The Student Room Group

Will unis look at your fourth subject ?

Hi. I know that the entry requirements for most unis are only 3 a levels needed. I am currently doing four a levels and got all four predicted as A* in the mock. Initally, i chose four as i thought it would make me stand out from the competition but someone said that unis will only look at your top three subjects even though you take four. Is that true? Thanks
Reply 1
They look at everything.

They will never make your offer conditional on 4 A-levels, but if you have an extra subject at a decent grade, then you look good. Fairly straightforward.
Reply 2
Original post by Cam3r0n
They look at everything.
They will never make your offer conditional on 4 A-levels, but if you have an extra subject at a decent grade, then you look good. Fairly straightforward.

I am doing both maths and further maths but unfortunately the courses I'm applying to take maths and further maths as one subject so eventually I will only left with 3 a level subjects. Should I drop further maths or not in this case as it will be useless if they don't even take further maths into account.
Reply 3
Original post by Fishywy
I am doing both maths and further maths but unfortunately the courses I'm applying to take maths and further maths as one subject so eventually I will only left with 3 a level subjects. Should I drop further maths or not in this case as it will be useless if they don't even take further maths into account.

They still recognise it as a fourth A-level and would never expect you to do more. They just don't count it for their entry requirements.
This means that taking only 3 A-levels incl. further maths (e.g. maths, further maths, physics) wouldn't fit their requirements.

If the course you want is any kind of science, engineering, mathematical etc., then you should definitely keep further maths. It counts as a fourth subject, they just don't think it's enough to count for one of your main three.
Reply 4
Original post by Fishywy
I am doing both maths and further maths but unfortunately the courses I'm applying to take maths and further maths as one subject so eventually I will only left with 3 a level subjects. Should I drop further maths or not in this case as it will be useless if they don't even take further maths into account.

What/where are you applying?
Reply 5
Original post by Cam3r0n
They look at everything.
They will never make your offer conditional on 4 A-levels, but if you have an extra subject at a decent grade, then you look good. Fairly straightforward.

Not sure this is true? If you apply with 4 A-levels, quite a few unis give an offer on 4 A-levels rather than the best three. For example, Imperial Computer Science MEng gives offer 3A* for students studying 3 A-levels, and 2A*2A for those studying 4.
Original post by Fishywy
I am doing both maths and further maths but unfortunately the courses I'm applying to take maths and further maths as one subject so eventually I will only left with 3 a level subjects. Should I drop further maths or not in this case as it will be useless if they don't even take further maths into account.


dont just do it for the uni, think about the skills ur gonna gain too-if ur going to be applying to something like engineering n maths then further maths will help u so much and definitely do it but if its something where u wont need maths theres no point really, just spend that time focusing on ur other subjects and secure 3 A*s
Reply 7
Not sure this is true? If you apply with 4 A-levels, quite a few unis give an offer on 4 A-levels rather than the best three. For example, Imperial Computer Science MEng gives offer 3A* for students studying 3 A-levels, and 2A*2A for those studying 4.

The only offers I've ever seen for more than three have been for people who already have their grades. If you know otherwise, then I guess there are exceptions. Imperial engineering does like to feel special.
Reply 8
Original post by Cam3r0n
What/where are you applying?

I want to apply to dentistry and as far as i know, all dental schools take maths and further maths as one
Reply 9
Original post by Fishywy
I want to apply to dentistry and as far as i know, all dental schools take maths and further maths as one

Unfortunately I don't know anything about dentistry. However, if you have four subjects and can get 4 A*, should probs do it. It won't make you less competitive.
It's not useless to you in any case. Even if they don't count it as an extra A-level, it's still something extra to make you better.
Outside of ultra competitive courses and a handful with alternative 4 AL offers, the vast majority will just consider your three highest grades including essential any subjects.
Reply 11
Original post by Cam3r0n
They look at everything.
They will never make your offer conditional on 4 A-levels, but if you have an extra subject at a decent grade, then you look good. Fairly straightforward.

'Look good' is a school-leavers myth - Unis do not look at 4th subjects unless its a stated 'preferred' subject like FM. And AAA will always look better than ABBB, and that could cost you a Uni place.
Reply 12
Original post by Fishywy
I want to apply to dentistry and as far as i know, all dental schools take maths and further maths as one

Check carefully by emailing each Uni - most won't have a problem with Maths/FM.
Bristol certainly doesn't.

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