Should I drop A level art? (How much do unis value A level art?)

I am currently in year 13 and for my A levels I'm taking physics, maths, further maths and art. I did alright in my mock exams at the end of year 12 with A* in physics and maths and A in further maths and art.

My problem is that I'm debating on dropping art and I don't know whether it's a good idea. I've gotten a 9 in my art GCSE but that was when exams luckily got cancelled and I'd say my artistic abilities are above average. However, I've been moving at a really slow pace during my A level art project and have been told by my art teachers that at the rate I'm going I'm predicted below a B. I enjoy working on the project at my own pace but not so much when it takes up majority of my time outside of school along with my other subjects, which I will have to do to get above a B. My art teachers aren't the most supportive except one that I see every fortnight and I don't seem to be learning much.

I'm currently at the time in year 13 where we have to look for and apply to unis, and the type of courses I'm currently interested in are computer science, creative computing and maybe animation/VFX (I haven't really looked at specific unis yet but I have shown some interest in UAL so far). What I'm worried about is: what if I find a uni that requires me to take art A level for the course I'm looking at? Do unis that have these sort of courses value A level art?

If I do drop A level art, I'm planning on doing an online computer graphics course and maybe do my own design based projects outside of school in the extra time I have such as digital art and video editing.

So I guess my main questions are do unis that specialise in comp sci, creative computing and animation/vfx value A level art enough that I have to keep it in order to take the course? If I drop A level art, am I limiting my chances greatly from getting into similar courses? Could my plans with the extra time have more value than taking A level art?

Yeah I probably would

I am currently in year 13 and for my A levels I'm taking physics, maths, further maths and art. I did alright in my mock exams at the end of year 12 with A* in physics and maths and A in further maths and art.

My problem is that I'm debating on dropping art and I don't know whether it's a good idea. I've gotten a 9 in my art GCSE but that was when exams luckily got cancelled and I'd say my artistic abilities are above average. However, I've been moving at a really slow pace during my A level art project and have been told by my art teachers that at the rate I'm going I'm predicted below a B. I enjoy working on the project at my own pace but not so much when it takes up majority of my time outside of school along with my other subjects, which I will have to do to get above a B. My art teachers aren't the most supportive except one that I see every fortnight and I don't seem to be learning much.

I'm currently at the time in year 13 where we have to look for and apply to unis, and the type of courses I'm currently interested in are computer science, creative computing and maybe animation/VFX (I haven't really looked at specific unis yet but I have shown some interest in UAL so far). What I'm worried about is: what if I find a uni that requires me to take art A level for the course I'm looking at? Do unis that have these sort of courses value A level art?

If I do drop A level art, I'm planning on doing an online computer graphics course and maybe do my own design based projects outside of school in the extra time I have such as digital art and video editing.

So I guess my main questions are do unis that specialise in comp sci, creative computing and animation/vfx value A level art enough that I have to keep it in order to take the course? If I drop A level art, am I limiting my chances greatly from getting into similar courses? Could my plans with the extra time have more value than taking A level art?

I am currently in year 13 and for my A levels I'm taking physics, maths, further maths and art. I did alright in my mock exams at the end of year 12 with A* in physics and maths and A in further maths and art.

My problem is that I'm debating on dropping art and I don't know whether it's a good idea. I've gotten a 9 in my art GCSE but that was when exams luckily got cancelled and I'd say my artistic abilities are above average. However, I've been moving at a really slow pace during my A level art project and have been told by my art teachers that at the rate I'm going I'm predicted below a B. I enjoy working on the project at my own pace but not so much when it takes up majority of my time outside of school along with my other subjects, which I will have to do to get above a B. My art teachers aren't the most supportive except one that I see every fortnight and I don't seem to be learning much.

I'm currently at the time in year 13 where we have to look for and apply to unis, and the type of courses I'm currently interested in are computer science, creative computing and maybe animation/VFX (I haven't really looked at specific unis yet but I have shown some interest in UAL so far). What I'm worried about is: what if I find a uni that requires me to take art A level for the course I'm looking at? Do unis that have these sort of courses value A level art?

If I do drop A level art, I'm planning on doing an online computer graphics course and maybe do my own design based projects outside of school in the extra time I have such as digital art and video editing.

So I guess my main questions are do unis that specialise in comp sci, creative computing and animation/vfx value A level art enough that I have to keep it in order to take the course? If I drop A level art, am I limiting my chances greatly from getting into similar courses? Could my plans with the extra time have more value than taking A level art?

Hi @Ronki 👋,

Congratulations on getting amazing marks in your mocks!

I completely understand where you are coming from as art A-level is a lot of work and does take up a lot of time, however your other subjects are academic and so personally I would suggest keeping art as it is a way of allowing yourself to be creative.

In terms of applying to university and the need for art a-level I would suggest for you to have a look on their postgraduate websites at the courses you wish to study and see what qualifications and grades they require from you. If this doesn't help then you could email the university administrations teams directly and ask them if art is a necessary qualification.

When doing this you will also see whether a portfolio is required as this could be where your own projects outside of school could be used in replacement for your art A-level.

One last thing to remember is that any grade above an E at A-level is a pass, so try not to be too disheartened if you get lower then your mock results.

Good luck and please let me know if you have any further queries!

Best wishes,
Shelby - UoP Rep 😃

I am currently in year 13 and for my A levels I'm taking physics, maths, further maths and art. I did alright in my mock exams at the end of year 12 with A* in physics and maths and A in further maths and art.

My problem is that I'm debating on dropping art and I don't know whether it's a good idea. I've gotten a 9 in my art GCSE but that was when exams luckily got cancelled and I'd say my artistic abilities are above average. However, I've been moving at a really slow pace during my A level art project and have been told by my art teachers that at the rate I'm going I'm predicted below a B. I enjoy working on the project at my own pace but not so much when it takes up majority of my time outside of school along with my other subjects, which I will have to do to get above a B. My art teachers aren't the most supportive except one that I see every fortnight and I don't seem to be learning much.

I'm currently at the time in year 13 where we have to look for and apply to unis, and the type of courses I'm currently interested in are computer science, creative computing and maybe animation/VFX (I haven't really looked at specific unis yet but I have shown some interest in UAL so far). What I'm worried about is: what if I find a uni that requires me to take art A level for the course I'm looking at? Do unis that have these sort of courses value A level art?

If I do drop A level art, I'm planning on doing an online computer graphics course and maybe do my own design based projects outside of school in the extra time I have such as digital art and video editing.

So I guess my main questions are do unis that specialise in comp sci, creative computing and animation/vfx value A level art enough that I have to keep it in order to take the course? If I drop A level art, am I limiting my chances greatly from getting into similar courses? Could my plans with the extra time have more value than taking A level art?