AS dilemma - is 5 subjects too many??

I agree with the advice above (4 is plenty!) but want to make sure your clearly bright daughter is aware of the reputation of sociology A level at Russell Group Universities? I'm not saying it is a deserved reputation but facts are facts. Languages are much more highly regarded. Of course an A in sociology is probably better than a B or C in German/French.

She will not find that five give her any advantage over people who have done four when she comes to apply to uni and if she overstretches herself and gets lower grades she will actually find it a disadvantage. Focus on four really good qualifications for the best chance later on!

5 is usually a bit much (unless the fifth is something like GS) so unless she really wants to then I would say perhaps not.

If she did want to try, you could always do so on the basis on a review after a few weeks, with a plan to drop one if necessary

at dd's school the children who chose 5 arts and language AS subjects tended to regret it, including dc with straight A* GCSEs. Unless she's prepared to work insanely hard and forgo some social things it would probably result in lower grades imo.

I think it's a lot. My DD has just done AS levels in French, Eng Lit, Eng Lang and History, and French was more work than the other three put together. Apparently this is normal for languages AS/A2 - all have a lot of reading, coursework etc.

All five of the subjects you mention require a lot of independant reading and research, which isn't to say your DD isn't up to it, particularly if she's bright, but the advice we've had from school is that a more is not more in the eyes of university admissions people - better to do do fewer exams and get higher grades than more exams, and risk lower grades.

If your DD doesn't particularly want to be a linguist, my advice would be to drop one of the languages.