5 AS Levels; Maths, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and Psychology?
I really need advice or guidance on this: I'm planning on taking 5 AS Levels; Maths, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and Psychology, and I'm planning to apply to Oxbridge for medicine as an international student. I would really, really appreciate it if someone who has had a similar AS level subject choice could tell me how the workload feels like. Is it too much? Or is it doable?
Reply 1
18
AS levels are not generally recognised by British universities. They used to be offered as a stopping off point for A levels. Some places still offer say AS in further maths which is dropped after the first year allowing students to focus on their remaining A-levels. I would suggest you look carefully at the entry requirements of the universities you are interested in before you commit to AS levels.
You don't get "bonus poinst" for doing extra A(S)-levels. There is no benefit in doing this and you run the risk of getting worse grades in more subjects rather than very good grades in 3 subjects, which is all that is required. This is a bad idea.
Reply 3
12
hi 
i just did my AS levels in further maths, maths, physics and chem so i can tell you about three of the subjects you're thinking of. these subjects were a lot of work and i think that it might be a good idea to reconsider. i found it possible, but difficult to balance these alongside super-curricular and volunteering work - if you apply for medicine, voluntary work will be much more essential and take up a lot of your time. i don't take bio or psych so i can only talk from anecdote, but i have heard that both of these subjects are very content heavy; again, this may limit the amount of time you have to volunteer, prepare for admissions tests etc
i think the most important question would be to ask why you want to do these subjects. if it's because you're genuinely passionate about all of them, i think you would be better off choosing the three that you think are most useful for your degree, and exploring the other two outside of your studies. this would still allow you to put this exploration on your personal statement (if it is relevant to medicine) so may be more valuable than taking more subjects. even something like taking three subjects and writing articles on areas of medicine you are interested in i think would show more independence and genuine curiosity than increasing your school workload
of course, you know yourself best, and you can start out with more subjects and drop them, but for medicine especially, it is much better to get three good grades than five worse grades
i hope this helps, and please ask if you have any questions <3
i just did my AS levels in further maths, maths, physics and chem so i can tell you about three of the subjects you're thinking of. these subjects were a lot of work and i think that it might be a good idea to reconsider. i found it possible, but difficult to balance these alongside super-curricular and volunteering work - if you apply for medicine, voluntary work will be much more essential and take up a lot of your time. i don't take bio or psych so i can only talk from anecdote, but i have heard that both of these subjects are very content heavy; again, this may limit the amount of time you have to volunteer, prepare for admissions tests etci think the most important question would be to ask why you want to do these subjects. if it's because you're genuinely passionate about all of them, i think you would be better off choosing the three that you think are most useful for your degree, and exploring the other two outside of your studies. this would still allow you to put this exploration on your personal statement (if it is relevant to medicine) so may be more valuable than taking more subjects. even something like taking three subjects and writing articles on areas of medicine you are interested in i think would show more independence and genuine curiosity than increasing your school workload
of course, you know yourself best, and you can start out with more subjects and drop them, but for medicine especially, it is much better to get three good grades than five worse gradesi hope this helps, and please ask if you have any questions <3
Reply 4
Original post
by shs.1234I really need advice or guidance on this: I'm planning on taking 5 AS Levels; Maths, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and Psychology, and I'm planning to apply to Oxbridge for medicine as an international student. I would really, really appreciate it if someone who has had a similar AS level subject choice could tell me how the workload feels like. Is it too much? Or is it doable?
You don't apply with AS grades, you apply with predicted A level grades. I recommend dropping Physics and taking those 4 for A levels.
Original post
by RealFireWizardYou don't apply with AS grades, you apply with predicted A level grades. I recommend dropping Physics and taking those 4 for A levels.
Students in Wales, NI, and who are taking international A-levels all still apply with AS grades. It's only in England that A-levels are linear, other regions still have the old modular A-levels
Quick Reply
Related discussions
- What science should i pick for A level
- Entry requirements for Marine Biology
- Subject choices and exam boards
- Advice for college/university
- *MEGATHREAD* Medicine A-Level subjects queries UPDATED for 2025 entry
- Help me pick my A Levels - people who have done physics without maths + dent/med
- Do I still have a chance in getting into LAE or Brampton?
- Experimental Psychology Oxford Bsc
- Best A level choices for oxbridge medicine?
- What subjects should I pick at a- level if I'm wanting to study biology at uni?
- A levels for psychology at Warwick
- Yr 11 progress
- A level option help and gcse help
- what should i pick for sixth form?
- The University Degree Hurt/Heal Game
- Nursing and physio entry requirements
- Medicine without Alevel Chemistry
- Study Buddy
- Imperial college/kings gcse requirement
- rayanne's y11 gyg 🎀
Latest
Trending
Last reply 4 weeks ago
*MEGATHREAD* - The "Which Medical School Should I Apply To?" Uberthread [part 6 of 6]Medicine
481
2614
Last reply 4 months ago
2025 entry A100 / A101 Medicine fastest and slowest offer sendersMedicine
279
1004
Last reply 7 months ago
Official: Keele University Medicine A100 2025 Entry Offer Holders 🎉Medicine
55
107
How The Student Room is moderated
To keep The Student Room safe for everyone, we moderate posts that are added to the site.
