It depends both on your capabilities and your reasons for wanting to do 5. Would you mind giving some more details on your considered A-level subjects and university course?
Most people do 3 or 4 A-levels. This is because they are very much a step-up from GCSE, requiring a lot more time and dedication to each individual subject. Additionally, no university course requires you to do 5 A-levels, so the main argument here is that doing 5 could jeopardise your chances of doing well in the ones that are required for your course.
Most people do 3 or 4 A-levels. This is because they are very much a step-up from GCSE, requiring a lot more time and dedication to each individual subject. Additionally, no university course requires you to do 5 A-levels, so the main argument here is that doing 5 could jeopardise your chances of doing well in the ones that are required for your course.
Reply 2
I genuinely donโt understand this when people say this.
You can only put down three A Levels when applying to uni, so why would you spread yourself thin by doing five?
A candidate who gets 3 A* grades is more desirable than someone who got 4 As and an A* because you can only put down three, you would have to say A*AA as opposed to A*A*A*.
EDIT:
A levels were also, IMO the hardest things I have EVER done personally and if I were to redo them, I genuinely think I would fail.
Not trying to put you off but the jump from GCSE to A Level is MASSIVE and I found the jump from A Level to degree much easier (coming from someone about to graduate from their Masters in Biomedical Science).
You can only put down three A Levels when applying to uni, so why would you spread yourself thin by doing five?
A candidate who gets 3 A* grades is more desirable than someone who got 4 As and an A* because you can only put down three, you would have to say A*AA as opposed to A*A*A*.
EDIT:
A levels were also, IMO the hardest things I have EVER done personally and if I were to redo them, I genuinely think I would fail.
Not trying to put you off but the jump from GCSE to A Level is MASSIVE and I found the jump from A Level to degree much easier (coming from someone about to graduate from their Masters in Biomedical Science).
(edited 10 months ago)
Reply 3
Very much so: even 4 is considered too much in most cases (FM is the main exception). In the vast majority of cases, unis only look at your top 3 alevels and treat the fourth as essentially an extracurricular. Doubt you'd be able to find a school or college willing to teach you 5 simultaneously; it's an incredibly stupid idea. I recommend choosing 4 out of your 5 to study, and possibly dropping down to 3 if the workload is too much. Alternatively you could do IB (aproximately the equlivaent to 4 alevels in terms of workload) if there are schools/colleges near you that offer it.
What subjects are you interested in?
What subjects are you interested in?
Reply 4
Original post by AlexTheIdiot
Very much so: even 4 is considered too much in most cases (FM is the main exception). In the vast majority of cases, unis only look at your top 3 alevels and treat the fourth as essentially an extracurricular. Doubt you'd be able to find a school or college willing to teach you 5 simultaneously; it's an incredibly stupid idea. I recommend choosing 4 out of your 5 to study, and possibly dropping down to 3 if the workload is too much. Alternatively you could do IB (aproximately the equlivaent to 4 alevels in terms of workload) if there are schools/colleges near you that offer it.
What subjects are you interested in?
What subjects are you interested in?
I know I wanna do economics business and maths and further but I really wanna do politics and I've heard the college I'm going to let's exceptional kids do 5 but I might be being stupid and thinking too highly of myself idk
Reply 5
Original post by AnVeryBigIdiot
I know I wanna do economics business and maths and further but I really wanna do politics and I've heard the college I'm going to let's exceptional kids do 5 but I might be being stupid and thinking too highly of myself idk
You should just choose the 4 you are interested in the most. No point doing 5, trust me! You will burn yourself out and universities want 3.
Reply 6
Original post by avawetherall
You should just choose the 4 you are interested in the most. No point doing 5, trust me! You will burn yourself out and universities want 3.
Do top unis look at you better if you've got 4 or 5 tho because I've heard of people getting like 4 a stars and not getting an interview to Cambridge
Reply 7
Original post by AnVeryBigIdiot
Do top unis look at you better if you've got 4 or 5 tho because I've heard of people getting like 4 a stars and not getting an interview to Cambridge
That's because they don't do anything else. 3 A*, volunteering experience and a hobby is what top universities like
Reply 8
Original post by AnVeryBigIdiot
I know I wanna do economics business and maths and further but I really wanna do politics and I've heard the college I'm going to let's exceptional kids do 5 but I might be being stupid and thinking too highly of myself idk
Business is not a very respected subject, and doing both business and economics is generally frowned upon. I'd recommend doing economics, politics, maths, and FM
Reply 9
Original post by AlexTheIdiot
Business is not a very respected subject, and doing both business and economics is generally frowned upon. I'd recommend doing economics, politics, maths, and FM
Idk tho i wanna do business when im older, but ive heard choosing business and economics isnt a good idea because universities think less of you because the overlap (kinda why i wanna do 5) but im really unsure rn
Reply 10
Dont take 5. 4 is suffering. Speaking from experience.
My choices (Bus,Econ,Pol,CompSci) have considerable overlap (excluding compsci) as humanities subjects. Even then the amount of content I was being forced to memorise is intense. Considering this, and the fact that my only STEM subject is suffering because of it. I seriously doubt anyone can survive doing Maths, FMaths and 3 humanities, that is actual genius level academics. And it (as everyone here is saying) doesn't even do much of anything for your chances to enter Uni. Unless you're going to a uni that takes Tariff points, they only really care about your 3 best grades, which will suffer because you will be swamped come exam season - I have super packed weeks where i have a few days to revise 3 different papers, then 2 to revise a completely new subject i've had nowhere near enough time to revise properly. Doing 5 would be hell, I doubt anyone would cope.
My choices (Bus,Econ,Pol,CompSci) have considerable overlap (excluding compsci) as humanities subjects. Even then the amount of content I was being forced to memorise is intense. Considering this, and the fact that my only STEM subject is suffering because of it. I seriously doubt anyone can survive doing Maths, FMaths and 3 humanities, that is actual genius level academics. And it (as everyone here is saying) doesn't even do much of anything for your chances to enter Uni. Unless you're going to a uni that takes Tariff points, they only really care about your 3 best grades, which will suffer because you will be swamped come exam season - I have super packed weeks where i have a few days to revise 3 different papers, then 2 to revise a completely new subject i've had nowhere near enough time to revise properly. Doing 5 would be hell, I doubt anyone would cope.
Reply 11
Hi,
It's great that you have strong ambitions to want to do 5 A Levels, but it will be a lot of work. I did 4 (History, Geography, R.E and Media Studies) and that was a lot. I could just about manage with the workload, but I know if I did a fifth I personally could not have coped.
If you have your mind set on doing 5, maybe sit down with the head of year at your sixth form or college and discuss your options. You could always try doing 5 for a few weeks, and if it becomes too much for you, you could drop one of them.
However, I would strongly suggest to keep to 3 or 4 A Levels, but like I said, maybe just speak to someone at your school or college to discuss your options and come up with a plan.
Hope this helps,
Josh (Official LJMU Rep).
It's great that you have strong ambitions to want to do 5 A Levels, but it will be a lot of work. I did 4 (History, Geography, R.E and Media Studies) and that was a lot. I could just about manage with the workload, but I know if I did a fifth I personally could not have coped.
If you have your mind set on doing 5, maybe sit down with the head of year at your sixth form or college and discuss your options. You could always try doing 5 for a few weeks, and if it becomes too much for you, you could drop one of them.
However, I would strongly suggest to keep to 3 or 4 A Levels, but like I said, maybe just speak to someone at your school or college to discuss your options and come up with a plan.
Hope this helps,
Josh (Official LJMU Rep).
Just noting that the thread is a month old and the OP has changed their plans as per the amended first post.
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