Taking a fifth A level

Phalanx · 8 Sep 2006 at 21:57

Seft said:
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.

Yeah, i see, you guys seem to have persuaded me not to take a fifth. Thanks for the help. I think Computing, Maths and Physics will be good A2s to try to get As in

Youstolemyname · 8 Sep 2006 at 21:59

Do whatever A-levels you need to get into uni. Get a good degree and a professional qualification and most employers will not care what your a-levels were.

Nitefly · 8 Sep 2006 at 21:59

Seft said:
To answer your question: if you're confident that you'll get AAAA, then by all means take a fifth...

Considering he is only starting AS levels, he proberly will not be able to make such a judgement so early.

As stated earlier, if you think you want to give it a try, take 5 and give it a month. Then drop one, or continue.

Alex_L · 8 Sep 2006 at 22:03

I can't see why not. I don't think the workload at a-level is that tough at all. I did 4 (chemistry, physics and maths/further maths) and to be honest it was a doss and I reckon I easily could have done another subject without any trouble.

TommoUK · 8 Sep 2006 at 22:06

I'm taking five. Biology, Chemistry, Physics, English Combined and Critical Thinking. All are counted as full A levels but Critical Thinking is just one one hour lesson a week. Of course if I decide it's too much work, I can drop english easily - it's more important to me I get good grades in the sciences. Still, it's another qualification and not a lot more work in my opinion. The sciences probably give me a couple of hours homework a week, the occasional test and no coursework done outside of lessons. I wouldn't agree it's at the cost of extra curricular activities or a social life, since I still find plenty of time for that. A bit less time while you're at school in free periods, but it shouldn't encroach on your free time out of school much at all.

It's slightly unusual to take five A levels, granted. One of mine is only one lesson a week though as I said, so I'm not doing as much as it sounds. If you think you can handle it and you want to do it, go for it. If you change your mind I'm sure there won't be any pressure on you to continue doing five.

Even if you're applying for a competitive course though, like medicine or law, 5 A levels won't help you as opposed to 3 assuming they're of the same grades. More important for you to have an attractive personal statement.

growse · 8 Sep 2006 at 22:17

I took 6 in the last year of the pre-AS system. Piece of cake. If you're willing to put the work in, there's no reason why it's not possible.

Youstolemyname said:
Do whatever A-levels you need to get into uni. Get a good degree and a professional qualification and most employers will not care what your a-levels were.

This man has a point.

crystaline · 8 Sep 2006 at 22:21

this topic has very quickly turned into a 'willy waving look at me' topic rather than an advice topic quite quickly :rolleyes:

A levels are important at the time, and if you want to get into your university, but they are not the be all and end all for employment. Some of the most successful and driven people I know have none, some have some, it really is not that clear judge of intelligence that people like to make you think at 16-18.

Hate · 8 Sep 2006 at 22:24

i know this probably means nothing to you seeing as I have the "old skool" A-Levels, but I was torn between 4 and 5, I took 4 and did an NVQ3 in German instead.

much better

Kappa · 8 Sep 2006 at 22:32

Youstolemyname said:
Do whatever A-levels you need to get into uni. Get a good degree and a professional qualification and most employers will not care what your a-levels were.

Unfortunately not the case for most top jobs,

Do what you have to get that 'Golden' 300 UCAS Points everyone seems to want and you'll be sorted. Either work your ass of on 4 subjects or do 5 and look impressive. A Levels ARE important when applying to graduate jobs, a lot more people are capable of getting 2:1 degrees than 300+ points.

Steve09 · 8 Sep 2006 at 22:33

Pure suicide pal

But if you think you can do it, go for it, will be very rewarding at the end

neocon · 8 Sep 2006 at 22:35

I got ABC at A-level and a 2:2 degree and I still can't find a suitable job.

Qualifications aren't all their cracked up to be.

Youstolemyname · 8 Sep 2006 at 22:40

Kappa said:
Unfortunately not the case for most top jobs,

Do what you have to get that 'Golden' 300 UCAS Points everyone seems to want and you'll be sorted. Either work your ass of on 4 subjects or do 5 and look impressive. A Levels ARE important when applying to graduate jobs, a lot more people are capable of getting 2:1 degrees than 300+ points.

Grad schemes maybe, but not 'top jobs'. When hiring someone I would look for experience, achievements and evidence of further study post graduation in that order. You don't get a top job age 21 fresh out of uni based on a 2-1 and 4A's with no real world experience. No employer in their right mind would ask you, or care, what your A-level grades were if you could demonstrate masses of real world experience coupled with a few postgrad professional qualifications.

I say do as many A-levels as you need to get on to your chosen degree course. Do them well and try and get a gap year/ placement year on your degree. That is worth far more than a fifth A-level to prospective employers.

crystaline · 8 Sep 2006 at 22:44

Youstolemyname said:
Grad schemes maybe, but not 'top jobs'. When hiring someone I would look for experience, achievements and evidence of further study post graduation in that order. You don't get a top job age 21 fresh out of uni based on a 2-1 and 4A's with no real world experience. No employer in their right mind would ask you, or care, what your A-level grades were if you could demonstrate masses of real world experience coupled with a few postgrad professional qualifications.

I say do as many A-levels as you need to get on to your chosen degree course. Do them well and try and get a gap year/ placement year on your degree. That is worth far more than a fifth A-level to prospective employers.

Yup, agree wholeheartedly! A great portfolio and a ton of practical experience is definitely looked at more.
Loads of people have degrees, how do you distinguish the ones who know what they're doing from the ones who don't?

Energize · 8 Sep 2006 at 22:45

TommoUK said:
I'm taking five. Biology, Chemistry, Physics, English Combined and Critical Thinking. All are counted as full A levels but Critical Thinking is just one one hour lesson a week. Of course if I decide it's too much work, I can drop english easily - it's more important to me I get good grades in the sciences. Still, it's another qualification and not a lot more work in my opinion. The sciences probably give me a couple of hours homework a week, the occasional test and no coursework done outside of lessons. I wouldn't agree it's at the cost of extra curricular activities or a social life, since I still find plenty of time for that. A bit less time while you're at school in free periods, but it shouldn't encroach on your free time out of school much at all.

My 6th form forced everyone to take general studies for 1hr a week, I have done general studies before at gcse and can honestly say it was a complete waste of time.

da_mic_1530 · 8 Sep 2006 at 23:10

neocon said:
I got ABC at A-level and a 2:2 degree and I still can't find a suitable job.

Qualifications aren't all their cracked up to be.

what was the degree out of interest?

j00ni · 8 Sep 2006 at 23:10

Nitefly said:
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...

A lot? Which would they be?

Kappa · 8 Sep 2006 at 23:18

Youstolemyname said:
Grad schemes maybe, but not 'top jobs'. When hiring someone I would look for experience, achievements and evidence of further study post graduation in that order. You don't get a top job age 21 fresh out of uni based on a 2-1 and 4A's with no real world experience.

Maybe i should have said top grad jobs

None of the big 4 or major companies will even look at you if you dont pass their academic requirements, and the A Level one is a lot harder to hit than the degree one. Obviously as an engineering student I understand that good experience and skills > *. But for a lot of grad's the best grad jobs are a fast track into the company, often moving into a high position quite early, and for these, they want everything.

m0r94n · 8 Sep 2006 at 23:34

j00ni said:
A lot? Which would they be?

I know the Oxbridge Unis have spoken out about it and a lot of the other topic unis (I think Cardiff) are starting to say its a subject that doesnt really do much for a student going into, lets say a journalism course. Although nowadays all you really need to get from your A Levels are the UCAS points, very few courses want students to have taken Media anyway so even then it doesnt really matter if you take it or not. The only courses with required subjects are generally Scientific oriented ones, including Computer Science.

raz0rr · 8 Sep 2006 at 23:38

I would have taken 5 this year, if the school had been able to timetable it

I was the only person who wanted to take PE and Further Maths.
So I dropped further maths, and it's working fine for me; 10 hours of maths a week, with 3 hours straight in a single day really doesn't appeal to me.

neocon · 8 Sep 2006 at 23:39

Stop showing off