Four a levels

Biscuit2019

Be honest — did taking four a levels help you in any way?

I’m taking bio chem maths and physics and wanting to take the medicine/dentistry route. My school makes you take four to begin with for AS so I chose physics as I was good at it in GCSE but now wondering if taking a fourth actually helps in any way or is it just wasted time.

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Reply 1

Nitrotoluene

Original post

by Biscuit2019

Be honest — did taking four a levels help you in any way?
I’m taking bio chem maths and physics and wanting to take the medicine/dentistry route. My school makes you take four to begin with for AS so I chose physics as I was good at it in GCSE but now wondering if taking a fourth actually helps in any way or is it just wasted time.

Pursuing a fourth A-level can be worthwhile if it aligns with your strengths, supplies a useful skill or perspective, and doesn't harm your primary grades. If it starts to negatively impact those grades, consider a less demanding but still beneficial option like an Extended Project Qualification, an AS level, or a subject without exams.
Regardless of your choice, be prepared to justify it. In interviews, how you think is as key as what you know. Remember, if you want a career in medicine or dentistry, you need solid math skills, good chemistry and biology knowledge, and a desire to help people.
Ciao,
Sandro

Reply 2

ribbonkayla24

Do Oxbridge prefer 4 a levels?

Reply 3

ribbonkayla24

Ik it’s not specified but many ppl say it’s beneficial?

Reply 4

Biscuit2019

Original post

by ribbonkayla24

Do Oxbridge prefer 4 a levels?

Im not completely sure, they just say a minimum of 3 a levels but I feel like people who took four would have an advantage

Reply 5

‎♡₊˚ ୨୧・₊✧

hi, i'm a year 13 applying to cambridge this year. i think it depends very much on the individual. for med specifically, 3A*'s in bio, chem and maths are better than, say, A*AAA with physics as a 4th. if you can take four without your grades being impacted, 4A*'s is never a bad thing and it does show that you have the capacity to deal with a higher workload than a student taking 3. for my course specifically (physical natural sciences) i think it is helpful because all four of my subjects are directly advantageous to the course (maths, further maths, physics, chem).

but to be honest, for medicine, i think it's more important to get 3 solid grades - physics of course has relevance to medicine but it won't really prepare you better for your degree than someone who doesn't take physics. i think you're better of sticking with your 3, and spending time doing work experience, preparing for the UCAT, interviews etc. these things are far more important to your application than another a level would be - these things can be pretty make or break. i hope this helps :smile:

Reply 6

ribbonkayla24

Original post

by ‎♡₊˚ ୨୧・₊✧

hi, i'm a year 13 applying to cambridge this year. i think it depends very much on the individual. for med specifically, 3A*'s in bio, chem and maths are better than, say, A*AAA with physics as a 4th. if you can take four without your grades being impacted, 4A*'s is never a bad thing and it does show that you have the capacity to deal with a higher workload than a student taking 3. for my course specifically (physical natural sciences) i think it is helpful because all four of my subjects are directly advantageous to the course (maths, further maths, physics, chem).
but to be honest, for medicine, i think it's more important to get 3 solid grades - physics of course has relevance to medicine but it won't really prepare you better for your degree than someone who doesn't take physics. i think you're better of sticking with your 3, and spending time doing work experience, preparing for the UCAT, interviews etc. these things are far more important to your application than another a level would be - these things can be pretty make or break. i hope this helps :smile:

Thxx btw I’m doing bio chem maths and further maths, should I drop fm? I will be applying to medicine, so taking fm does have an advantage if I get good grades right? On the Cambridge website it mentions that they view people with fm same as without, is this true?

Reply 7

‎♡₊˚ ୨୧・₊✧

Original post

by ribbonkayla24

tbh i'm not really sure - there was one other person in my year taking your combo applying to do med and she ended up dropping further maths after AS. she wanted to do as well as she could in the other 3 rather than spreading herself too thin, and she's super super smart. i don't know enough about med specifically to help, but i'd be more than happy to answer any subject-related questions :biggrin: