The Student Room Group

4 A-levels

I’m currently in Year 11 and have chosen Psychology, Biology, Maths, and French as my A-level options. I understand that the workload in Sixth Form is significantly higher, so I’d appreciate any advice on managing this. I'm also considering whether it might be better to only take 3 A-levels instead.

I chose French because it’s my favourite subject, and I’ve really enjoyed studying it. I also chose Biology and Maths because universities tend to prefer ‘STEM’ subjects for Psychology (I want to do an integrated masters degree in Psychology). Overall, I enjoy all of these subjects. I would really appreciate any advice!
Original post
by h0wlsc4stle
I’m currently in Year 11 and have chosen Psychology, Biology, Maths, and French as my A-level options. I understand that the workload in Sixth Form is significantly higher, so I’d appreciate any advice on managing this. I'm also considering whether it might be better to only take 3 A-levels instead.

I chose French because it’s my favourite subject, and I’ve really enjoyed studying it. I also chose Biology and Maths because universities tend to prefer ‘STEM’ subjects for Psychology (I want to do an integrated masters degree in Psychology). Overall, I enjoy all of these subjects. I would really appreciate any advice!

The only scenario where studying four A levels makes sense is if you're confident of getting A*A*A* in three, and are confident that adding a fourth won't impact your A* in the other three. Do you feel that's the case? If not, drop one.

From a pragmatic level, French would be the one to drop, but if you enjoy it so much you're probably best dropping one of the other three. Keeping Psychology will help you in your first year at uni, as you'll be covering a lot of the same ground.

That leaves you with Biology or Maths. They're both useful for Psychology (although only the stats part of Maths really) but you could survive without either one.

Reply 2

Original post
by DataVenia
The only scenario where studying four A levels makes sense is if you're confident of getting A*A*A* in three, and are confident that adding a fourth won't impact your A* in the other three. Do you feel that's the case? If not, drop one.
From a pragmatic level, French would be the one to drop, but if you enjoy it so much you're probably best dropping one of the other three. Keeping Psychology will help you in your first year at uni, as you'll be covering a lot of the same ground.
That leaves you with Biology or Maths. They're both useful for Psychology (although only the stats part of Maths really) but you could survive without either one.


Thank you!
I checked some university courses, and they only require one or two science subjects. If I take Biology and Psychology, would taking Mathematics provide an advantage, or would it be just as beneficial to take French since a third STEM subject isn’t required?
Original post
by h0wlsc4stle
Thank you!
I checked some university courses, and they only require one or two science subjects. If I take Biology and Psychology, would taking Mathematics provide an advantage, or would it be just as beneficial to take French since a third STEM subject isn’t required?

Do you think you might get a better grade in French (because you enjoy it so much) than you would in Maths? If so, then take French.

Otherwise, if you'll be taking a statistics module in Maths, then that would be helpful for degree-level Psychology.

If neither of things are true, then just pick the subject you'd prefer to study for two years.

Reply 4

Original post
by h0wlsc4stle
Thank you!
I checked some university courses, and they only require one or two science subjects. If I take Biology and Psychology, would taking Mathematics provide an advantage, or would it be just as beneficial to take French since a third STEM subject isn’t required?

If the entry requirements specify only two subjects as essential, with no other indication of 'preferred' subjects, then the 3rd subject can literally be anything. If you take French then this has an obvious advantage for 'with Study Abroad' destinations, or if you decide to focus on just STEM subjects you could continue with French as a hobby, and many Unis will have extra-curricular language classes open to all-comers - example University Language Programme | Nottingham Trent University

Reply 5

Original post
by h0wlsc4stle
I’m currently in Year 11 and have chosen Psychology, Biology, Maths, and French as my A-level options. I understand that the workload in Sixth Form is significantly higher, so I’d appreciate any advice on managing this. I'm also considering whether it might be better to only take 3 A-levels instead.
I chose French because it’s my favourite subject, and I’ve really enjoyed studying it. I also chose Biology and Maths because universities tend to prefer ‘STEM’ subjects for Psychology (I want to do an integrated masters degree in Psychology). Overall, I enjoy all of these subjects. I would really appreciate any advice!

For a psychology degree to keep your options open you definitely need psychology and then either bio/maths (you don't need to have both). so you could do psych bio french or psych maths french and be fine! But you could also start with all 4 and then drop one a few weeks into the first term or just do it as an AS instead

Reply 6

Original post
by McGinger
If the entry requirements specify only two subjects as essential, with no other indication of 'preferred' subjects, then the 3rd subject can literally be anything. If you take French then this has an obvious advantage for 'with Study Abroad' destinations, or if you decide to focus on just STEM subjects you could continue with French as a hobby, and many Unis will have extra-curricular language classes open to all-comers - example University Language Programme | Nottingham Trent University


Thank you. I didn’t know about the extra-curricular language classes :smile:

Reply 7

Original post
by majaxrose
For a psychology degree to keep your options open you definitely need psychology and then either bio/maths (you don't need to have both). so you could do psych bio french or psych maths french and be fine! But you could also start with all 4 and then drop one a few weeks into the first term or just do it as an AS instead


If I did one of the subjects as an AS, would I still be able to talk about it in my personal statement?

Reply 8

Original post
by h0wlsc4stle
If I did one of the subjects as an AS, would I still be able to talk about it in my personal statement?

yes of course!

Quick Reply

How The Student Room is moderated

To keep The Student Room safe for everyone, we moderate posts that are added to the site.