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Original poster

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

177 replies

S0upVat · 12/01/2020 16:44

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?

OP posts:
Original poster
S0upVat · 13/01/2020 06:08

Is that true that all those with places at top unis do 4 or 5?ShockWe’re screwed then re him getting places at top unis, why aren’t school saying this? Kids pre sitting GCSE aren’t going to know if they can cope with 4 or 5 Alevels which you have to apply for now.Confused Surely few are doing that amount, why isn’t it said at 6th form open evenings? Not one we’ve been to has said this.

Spoke to his physics teacher who felt he’d cope with doing both physics and chemistry as a 4 but he’s really not a swot. Flies through all 4 of these subjects effortlessly and with minimal effort( good mocks barely cracking open a book). At some point this will run out and he’ll need to swot to get the highest grades. If he’s interested he’ll get swept up in it but there will be tedious parts even though they are his favourite subjects.Worried timewise he’s less likely to do what is needed for 4 than 3. He’s not one of those kids who study for study sake putting 100% into everything. He’s naturally good at these subjects, always does his homework but like many teenage boys often with minimum effort and nagging from me to ensure it’s done in good time. If something important comes up he’ll bone up at the last minute or will do a bit of revision but could/ should easily do more.Not the most organised his desk has piles of jumbled books and papers on.Confused He has a couple of swotty friends who have Oxbridge written all over them.Super organised, put hours of work in with charts etc. Pre mocks he had zero system or revision timetable, still did well🙄.Suspect he’ll try harder for the real things but still having to nag.His grandfather was a successful engineer and v similar at school( not organised and relied on brains), very disciplined/ good work ethic as an adult though. Hopefully ds will morph into the same Smilebut still a bit too early to tell.

Don’t think he’s keen on the Oxbridge idea but is interested in Imperial and some of the other really competitive places. I worry he doesn’t have the same work ethic as the Oxbridge type of kid, he is bright enough but brains aren’t really enough are they. That said he wants to aim really high, he was suggesting 4. I explained the above and the importance of 3 high so he’s gone back to the 3 but I really don’t want to screw his future up for him by making him make the wrong choice.Really not sure what to do now.Confused

OP posts:
Doity · 13/01/2020 00:31

I know someone who wasnt accepted at Imperial as he only got an A rather than A in physics.He achieved three A and an A.All was not lost he was offered a place at Oxford the following year reading Engineering
To gain a place at the top Universities I would say do all 4 as some people do 5.If he wants to go to a good Russell group Uni then 3 good A levels would be okay.
Further Maths is really hard but does help with any science degree. My son found it useful with his module choices on his Chemistry degree. He had all A* at GCSE Three A at A level and a C in further Maths.I only say this as he was quite a good mathemation but he did struggle with further maths, as A levels are quite a step up

ListeningQuietly · 12/01/2020 19:11

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 Hmm Of course not.

ListeningQuietly · 12/01/2020 19:09

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

Trewser · 12/01/2020 19:05

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

This is 110% bollocks.

WhyAmIPayingFees · 12/01/2020 19:01

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.

ListeningQuietly · 12/01/2020 18:53

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

Trewser · 12/01/2020 18:28

But would poss 3 As be better than say AABB?

Yes 3 As would be preferable to AABB.

repsullden · 12/01/2020 18:10

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.

Original poster
S0upVat · 12/01/2020 17:57

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.

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titchy · 12/01/2020 17:45

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!

ListeningQuietly · 12/01/2020 17:44

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

TheGirlFromStoryville · 12/01/2020 17:43

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

noblegiraffe · 12/01/2020 17:40

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

Curiousmum69 · 12/01/2020 17:39

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

Ami01 · 12/01/2020 17:38

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).

Ami01 · 12/01/2020 17:36

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.

Annebronte · 12/01/2020 17:34

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.

Original poster
S0upVat · 12/01/2020 17:21

But would poss 3 As be better than say AABB?

OP posts:
Ami01 · 12/01/2020 17:20

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.

Original poster
S0upVat · 12/01/2020 17:16

Pretty sure further maths is counted as a separate Alevel.

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MrsEricBana · 12/01/2020 17:14

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

MrsEricBana · 12/01/2020 17:13

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.

Hercwasonaroll · 12/01/2020 17:06

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

TheFrendo · 12/01/2020 17:05

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.