Which is best for Engineering Degree 3 A levels or 4?

[S0upVat]

Ds def doing Maths,Further Maths and Physics. He’s toying with chemistry too. He’s bright and should get 8/9s in these subjects but a tad fly by the seat of his pants, leave it all until the last minute ie not a swot. Would it be better to focus on 3 to get more chance of As? Ie are 3 strong better than 4 weaker? He’s supposed to do a project if not doing a 4th. Any ideas of something that would help with Engineering applications?

[S0upVat]

Doing Gold DofE, mooting the idea of that Crest thing.

[Ami01]

They used to count top 3, but if he can get top grades in all 4 of those not a bad thing. Adding Chemistry will also give him option to go for Medicine should he want to change his mind.

He sounds bright enough to handle 4 then should give it a try.

[TheFrendo]

What will help with his application will be good predicted grades and deeper subject knowledge. DoE etc. not useful for applications.

M/Fm/Phys & Chemistry is a really good combination.

[Hercwasonaroll]

Focus on 3 if he won't/doesn't work hard. A Levels are a big step up.

[MrsEricBana]

I'm not sure that maths & FM count as 2. DEFINITELY do FM for engineering as Oxford, Imperial, Bristol etc. seem to really like it even though they don't state it as a requirement. In your shoes I'd suggest M, FM, physics and chemistry. If further maths didn't come into it then 3 strong results better than 4 weaker results at A level.

[MrsEricBana]

Plus if he starts with those 4 he can always drop one later.

[S0upVat]

Pretty sure further maths is counted as a separate Alevel.

[Ami01]

Yes agree, further maths is not just another A level but an extremely strong choice and will reflect not just now but for a long time, the subjects get more intense and demanding from A level maths.

[S0upVat]

But would poss 3 As be better than say AABB?

[Annebronte]

Further Maths needs to be a fourth. He sounds bright, so should be fine. Those are a strong four for engineering. If he can manage the Further Maths too, it will definitely give him a more competitive application.

[Ami01]

Difficult to say AABB can easily become AAAB or even AAAA....as possible as AAA becoming AAB

If the child is capable and willing to go for it, then 4 a levels wont be a problem, depends on quality of teachers too.

[Ami01]

Just so you know further maths is probably the hardest A level, so they need to be really ready and motivated to do well in this.
Harder than further Maths and is additional further maths (which very few schools even offer).

[Curiousmum69]

My Ds started with those 4 but has now dropped chemistry.

He has several good AAB offers with just the 3. He's enjoying it much more

[noblegiraffe]

They advise getting top grades in 3 rather than lesser grades in 4.

[TheGirlFromStoryville]

Dd did 3 (phys, chem, maths) plus EPQ - though Imperial didn't take EPQ into account.

[ListeningQuietly]

Further Maths needs to be a fourth
no it does not.

3 high grades are better than four middling ones.

Now that all A levels are linear top marks are getting harder to get again.

Maths, Further Maths, Physics is a very common combination that opens doors to LOTS of courses

including Imperial, Cambridge and other top science / engineering Unis

[titchy]

Start with 4, drop one at the end of lower sixth. Definitely don't take 4 in the second year unless he has a dramatic turnaround in learning style!

[S0upVat]

Great, good to know. He’s your typical Engineer but hard to make the decision. Loves all 4 and will do v well at GCSE but it’s a big step up. Getting by with the minimum won’t cut it for Alevel and worried he‘ll become a cropper.

[repsullden]

It's A A in Maths and Physics and another A for Imperial. A*AA for places like Southampton so definitely go for three: Maths, FM, Physics.

[Trewser]

But would poss 3 As be better than say AABB?

Yes 3 As would be preferable to AABB.

[ListeningQuietly]

It's A A in Maths and Physics and another A for Imperial. A*AA for places like Southampton so definitely go for three: Maths, FM, Physics.
Offers maybe
but admission data are another story

please do not scare the OP
3 decent A levels in the monster subjects open all the doors

[WhyAmIPayingFees]

Look at the complete university guide for the points scores of candidates who have been successfully admitted to courses of interest. Just doing three will make you a below average applicant at top unis for competitive courses. Ignore the typical offer info. They are the minimum acceptable standard for a candidate the uni has decided they want and are often at the bottom if what is being achieved.

[Trewser]

Just doing three will make you a below average applicant at top unis for competitive courses

This is 110% bollocks.

[ListeningQuietly]

Look at the complete university guide for the points scores of candidates who have been successfully admitted to courses of interest.
and
Just doing three will make you a below average applicant at top unis for competitive courses
Mutually exclusive / contradictory comments, one of which is utter bilge

[ListeningQuietly]

Point scores are a STUPID number to look at
because they include loads of stuff that the admissions team took less than no notice of
Grade 8 trumpet with distinction = 80 UCAS points
do Southampton Mech Eng give a stuff Of course not.