Is A2 significantly harder than AS?

1

Hi,

I'm taking 4 AS Levels at the moment Computing (WJEC), Maths (MEI), Further Maths (MEI), Physics (EDEXCEL 08). I'm not well so I often miss quite a few of the lessons but I feel I'm just about keeping up.

We've now got to make our choices which subjects we're doing at A2, so I either keep all 4 or drop Physics.

Are the A2 levels significantly harder than at AS?

Thanks in advance for any opinions!

Reply 1

queen_georgie

10

I dropped one, there's no benefit doing 4, people are more likely to give you higher offers (i.e. AAAA rather than AAA)
I don't think they're harder then AS's as such. I suppose some of the synoptic papers are but only because you have to know things from both years.
X

Reply 2

QuantumTheory

12

Yep it is.
Work harder now, so there's less pressure at A2.

Like, I do Maths now at AS and A2, and the AS stuff I can do in my head now, it's so second nature. Even the five mark questions.

Reply 3

Kaykiie

15

I would say there is alot more work, and in my case A2 is on par with AS, but im doing Politics, English Language and Photography..

So in conclusion, there is more work :p:

lol

Reply 4

ThirstyForTea

1

I wish someone had told me to work at AS because I really didn't. Now i'm doing AS retake and A2's and it's so much harder than it could have been :frown:

But yeah A2 is hard. Unit 4 is usually hardest in most AQA and OCR courses.

Reply 5

mermania

16

Nah, A2 is pretty much exactly the same.

Reply 6

GrahamFromJeremyKyle

9

I haven't noticed a significant difference in the workload of A2 compared to AS but I really have no idea 'til I get my results for my january modules... I could be kidding myself and maybe I didn't work hard enough.

Reply 7

Bubblegummy

7

More work, quite a lot more actually. Teachers put more pressure on you as well cause its your actual last chance. My school only let a very small number of students take 4 A levels because they didnt think all the ones who wanted to would be able to handle it. It is a lot more work on top of already a lot more work. In my school they only let people who achieved all A's in their AS levels and who had really good reasons for wanting to take 4. I go to an all girls private school btw, and they were still this careful about it, some really hard-working people weren't allowed to do 4 even though they probably could have handled it. The school didnt want to let them risk it and do moderately in all their 4 subjects, rather than excellently in just 3 of them. Universitiesonly expect 3 so whats the point? Oxbridge is perfectly obtainable with just 3.

Reply 8

cpalmerh

In response to "[universities] are more likely to give you higher offers (i.e. AAAA rather than AAA)", I would just like to clarify that I have received several conditional offers for competitive courses (Newcastle, Lancaster, etc.) and despite continuing with all four of my AS-Level courses to A2-Level, all of the offers I have received have only been for three grades.

The advantage of taking four subjects is that it can improve your chances of fulfilling the conditions of certain offers. For example, you may receive an offer for ABB and may achieve ABBC in your A2 examinations. Had you only taken the subjects you achieved an A, B and a C in, you would not have met the conditions of your offer.

Reply 9

withas

8

for most subjects the jump isn't as great as the GCSE-AS jump

Reply 10

JakeE10

13

Very much so

Reply 11

Alexandra's Box

17

WHY HAVE WE REVIVED A DEAD THREAD?
It's been buried for nearly 3 years.

Reply 12

jambojim97

21

Original post by Alexandra's Box

WHY HAVE WE REVIVED A DEAD THREAD?
It's been buried for nearly 3 years.

Because we're cool dudes :P

(Btw I'm not just bumping this to be a nuisance, there is actually some practicality in opening this thread again because soon people will be getting their AS results). Get discussing.

Reply 13

KerryJackson

hi, i'm at AS level, im taking BTec Music, AS Drama, AS Photography and BTec Media-Film and TV, my problem is that i enjoy all four subjects and i think i can handle it next year, but now im not sure, is it really that much harder, i couldnt imagine my btec subjects being much more?
thanks guys :smile:

Reply 14

KerryJackson

soz, just realized this is an old thread :/

Reply 15

Kash24411

19

Original post by KerryJackson

hi, i'm at AS level, im taking BTec Music, AS Drama, AS Photography and BTec Media-Film and TV, my problem is that i enjoy all four subjects and i think i can handle it next year, but now im not sure, is it really that much harder, i couldnt imagine my btec subjects being much more?
thanks guys :smile:

From my experience with BTEC its basically the same work load. A levels do tend to step up though.

Reply 16

KerryJackson

Original post by Kash24411

From my experience with BTEC its basically the same work load. A levels do tend to step up though.[/QUOT

Thanks :smile:

put my mind at rest, at least im not doing 3 a levels like some people lol

Reply 17

cherryred90s

20

Original post by JamieSelv

Hi,

I'm taking 4 AS Levels at the moment Computing (WJEC), Maths (MEI), Further Maths (MEI), Physics (EDEXCEL 08). I'm not well so I often miss quite a few of the lessons but I feel I'm just about keeping up.

We've now got to make our choices which subjects we're doing at A2, so I either keep all 4 or drop Physics.

Are the A2 levels significantly harder than at AS?

Thanks in advance for any opinions!

A2 has more content and therefore more evaluations, more synoptic links, more analysing, more terminology, more theorists and ultimately more marks per question. Other than that, it's exactly the same lol..please sense the sarcasm.

Everything you learn in AS essentially needs to be applied to A2 and then some. E.g. In AS psychology, only had to know 15 studies. For A2, it's 54 AND you still have to link back to the previous studies learnt in order to achieve top marks, hence synoptic links. I think you should drop one, it won't hurt your uni chances, especially since you've chosen some pretty demanding subjects.

(edited 10 years ago)

Reply 18

cherryred90s

20

Lol I just realised how old this thread is..2009. In 2009, I was in year 8 lmao. OP, if you're still around, ignore my comments. I'm sure you have a lot more knowledge on A levels than me, considering I haven't even finished yet lol.......

Reply 19

vis break

3

Original post by cherryred90s

Lol I just realised how old this thread is..2009. In 2009, I was in year 8 lmao. OP, if you're still around, ignore my comments. I'm sure you have a lot more knowledge on A levels than me, considering I haven't even finished yet lol.......

These guys are 26+ lmfao

Is A2 significantly harder than AS?

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