Taking a fifth A level

Phalanx · 8 Sep 2006 at 21:08

Hey guys, just wondering if any of you have taking 5 or more A levels over the usual 4 A levels. I ask because im interested in taking Media ontop of Maths, Physics, Computing and Music Performance but everyone has told me this will be way too much work.

Thanks

RandomTom · 8 Sep 2006 at 21:11

Aer you insane? These will be AS's yeh?

m0r94n · 8 Sep 2006 at 21:11

My mate Danny took 5 A-Levels, it consumed him but hes off to Cambridge next week. I took Media and ended up getting a C in it, it can be quite demanding but its pretty much a Mickey Mouse subject, people arent really taking it seriously.

What uni are you going for?

RandomTom · 8 Sep 2006 at 21:12

m0r94n said:
I took Media and ended up getting a C in it, it can be quite demanding but its pretty much a Mickey Mouse subject, people arent really taking it seriously.

It's not easy! I got a B near an A and I had to work hard for that!

Nikias · 8 Sep 2006 at 21:14

What benefit will it gain you? It will probably make your life unpleasant and be worth little.

Four is more than enough.

da_mic_1530 · 8 Sep 2006 at 21:14

5 AS's , maybe, but my timetable was clogged with 4 AS levels, only got 2 hours of a week, so you would be working overtime / no idea how they would work your timetable

5 A levels, not worth it mate, if your doing it to get into oxbridge, then take 3 A levels and work hard at them, you have a better chance than stretching yourself over more subjects

meghatronic · 8 Sep 2006 at 21:14

I took 6 (bio/chem/phys/maths/eng. lit/gen studies) including general studies... got ABBCCD though which isn't exactly great. Clashed to hell as well... virtually taught myself maths! (D)

m0r94n · 8 Sep 2006 at 21:15

RandomTom said:
It's not easy! I got a B near an A and I had to work hard for that!

The only real hard part for me was going into the exams and remembering to include key concepts, theory and terminology in my essay, apart from that I found it manageable. Of course, I only took 3 A-Levels so that may have contributed to my relaxed attitude

RandomTom · 8 Sep 2006 at 21:15

jdickerson said:
I took 6 (bio/chem/phys/maths/eng. lit/gen studies) including general studies... got ABBCCD though which isn't exactly great.

Don't undermine people! I got BBDEU and you're saying what you got isn't great, hmph.

Haha, I'm getting flustered at all this talk of easy a-levels and stuff.

Nitefly · 8 Sep 2006 at 21:21

jdickerson said:
I took 6 (bio/chem/phys/maths/eng. lit/gen studies) including general studies... got ABBCCD though which isn't exactly great. Clashed to hell as well... virtually taught myself maths! (D)

Lets not make this a 'Look how big my 'A-level' is *WAVES*'.

m0r94n · 8 Sep 2006 at 21:21

RandomTom said:
Haha, I'm getting flustered at all this talk of easy a-levels and stuff.

Dont get me wrong, they were hard as hell. I only just scraped into Uni but Media was the easiest subject for me. For 5 subjects BBDEU are cracking results. I got B, D and E at AS and got C, D and E at A2. I really struggled with Computing (more like an A-Level in Computer Science), drained the life out of my trying to learn that

Melm0 · 8 Sep 2006 at 21:26

FIVE A-LEVELS?!?!

Are you crazy?!

4 AS-Levels and 3 A-Levels are enough!

Phil99 · 8 Sep 2006 at 21:27

Maths & Physics are pretty heavy subjects on their own, I wouldn't want to be doing them along with 3 other subjects.

Maybe do the 4 AS levels this year, drop one and leave it at AS (I think most places recommend doing 4 AS and then 3 A2?) and then take up the AS in the second year, so Maths/Physics/Computing/Music Performance in the first year, then say dropping Music in favour of a Media AS?

p4radox · 8 Sep 2006 at 21:30

I'd say if you're confident you can do it then go for it. But I'd also add that it'd only have significant value if you apply for Oxbridge and are already expecting A grades in the other subjects. I know people who've done 5, but they've been very, very clever and also very sure that they wouldn't put their other subjects at risk with the higher work load.

This is just a personal opinion, but Media isn't exactly my own idea of a great 5th A Level

calnen · 8 Sep 2006 at 21:30

jdickerson said:
I took 6 (bio/chem/phys/maths/eng. lit/gen studies) including general studies... got ABBCCD though which isn't exactly great. Clashed to hell as well... virtually taught myself maths! (D)

No offence, but this is a good example of why not to do too many A-levels. You'd be much better off with AAA and another AS level, plus some interesting extra-curriculars and a social life.

Phalanx · 8 Sep 2006 at 21:42

Thanks for all the replies guys. They are ASs and i haven't really thought about what uni yet. It's mainly because I got an A in Media and English GCSE so I thought it might be neglecting opportunity

Nitefly · 8 Sep 2006 at 21:46

Phalanx said:
Thanks for all the replies guys. They are ASs and i haven't really thought about what uni yet. It's mainly because I got an A in Media and English GCSE so I thought it might be neglecting opportunity

If you see yourself with a media orientated career, it may be worth it. Otherwise... a lot of universities won't even accept it as an A level when counting towards offers etc...

crystaline · 8 Sep 2006 at 21:51

This is the way I see it

There is absolutely NO point taking it just to add to the number and say you've got 5.

The point to doing it would be if it would add to your degree course and give you a RELATED edge or whether it would damage your prospects if you were not to take it.

If I were you I would give it some serious thought as A Levels combined are probably the heaviest workload you will ever do. Not in difficulty, just sheer coursework.

Rathanes · 8 Sep 2006 at 21:53

Depends how easy you find A-Levels.

If you'd get bored doing 3 or 4 and/or are interested in several subjects then take 5, otherwise not.

You could always start off with 5 AS's and drop one, I guess.

Seft · 8 Sep 2006 at 21:54

I wouldn't bother. Rather do an A2 (maths would be the obvious choice) this year with three AS levels (Physics is a doddle but I don't know about the other two), then take further maths with the other A2s (or possibly drop one of them).

To answer your question: if you're confident that you'll get AAAA, then by all means take a fifth, but don't expect to be impressing any universities (other than Oxbridge). They aren't terribly fussed about more than three A-levels, they'll just let you take the best three for your offer (or similar). Also, media (and maybe music too for most degrees) might not be something they'd be prepared to make an offer on.