Should I take a fourth A-level in my native language?
I start sixth form in September and am currently planning to do History, Geography, and Politics for A-level. I want to go on to study Law or International Relations at Uni and definitely want to attend a top Russell group uni.
Basically, I am considering doing french as a fourth subject. I am fluent, both my parents are french and I did the GCSE in year 9 and got a 9. I have quite a good level - speaking and listening are definitely my strongest points + I occasionally read in French so definitely have that ability too. However I haven't really written in French since doing the GCSE two years ago so am definitely rusty. I' m assuming if I did the A-level I would pick it back up quite quickly though?
I'm wondering if the workload would be too much? And would it even be beneficial to my application? If anyone has any advice or has been in the same situation I would really appreciate some guidance!
Basically, I am considering doing french as a fourth subject. I am fluent, both my parents are french and I did the GCSE in year 9 and got a 9. I have quite a good level - speaking and listening are definitely my strongest points + I occasionally read in French so definitely have that ability too. However I haven't really written in French since doing the GCSE two years ago so am definitely rusty. I' m assuming if I did the A-level I would pick it back up quite quickly though?
I'm wondering if the workload would be too much? And would it even be beneficial to my application? If anyone has any advice or has been in the same situation I would really appreciate some guidance!
Doing 4 A-levels over 3 doesn’t benefit you in most cases as a far as I’m aware.
I did the same thing (4th A-level in French, my native language but that’s was because of unexpected stuff as I originally wanted to do French and 2 other A-levels instead of French and 3 other A-levels) but I knew that I wanted to do a French degree at university or knew from the get go that I wanted to do French and 2 other subjects rather than doing the subject as a 4th A-level.
I did the same thing (4th A-level in French, my native language but that’s was because of unexpected stuff as I originally wanted to do French and 2 other A-levels instead of French and 3 other A-levels) but I knew that I wanted to do a French degree at university or knew from the get go that I wanted to do French and 2 other subjects rather than doing the subject as a 4th A-level.
Reply 2
20
Have a look at the syllabus / text books for the French A level first - it wont be just 'language', and you might decide it is too much alongside the other 3 subjects, and Unis will only look at 3 grades.
Reply 3
13
Original post by Talkative Toad
Doing 4 A-levels over 3 doesn’t benefit you in most cases as a far as I’m aware.
I did the same thing (4th A-level in French, my native language but that’s was because of unexpected stuff as I originally wanted to do French and 2 other A-levels instead of French and 3 other A-levels) but I knew that I wanted to do a French degree at university or knew from the get go that I wanted to do French and 2 other subjects rather than doing the subject as a 4th A-level.
I did the same thing (4th A-level in French, my native language but that’s was because of unexpected stuff as I originally wanted to do French and 2 other A-levels instead of French and 3 other A-levels) but I knew that I wanted to do a French degree at university or knew from the get go that I wanted to do French and 2 other subjects rather than doing the subject as a 4th A-level.
They do. Some unis only look at the top 3 alevels (drop the lowest one), which in turn means your conitions are much lower.
Reply 4
20
Original post by kijeta
They do. Some unis only look at the top 3 alevels (drop the lowest one), which in turn means your conitions are much lower.
What do you mean by 'conditions are much lower' - Unis do not automatically make lower grade offers because you are taking 4 A levels.
Reply 5
Original post by eligible-article
I start sixth form in September and am currently planning to do History, Geography, and Politics for A-level. I want to go on to study Law or International Relations at Uni and definitely want to attend a top Russell group uni.
Basically, I am considering doing french as a fourth subject. I am fluent, both my parents are french and I did the GCSE in year 9 and got a 9. I have quite a good level - speaking and listening are definitely my strongest points + I occasionally read in French so definitely have that ability too. However I haven't really written in French since doing the GCSE two years ago so am definitely rusty. I' m assuming if I did the A-level I would pick it back up quite quickly though?
I'm wondering if the workload would be too much? And would it even be beneficial to my application? If anyone has any advice or has been in the same situation I would really appreciate some guidance!
Basically, I am considering doing french as a fourth subject. I am fluent, both my parents are french and I did the GCSE in year 9 and got a 9. I have quite a good level - speaking and listening are definitely my strongest points + I occasionally read in French so definitely have that ability too. However I haven't really written in French since doing the GCSE two years ago so am definitely rusty. I' m assuming if I did the A-level I would pick it back up quite quickly though?
I'm wondering if the workload would be too much? And would it even be beneficial to my application? If anyone has any advice or has been in the same situation I would really appreciate some guidance!
Boosting your language skills is always beneficial.
Reply 6
13
Original post by McGinger
What do you mean by 'conditions are much lower' - Unis do not automatically make lower grade offers because you are taking 4 A levels.
they did for me. my conditions this year are AB, because I've done an alevel in my native language last year and got an A. I would have had to have gotten AAB this year otherwise
Reply 7
Original post by kijeta
they did for me. my conditions this year are AB, because I've done an alevel in my native language last year and got an A. I would have had to have gotten AAB this year otherwise
But which Uni?
Reply 8
13
Original post by threeportdrift
But which Uni?
UCL
Reply 9
Original post by kijeta
UCL
That's immensely rare and fortunate for you. Very unusual to get into UCL with a native language A level taken a year early and only AB required from year 13.
Original post by kijeta
They do. Some unis only look at the top 3 alevels (drop the lowest one), which in turn means your conitions are much lower.
Most universities as AFAIK only look at 3 A-levels (Top 3 usually but there might be some exceptions depending on the course (I’m thinking of a student doing FM, Maths, Physics and English wanting to studying engineering at university, the university might just focus on the FM, Maths and Physics over the English) but even then I might be chatting rubbish when talking about exceptions and this most likely doesn’t apply to the OP anyway).
The only university I’ve heard of regularly giving 4 A-level offers is imperial or maybe all 4 A-levels being looked at depending on the circumstances if one of them is FM and FM is useful for the course. Also if the university uses UCAS points as opposed to grades to make an offer. Those are the only circumstances I’ve heard of where 4 A-levels are looked at, other than that I’ve never heard of doing more than 3 A-levels being advantageous or useful.
OP doing French as a 4th a-level won’t benefit the OP (in uni application anyway), as 3rd maybe if they can get a higher grade.
OP start with 4 and drop one after or start with 3.
Also an A-Level unlike at GCSE Level in your native language isn’t always a breeze in my opinion (at least in my experience), it’s not an easy A/A* like it would be at GCSE level, you actually need to put in work and effort this time.
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