would 3 good predictions and one bad prediction for a level hurt my chances?

so i will be applying for the 2026 entry this year (am in yr 12) and was wondering if it would hurt my chances if i were to be predicted a*a*a* and then something like a b or something? for context my a levels are english literature, politics, psychology and maths and i'm just worried about my maths prediction. it's just that my teacher is just so so terrible and i just do not understand how she teaches AT ALL. so i would be applying for law courses and applying to unis like LSE, Durham, UCL, Queen Mary's (maybe cambridge but im not sure).

also, any tips for maths (OCR MEI)? pls help its actually terrifying ahhhh i feel like im gonna crash out any day now but i dont wanna drop it because of my pride :frown:

Reply 1

nwar

Study Forum Helper

Original post by kavsda

so i will be applying for the 2026 entry this year (am in yr 12) and was wondering if it would hurt my chances if i were to be predicted a*a*a* and then something like a b or something? for context my a levels are english literature, politics, psychology and maths and i'm just worried about my maths prediction. it's just that my teacher is just so so terrible and i just do not understand how she teaches AT ALL. so i would be applying for law courses and applying to unis like LSE, Durham, UCL, Queen Mary's (maybe cambridge but im not sure).
also, any tips for maths (OCR MEI)? pls help its actually terrifying ahhhh i feel like im gonna crash out any day now but i dont wanna drop it because of my pride :frown:

Afaik, 4th A level doesn’t matter. I’m no authority on this (a Y13 who applied to study law at uni), but when I asked some university admissions staff the same thing, they said that they do not care what your 4th A level grade is because they truly do only consider 3. One of the unis said that they would rather see a student who starts with 4 and is on A* A* A B keep the 4 rather than drop down to A* A* A because that’s evidence of them being able to manage a larger workload.

With maths, YT is your saviour. Follow along the questions/topics as people go through them and then try the topic questions yourself. Sending you luck 🍀

PS — the “we only ever look at 3” isn’t always true btw. This same uni made 4 A level offers to people doing 4 A levels, so beware! If you’re struggling with your 4th and it’s driving you mad, drop it before you send off your uni applications.

(edited 1 month ago)

Reply 2

kavsda

Original post by nwar

Afaik, 4th A level doesn’t matter. I’m no authority on this (a Y13 who applied to study law at uni), but when I asked some university admissions staff the same thing, they said that they do not care what your 4th A level grade is because they truly do only consider 3. One of the unis said that they would rather see a student who starts with 4 and is on A* A* A B keep the 4 rather than drop down to A* A* A because that’s evidence of them being able to manage a larger workload.
With maths, YT is your saviour. Follow along the questions/topics as people go through them and then try the topic questions yourself. Sending you luck 🍀
PS — the “we only ever look at 3” isn’t always true btw. This same uni made 4 A level offers to people doing 4 A levels, so beware! If you’re struggling with your 4th and it’s driving you mad, drop it before you send off your uni applications.

Okay thank you so much for the help! I haven't got my predicted grades but just thinking about worst case scenario. What subjects do you do if you don't mind me asking?

Any youtubers you would recommend for OCR MEI? I can find lots of edexcel resources but i feel like OCR MEI isn't as common?

Reply 3

Admit-One

Universities Forum Helper

Just to confirm that the fourth prediction wouldn’t make a difference so long as it wasn’t in a required subject.

Reply 4

kavsda

Original post by Admit-One

Just to confirm that the fourth prediction wouldn’t make a difference so long as it wasn’t in a required subject.

Yes, I don't think any law courses have required subjects so that shouldn't be any issue. Thanks for the help!

Reply 5

nwar

Study Forum Helper

Original post by kavsda

Okay thank you so much for the help! I haven't got my predicted grades but just thinking about worst case scenario. What subjects do you do if you don't mind me asking?
Any youtubers you would recommend for OCR MEI? I can find lots of edexcel resources but i feel like OCR MEI isn't as common?

I do physics, maths, further maths and music (and EPQ). Unfortunately, not OCR (Edexcel for both maths and FM). Please don’t worry (though that’s so much easier said than done, I know) about your predicted grades, you’ll be brilliant :smile:

(edited 1 month ago)

Reply 6

Emma:-)

Entertainment Forum Helper, Careers Forum Helper

Original post by kavsda

so i will be applying for the 2026 entry this year (am in yr 12) and was wondering if it would hurt my chances if i were to be predicted a*a*a* and then something like a b or something? for context my a levels are english literature, politics, psychology and maths and i'm just worried about my maths prediction. it's just that my teacher is just so so terrible and i just do not understand how she teaches AT ALL. so i would be applying for law courses and applying to unis like LSE, Durham, UCL, Queen Mary's (maybe cambridge but im not sure).
also, any tips for maths (OCR MEI)? pls help its actually terrifying ahhhh i feel like im gonna crash out any day now but i dont wanna drop it because of my pride :frown:

Those grades will be fine. You will have the grades required in your main 3 a-levels. It doesn't matter too much what your 4th grade is. A grade B is a decent grade anyway. But you will already have your main 3.

Reply 7

PS Reviewer

Original post by kavsda

Persisting with something you don’t enjoy that you don’t need because of pride is pretty silly.

Have you asked your college if you can switch your exam entry to AS maths instead of A level?