Is it a bad idea to do more than 3 A levels?

DS's school let pupils start 5 subjects in the sixth form but only if those 5 subjects are Physics, Chemistry, Biology or Geology, Maths and Further Maths. They say it is possible to do that combination because there is so much overlap between Physics, Maths and Further Maths. It would be quite normal to continue with four of them throughout sixth form, and some do all five throughout.

A lot to think about then. He's more "sciency" than "arty" so maybe he should think about chemistry or, for a slight shift, geography which I gather is the "in" subject at the moment with all the slant towards climate change etc. Also this may fit in a bit better with his uni choice. He has quite a good 6th form at school so can speak to his teachers to gauge their opinion. Need to know if maths and FM is split over the two years or studied alongside each other - this never occurred to us.

I am glad we didn't have all this choice when I was in 6th form - I just went to the head and said I want to do English, French and History and he said ok! Only the really bright did four subjects and only the genius level got A grades but that's a whole new thread!

you also need to bear in mind that the subject they drop is not the one they originally thought of doing! My DS is currently doing 4 AS and his initial intention was to continue with History, Geography and PE into A2; however since beginning his courses he has began to no longer favour history as the subject area they are studying is not to his tastes (he loved GCSE modern world) as whereas he just chose Law AS as he couldn't think of what else he wanted to do this is fast becoming his favourite subject as is even re thinking his university subject area (sport was the subject that he had decided upon over 3 years ago is what he wanted to do at uni!)

I've been thinking more about this and would say maybe consider starting with all 5 assuming they can be timetabled together. Having done Maths, Further Maths, Physics and Chemistry I was a bit lacking in anything non scientific and although I did General Studies it wasn't enriching as I never went to the lessons (due to the rest of the subjects I was doing - I wasn't bunking off ) abd just did the exam at the end.

But there is a while until a decision needs to be made so although a good thing to think about it isn't critical yet.

My DSC's school starts 6th formers on 4 subjects and allows them to drop one after a year - my DSS found 4 too much work and has dropped to 3, his sister is doing 4 and coping well so far, but will decide what to do at the end of the year.

SecretSquirrels DS1 is in Y13 and is doing Biology, Chemistry, Physics and History largely because he enjoys History rather than because he thinks it will be an advantage with applications (for the subject he's applied for it most likely won't). He's doing a sciency EPQ too. It's a significant workload but not over the top. He's a steady worker I'd say but has plenty of time off.

I wouldn't have wanted any of his three older sisters to do four and doing three only didn't disadvantage them at all.

They all did General Studies to A2 and Critical Thinking to AS but those aren't work generating subjects.

History will be a lot of reading. I woul consider carefully how well he will cope with that alongside the demanding (in a different way) science subjects. Does he like reading, and can he get academic reading done in a decent amount of time? If not he may struggle.

Echoing all the advice about 4 AS then consider dropping to 3 at A2. I had a friend whose parents wanted her to be a doctor, and who took SIX A levels - four maths/sciences, a language which she spoke anyway so that was less of an issue, but then law too! Unsurprisingly, she cracked under the strain and underachieved. She went on to to do a dentistry degree - this is of course a perfectly fine and admirable career choice, but unfortunately for her medicine-fixated parents was a bit of a disappoinment. If only they had all been more realistic things might have been different.

I think the part of the reason for taking additional subjects at AS is that if you find the subject becomes difficult, you can drop it after AS and you still have 3 separate subjects to take to A2.

I would definitely recommend starting with at least 4. You don't have to say in advance whether you intend to carry on with your subjects in the second year, and the first year exams result in a qualification so the time is not wasted.

Most people applying to Cambridge would have STEP as part of their offer anyway. Warwick often wants STEP as well. (Sixth Term Entrance Papers AFAIK. There are three in Maths I think and you can get graded 1,2 or 3 on them. So an offer might be 3As and a STEP 1 and a STEP 2)

Cambridge wrote a guidance document on the number of A-levels advised. It's here

In summary, 4 for scientists isn't discouraged although 3 is enough, but on further maths, Cambridge guidance to those wanting to apply for maths and physical science courses includes the following paragraph...

"Further Maths is thus a particular case which should be considered separately from others. In many ways it is effectively not a fourth, distinct A level, but grows out of work done for A level Maths. The combination of Maths and Further Maths is not, for those strong in the subject, as heavy a burden as combinations of Maths with any other A level. In addition, many applicants have effectively completed A level Maths by the end of Year 12/Lower Sixth. Where schools cannot provide more, we accept the thinner diet of Maths, Further Maths and Physics as a possible A2 combination, but with reservations. It is not an ideal preparation for Physical Natural Sciences, given the breadth of the Tripos. We would expect students taking only those three A levels to be broadening or deepening their studies in some way, in the case of Maths applicants, this might mean preparing for STEP. "

My Ds is in year 11 and just had a talk at school with regards to 6th form etc. He wants to do maths, further maths and physics as he wants to study astrophysics at uni. He has been told he needs to chose one more subject for AS and then drop one for A2. As I am old school (took my A levels in the 70's!) this makes no sense to me. Why not study what you want for the full two years rather than take up time on an extra subject?

Now needs to decide what to go for. Do you go for a subject that you enjoy but not necessarily want to study at uni or something that is going to enhance your chosen subjects?

Choice of history (which he loves but would only want to carry on with if he gets the same teacher which is obviously not guaranteed), chemistry or geography.

I presume all this chosing is academic until the GCSE results are known?

I'm not sure where the Further maths isn't counted as a full A level comes from as I've only ever seen it stated on MN.

Well possibly not straight forward but it is doing more of what you are already doing rather than something completely different. I do agree that Further Maths is hard (I have two (retired) Maths teachers as parents :))

I would never in a million years describe Further Maths as straight forward!! And since when has it not been counted as a full A level anywhere? I think its the hardest A level you can do, but then I'm not a mathematician. In fact, when DS applied to Oxford, they actively wanted FM for physics and if you didnt have it you'd have to do remedial maths classes for the first year.

DS did Maths, FM, Physics and Spanish to A2. My DD1 did 5 ASs and 3 A2s and any more then that just isnt necessary for university entrance and you're really risking dropping a grade on one of your main subjects.

DD2 is just choosing and will do 4 ASs and 3 A2s - that's all her school advise is necessary or wise.

I am another who did 5 A Levels pre AS/A2 being the same ones as NeilsBoar. Main difference was that out of a timetable with 20 periods in it I got 3 free periods compared to friends doing three proper A Levels who got rather more time to study at school and were doing fewer subjects as well.

I have seen on MN before that FM is not considered a full subject by some universities - am v surprised at that tbh. My sister studied Maths at Cambridge from 2001-2004 and her A Levels were Maths, Further Maths and Physics. So FM must have been OK then at least :)

FM in some ways could be considered more straight forward than a completely different A Level but it is hardly in the league of say General Studies

DS1 took Maths, FM, Physics, Chemistry and Geography to AS. Then dropped Geography and continued with the other 4 to A2.
With the benefit of hindsight, I think he may have turned 1 or more As into A*s if he had dropped the Chemistry, and focussed on the other 3.
He has just started an Engineering degree at a RG Uni, and has found the chemistry very useful as he has chemistry modules as part of his aerospace degree which he is finding very easy thanks to his A2 qualification.

My understanding is some uni?s aren?t interested in ucas points, (often the RG ones) and some are, and general studies is now one that many uni?s wont count, and F/M is a whole one (we also didn?t realise that)

Odd situation?s left son currently doing maths, f/m?s, physics, chemistry, history at A/S and English Lit at A2, (intending to take the first four to A2 next year) and it?s a very heavy workload and I'd seriously advise against it.

I?m waiting for him to accept it's too much and drop one, probably history because it?s (still) very time consuming.

I think a lot depends on how easy individual students find the work. Not being a swift reader or note taker?s doing mine no favours in humanities, but we know someone taking 7 who's doing really well with it, but they?re the exception and one of life?s naturals.

I think it depends on what your school normally offers- in my DCs sixth form everyone does 4 AS and then 3 A2.

DD2 did Maths, Further Maths, Chemistry to full A level and History to AS. By the end of year 12 she was glad to get rid of history and concentrate on Maths and Science. She is doing Maths at university now and needed high grades to get on her course so I think a 4th subject to A2 may have diluted her grades. Oxbridge count further maths as a full A level and it is highly desired for a lot of maths based courses. Definitely better to have 3A*!

I did biology, chemistry, history and french to A-level (pre AS/A2 era) and it was more difficult than doing pure sciences and maths. That said compared to many scientists I don't have much trouble with extended writing, essays, theses etc. I went on to do a degree and PhD in chemistry and also achieved an Oxbridge offer which I didn't choose to take up in the end. He's still got time to figure out what he really wants to do, it's early days yet.