio, Maths, and French) He told me that Cambridge only prefer 3, there is no big difference if u do french. Is it true? Meaning that even though u do 1 more A2-French, Cambridge still wont look at it? I always thought that 4A2 is always better than 3A2? Is he really really right or what?

thanks for replying me.

I think you should do all 4. If you're good enough for Cambridge then I'm sure you'll be able to do 4 A-levels.

Reply 11

S@sha

7

with the number of people doing 3 A-levels and getting AAA, it would be highly advisable to take the fourth: it'll make you stand out in some way.

Reply 12

priya

14

Yannis

with the number of people doing 3 A-levels and getting AAA, it would be highly advisable to take the fourth: it'll make you stand out in some way.

unless you're so damn amazing even with 3, in which case they'll take you regardless. only do 4 if you feel you can cope...if you aren't goin to perform as well then drop one

Reply 13

musicman

priya

unless you're so damn amazing even with 3, in which case they'll take you regardless. only do 4 if you feel you can cope...if you aren't goin to perform as well then drop one

And also, everyone I know who got in was taking 4 A-levels; all the people who were rejected only did 3.

Reply 14

marabara

1

Yannis

with the number of people doing 3 A-levels and getting AAA, it would be highly advisable to take the fourth: it'll make you stand out in some way.

bollocks

universities realise that not every student gets the opportunity to do more than 3 A-levels and they will allow for this

however, if there is any chance that you can do a 4th and you really want to do this, then you should push to do it - however, assuming that past students of your school have been limited to 3, it won't make any difference in applying to Cambridge

if you're predicted 3 As, and have a good personal statement, you will be going to interview - it'll be the interview that will make or break you from then on

Reply 15

priya

14

musicman

And also, everyone I know who got in was taking 4 A-levels; all the people who were rejected only did 3.

i did 4, but one was GS, so didn't count...number of alevels shouldn't count against you in most subjects, as long as they are relevant and you will excel in them. most of the natsci's i know (apart from nicky) have 4 science/maths alevels though

Reply 16

S@sha

7

marabara

bollocks

universities realise that not every student gets the opportunity to do more than 3 A-levels and they will allow for this

however, if there is any chance that you can do a 4th and you really want to do this, then you should push to do it - however, assuming that past students of your school have been limited to 3, it won't make any difference in applying to Cambridge

if you're predicted 3 As, and have a good personal statement, you will be going to interview - it'll be the interview that will make or break you from then on

I'm only saying that if she does manage to talk that teacher into allowing her to do 4, then she should do 4. I'm not in any way saying that unless she does 6 and a half A-levels she has no way of getting in. All I meant is if there is the opportunity to do 4, then she should take it as that would make her stand out. She just has to make sure she'll manage the workload.

Reply 17

musicman

marabara

bollocks

universities realise that not every student gets the opportunity to do more than 3 A-levels and they will allow for this

however, if there is any chance that you can do a 4th and you really want to do this, then you should push to do it - however, assuming that past students of your school have been limited to 3, it won't make any difference in applying to Cambridge

if you're predicted 3 As, and have a good personal statement, you will be going to interview - it'll be the interview that will make or break you from then on

Watch your language.

It's different if you don't have the opportunity to study 4. I was pointing out that if you only do 3 because you can't cope with the workload of 4 then how on earth are you going to cope with the workload at Cambridge?

Reply 18

S@sha

7

musicman

Watch your language.

It's different if you don't have the opportunity to study 4. I was pointing out that if you only do 3 because you can't cope with the workload of 4 then how on earth are you going to cope with the workload at Cambridge?

I think he was referring to me there...

Anyway, I did a few A-levels and got in, one of my mates did 4 and a half and got in and another, who did 3 didn't. That's the way it often is, no matter how many people say it isn't. It's a competitive world and if you can offer more to the university than your neighbour, you'll get in and not him.

Reply 19

priya

14

musicman

Watch your language.

It's different if you don't have the opportunity to study 4. I was pointing out that if you only do 3 because you can't cope with the workload of 4 then how on earth are you going to cope with the workload at Cambridge?

depends what the subjects you take are. i did alevels including art, and believe me if anyone takes a coursework based subject as their 4th alevel (i did an AS in english as well alongside 3 proper alevels this year) they will find it tough,. not because of content, but because coursework takes so damn long to do. an essay can be reeled off in a matter of hours if u have all the info to hand....a painting/construction project/composition cannot

is it true? 4 A-level is a minus?

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