How manageable is 4 A-Levels and an EPQ?

Volunteer Team, Clearing and Applications Advisor

Hi, it does depend on what subjects you take and entry requirements to unis (if that’s what you what to do in the future) as to whether it would be worth it. From personal experience, 4 a-levels is a lot of work. I think (correct me if I’m wrong) most unis prefer 3 really good A-levels opposed to 4 not as good ones. But if you think you can handle the workload, then you may want to consider. Doing an EPQ is useful as some unis will drop their entry requirements if you do well enough in it. Personally I was originally doing 4 a-levels and dropped to 3 and chose to do an EPQ instead. It gives me more time to enjoy myself and socialise and keep my mental health good. :smile:

Reply 2

KA_P

20

4 A-Levels and an EPQ. Does the 4 not include EPQ? You would need extreme levels of organisation in order to get a decent score in each of the subjects. I'd certainly say it's not worth it. You would not have any free periods whatsoever and it would be difficult to fit in extracurriculars, which universities would be looking for. But it's your choice in the end.

Reply 3

Original post by leonief

hi, just wondering if 4 A-levels and an EPQ demands a manageable amount of work? or if it’s even worth it in the first place :smile:

thanks

It's just a bit of a waste of time. 4 A levels aren't necessary for the overwhelming majority of courses anyway, and three plus an EPQ is a lot of work. Four and an EPQ is just silly, given your uni offer will be on three A levels. The extra A level and EPQ offer little extra.

Reply 4

Original post by clessiec

Doing an EPQ is useful as some unis will drop their entry requirements if you do well enough in it.

Do you have any evidence for that - or is it just anecdote?

Original post by KA_P

... and it would be difficult to fit in extracurriculars, which universities would be looking for.

Good universities don't give a stuff about extracurricular activities. It's supercurriculars which are important.

Reply 5

leonief

OP

2

hi! thanks so much :smile:

yes I feel like 4 a levels would be a lot, and like you said I am wondering if perhaps really focusing all my energy on three will be better. And as for the eqp, I think that would really be just for supercurricular as I’m aiming for oxbridge and I don’t think they lower offers for epq, but I do think it will be worth it to do anyway. Just wondering what a levels you took/ take, what your results were and if you are at uni where do you go? thank u :smile:

Reply 6

leonief

OP

2

Original post by KA_P

4 A-Levels and an EPQ. Does the 4 not include EPQ? You would need extreme levels of organisation in order to get a decent score in each of the subjects. I'd certainly say it's not worth it. You would not have any free periods whatsoever and it would be difficult to fit in extracurriculars, which universities would be looking for. But it's your choice in the end.

Hi, yes I am aiming for Oxbridge and I go to a school which highly recommends and supports taking 4 Alevels with the majority of sixth formers taking all 4, so the timetable would accommodate this and I don’t think that would be a problem. The EPQ would be on top on the alevels, and I we have extracurriculars built into the day. do you think it would be more realistic given this?

Reply 7

leonief

OP

2

[QUOTE="leonief;96012152"]hi! thanks so much :smile:

yes I feel like 4 a levels would be a lot, and like you said I am wondering if perhaps really focusing all my energy on three will be better. And as for the eqp, I think that would really be just for supercurricular as I’m aiming for oxbridge and I don’t think they lower offers for epq, but I do think it will be worth it to do anyway. Just wondering what a levels you took/ take, what your results were and if you are at uni where do you go? thank u :smile:

[/QUOTE

Original post by clessiec

Hi, it does depend on what subjects you take and entry requirements to unis (if that’s what you what to do in the future) as to whether it would be worth it. From personal experience, 4 a-levels is a lot of work. I think (correct me if I’m wrong) most unis prefer 3 really good A-levels opposed to 4 not as good ones. But if you think you can handle the workload, then you may want to consider. Doing an EPQ is useful as some unis will drop their entry requirements if you do well enough in it. Personally I was originally doing 4 a-levels and dropped to 3 and chose to do an EPQ instead. It gives me more time to enjoy myself and socialise and keep my mental health good. :smile:

Hi I accidentally replied to you above haha hope you see it

Reply 8

clessiec

Original post by Reality Check

Good universities don't give a stuff about extracurricular activities. It's supercurriculars which are important.

I can’t quote what was directed towards me but yes, some universities do lower their entry requirements. For example Cardiff says explicitly on some of their courses that an EPQ will lower the entry requirements by a grade although they expect specific subject requirements to be met still.

Reply 9

Original post by clessiec

I can’t quote what was directed towards me but yes, some universities do lower their entry requirements. For example Cardiff says explicitly on some of their courses that an EPQ will lower the entry requirements by a grade although they expect specific subject requirements to be met still.

That's not evidence - it's anecdote. If you've got website links at Cardiff, then can you please post them up - otherwise it's just ill-informed opinion which neither helps the OP nor anyone else who might read this thread later

Reply 10

Cs115

10

I do 4 A-Levels and an EPQ and its really not that bad. EPQ isn't as much work as people make it out to be and really isn't equivalent to an AS level but it can be fun to do, which is why I did it. I was wanting to learn about this maths topic anyway so I just used my EPQ as an excuse to do that and get a grade out of it. 4 A-Levels is manageable but I do maths and FM so it's only really 3.5. 4 completely different ones may be a bit more challenging but nothing impossible if you genuinely enjoy all 4. Btw for subjects like CS, engineering, natural sciences and econ at cambridge you are really advised to do 4 and the majority of ppl that get in do 4. There are exceptions of course. Im applying for maths this year and although it certainly isn't required to do 4 for maths, I enjoy all my subjects and my EPQ and am doing well in all so why not take them all.

Reply 11

clessiec

Original post by Reality Check

That's not evidence - it's anecdote. If you've got website links at Cardiff, then can you please post them up - otherwise it's just ill-informed opinion which neither helps the OP nor anyone else who might read this thread later

I apologise here are some links:

https://www.cardiff.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/courses/2022/archaeology-bsc

https://www.cardiff.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/courses/2022/midwifery-bmid

https://www.southampton.ac.uk/courses/zoology-degree-msci#entry

As I said not every university will lower their offers for an EPQ but they are quite useful to talk about on a personal statement.

Reply 12

Original post by clessiec

I apologise here are some links:

https://www.cardiff.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/courses/2022/archaeology-bsc

https://www.cardiff.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/courses/2022/midwifery-bmid

https://www.southampton.ac.uk/courses/zoology-degree-msci#entry

As I said not every university will lower their offers for an EPQ but they are quite useful to talk about on a personal statement.

That's great - thank you :smile:

Reply 13

arialle

17

It really depends what subjects your doing, for example, if your doing maths and further maths then that would be quite manageable. However, from personal experience even if your able to do four (without that combo) I'd advise against it that plus an EPQ. I tried that but ended up dropping down to three and an EPQ as you can do better focusing on three and four is unnecessary for any uni.

Reply 14

haum3a

12

Original post by leonief

hi, just wondering if 4 A-levels and an EPQ demands a manageable amount of work? or if it’s even worth it in the first place :smile:

thanks

im doing 4 alevels + EPQ (in y13 now) and have been doing fine, but i think that is largely due to the fact that i LOVE all of my subjects and have chosen an epq topic which i'd already done a lot of research for in my own time just because it interests me. what i would say is that it is a big commitment - tons of homework, revision, and my timetable is not fantastic, but manageable for me. i also have a LOT of deadlines at this point in the year - uni applications, epq, courseworks etc so if you are going to do 4 + EPQ make sure you stay on top of your work and use your summer hols wisely unlike me.

another thing to add is that it is ABSOLUTELY not necessary to do 4 alevels + epq, and you won't have a big advantage over other oxbridge applicants who just have 3 alevels + epq, unless your fourth is further maths and you are applying to a subject which needs it. in that case though, i would say epq is probably not too valuable and isn't necessarily needed.

basically, take into account that you will need to put a ton of work in to do something that doesn't necessarily give you an advantage over other applicants. if you are applying for humanities especially i would say an epq may even be more valuable than your 4th a level.

Reply 15

Greenhouse999