Does dd need to drop a subject (a level)?

Only hindsight can decide this one: dropping 1 A level might give her more time to ensure she gets perfect grades in 3 a levels, or she has a wobble in 1 subject despite revising well and her 4th a level turns out to be her insurance grade. Radley Colle therefore makes almost all of its pupils take 4 a levels, 1 as an insurance if something goes wrong in an exam. It's what happened to me - I did totally screw up 1 paper in my strongest subjected, ended up with a low B, but as I did IB it only counted 1/7th, so scraped through to uni on a limb. If I had only chosen my strongest 3 subjects and done A levels I would have missed out on all of my offers.

@elizabettty
Are you sure?
It's remarkably similar to this:

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/secondary/3708490-Doing-4-a-levels

How well-rounded is she generally? Some of the differentiation of top students at top universities is done by looking at what else they're bringing to the mix, because everyone has 3 A/A*s.

If she's looking at science degrees, take a look at some of the top ranking courses and see what they ask for, subject-wise. If she is heading for a science degree then I'd stick with the biology, physics, and maths, and potentially drop history.

A long time ago, before AS levels existed, I was doing 5 A-levels (though one was General Studies, generally considered to be useless and not taken seriously by admissions tutors - it was possible to get an A without attending a single class). I wanted to do a science degree at a top uni. I was on track for As (no A*s then) in all subjects but the 2nd year of history was a big research project capable of expanding to fill any amount of time. I dropped the history after a year, which gave me a little more time to spend on my other (science) subjects, reduced stress, and gave me time for useful extra curricular activities including sports and music. Funnily enough, in my eventual science career, I use quite a lot of history/politics knowledge as well.

Darbs76

Further maths is now a proper A level in its own right

It used to be more of an "add on" but apparently no Uni will expect FM to he a fourth subject (like they used to).

Saying that, quite a few pupils drop FM after first term, where we live

You've posted about this before and had loads of answers on that thread. Why the need to post again? A stealth boast?

My DD was the same as LIZS’s DC. Oxford didn’t have her with one dropped grade. It’s better to do 3. DD actually coped with the work but a couple of her exams had odd questions and many in the school dropped grades so not entirely her fault. Some poor teaching didn’t equip the girls for the exams.

I think you need to consider that year 12 is a lot less pressured than year 13. So whilst she’s coping now how will she be coping in a years time? Some people can cope ok with 4 A levels, depends what other commitments / hobbies they have. My DS is considering doing 4 next year, but one will be further maths. He’s been discouraged by the UCAS lead (who also does Oxbrdige programmes) from doing 4, but I think if the 4th is FM that’s ok as he is looking at a maths degree so will be beneficial

If there is any chance she may not meet the Oxbridge offer for her chosen subject (which will only recognise best 3 grades, but may specify one for a particular subject) drop one. Some subjects also require an additional paper ie. Step. She needs to look ahead rather than plough on. Do not rely on getting in with a slipped grade on basis of taking 4.

I'd look at her work load.
If she's spending all evening cooped up working, then think about dropping one.
If she's on for A* in all at present without seeming to be stressed about it she can continue-knowing she can still choose to drop one at any point.

Dd1dropped one because it wasn't being taught at all well and it was taking up too much of her time trying to teach it herself. It wasn't a subject she wanted to do at uni and it was then meaning that she wasn't getting enough time on the other subjects too.
It was a good decision. Those that continued were getting generally 2 grades lower in that subject.

There will be no kudos from universities for doing 4, as others have said they will offer 3 A-levels. Dd's at Durham and the fact she wasn't doing 4 wasn't mentioned at any place even though two of her subjects were maths and further maths where more people would do four.

Only thing I would say, is that if she does decide to drop one, then don't drop maths. Dropping maths will make physics much harder.

I would say she should continue for now if she's enjoying it and not stressed but keep an open mind for dropping History down the line. Like a PP said if she does Oxbridge she may have entrance tests to revise for and she'll also need to be covering whichever subject she applies for (and probably maths too) at a high level so she can answer probing questions at interview. To be honest if she can get through Oxbridge admissions and assuming she doesn't have any offers which require STEP the final A-levels should be fine for her. Most students who are Oxbridge calibre find A-levels fairly straight forward - it's the other selection obstacles (STEP, PAT interviews etc) which are a challenge.

@elizabettty - DS1 is doing 4 - Chemistry, Physics, Maths and History. He's is Year 13 and predicted 4 x A star.

He has offers from four universities for Chemistry (including Durham and Imperial) and is currently at Oxford for an interview.

None of the offers he's had so far ask for four grades. In fact the Durham offer (A star A A) only specifies that the A star needs to be in Chemistry, the other two can be in any of the other three subjects.

I'd say four is do-able if they're bright and motivated. DS1 has had plenty of time for sport and 'a life'. I do think it can help a candidate stand out to offer four and the 3 STEM plus History is an interesting mix.

There's a decent amount of overlap between Maths and Physics, Maths homework isn't exactly open ended and there's none of the massive time eaters like Art or DT.

I wouldn't rush to drop one if all going ok, maybe reassess after end of year exams.

If she's looking at Oxbridge then being blunt, she needs to be the sort of candidate that can do 4 A levels without breaking sweat.

She’s only a term in. Fine to continue with 4 but encourage her to hold lightly the fact she’s doing so. Biology is the least facilitating of those subjects so should probably be dropped if she starts to struggle with workload.

Does she know what she wants to study yet? Presumably humanities/social science since she is doing neither FM or chemistry?

I would drop one of them, even if she is coping with workload now it increases in Year 13 and it's just not necessary to do 4. Universities want 3 good A Levels so she should just focus on getting 3 good A Levels. Chances are taking 4 will make the other 3 worse just because only so many hours in a day.

I would consider what she'll be doing a uni. If she's looking at getting A*s will she be applying for oxbridge? It would be an advantage to have more time to prepare for uni admission tests and interviews instead of doing another a level. If she isn't looking at any uni's which require any exam outside a level and she's coping I see no problem.

I would add though that she shouldn't view school as the only means of learning about any subject that interests her. One of the most useful skills many students lack in entering uni is the ability (or really the confidence and organisation) to self teach. She sounds like a bright girl so she can learn history, or biology etc herself without being tied down to an a level. Again though if she enjoys the lessons and isn't overwhelmed with the workload I don't see why she should stop.

It’s up to her
Dc has recently dropped a forth one (History).
But then dc also does an extra curricular activity outside of school which takes up a lot of free time.
Dc made a decision after narrowing down uni path

If she's on course for A stars and isn't finding the workload too much then that's fine.

At a Camb admissions talk they said to strongly consider why you are doing more that 3 A Levels. 3 are all that are needed unless one is FM.

Having said that, I know someone whose son is doing very similar A Levels to your DD (the random history one because he loves it) and he has done brilliantly.

Be led by your DD.

Louise, but you cannot leave a grade off

It is not as if you can say you got AAA if you got AAAC, iyswim

You cannot just pick the highest three grades for your uni applications.

That is what our local 6th form says. They strongly advise kids to do only 3 subjects, unless you are looking at AAAA

What are your daughter's predicted grades OP? If 4 As just continue (if she is happy)

Just read LIZS post..umm..8 can see this from both sides..my dd is struggling and is doing 3 which means if she fails 1 she wont meet criteria so from that point, if she was doing 4, failing 1 wouldnt have as a big an impact. Would still say if your dd is not struggling i wouldnt drop 1.

I think the question is why does she want to do 4 and what grades is she shooting at?

Unis normally give a 3 A Level offer rather than 4 (the exception being further maths)....so it doesn't offer much in the way of a competitive advantage.

AAA is better than AABB