28 A Levels

[miniaturepixieonacid]

I was reading about the girl in this BBC article with 34 GCSEs now doing 28 A Levels. The tone is, I feel, relatively negative (cost, no university needs more than 4 etc) and I do agree that doing that many is pointless and would be a huge pressure. But the other side of me thinks that it actually sounds really fulfilling and exciting, not stifling and unnecessary. Imagine how well rounded and extensive your knowledge base would be. I bet she's a fascinating young woman to talk to. 17 year old me would 100% have cracked under the pressure but nearly 40 year old me is almost inspired to start building on my own collection.

What do you think?
YABU - it's crazy, no one needs that many qualifications.
YANBU - worthwhile, exciting use of time for someone who can cope with and enjoy it.

28 A Levels

keira that's not very fair. Most of us are just busy with work and life and don't necessarily know about the range of adult study options out there. I've never heard of the websites you mention let alone have 'everyone' I know taking a course with them. I'm a teacher so GCSEs, A Levels, Open University, BTEC etc are the routes I know and automatically think of. Not knowing about more adult routes doesn't make you a more passive or less savvy person.

Not exactly me at her age but on the same line. Studied very hard in my after school time, did extra home work from various sources without anyone forcing me just because came from a family where health and education were regarded very high. I still love reading all sorts for the sake of it. Mind you, my English does not show off amazing comprehension, but anyway, in my own language did about 15 of those me think

I knew she would be Asian. I am too. It's hard to explain. Not that I am condoning this.

@User19798 but… so what if it’s an absurdity? Life and the breadth of humanity is full of them. Most extreme human endeavour tends to appear absurd to “normal” people who just go about their everyday lives doing unexceptional things and being moderately useful. We don’t have threads with people debating dangerous mountain climbing expeditions or running 5 back-to-back marathons through desert terrain. We don’t slag off the young chess grand master for wasting his/her time playing simultaneous games of chess with 15 other grandmasters - it’s a pointless flamboyant display of genius, but really who cares? It’s kind of fun, kind of impressive… isn’t that the point?

People at the top of their game so these things for the sport, the challenge, the fame, the thrill. Why not?

A generation of women who were denied or restricted access to education in the past are now forging ahead, and maybe overdoing it. That's part of it.

It’s interesting that sporting endeavours are lauded whereas academic ones less so.

Shes enjoying it so no issue with it.

Ah, but I didn't say that you have to 'know', did I? I said, you have to do your research. you're just proving my point really about the difference between 'knowing' things, and knowing how to seek knowledge. Perhaps as a teacher you should be inculcating this in your students, also I suspect a lot of them are very savvy already. Young people these days are very impressive.

Decades ago knowledge was restricted. if you didn't live near a library there was no way you could your hands on things without great effort and expense. These days, you get things livestreamed and can take entire university courses from prison, let alone the comfort of your own home!

BTW you claim that you're busy with 'work and life' but that's the same for the people I know. The difference is, they know how to learn. They're not necessarily what you'd think of as 'super intelligent' people either. FIL for example dropped out of uni, was a farmhand then agricultural engineer. Still runs his own business and DH has siblings at home. Found tractor diagrams, courses etc all free online. Nobody had to teach him. He's just a true knowledge seeker. Similarly young people on TikTok, Instagram etc are following knowledge influencers who, while I don't like social media, do a good job of pointing all of these out.

Teach people to fish. Don't just give them fish.

But recommendations are good.

You can google most things I’d prefer to ask those with experience or knowledge.

But if someone said they were doing A-levels for the pleasure of learning I wouldn't be very impressed, given the abundance of other options we have in 2024. The difference is, those are more self-directed and don't have past papers/mark schemes/syllabuses you can blindly memorise.

Agree - doing extra A levels is pointless - why on earth is she bothering with the exams. A levels are tests of memory, she'd be far better off extending her deeper understanding of her chosen degree.

I didn't hear the interview - has she done the work experience for medicine? Does she have offers?

I did my Double Science IGCSE a few years ago (I'm 44 now). It was by distance learning & I had to organise my exams at a centre that would take private students. It was quite odd to go into a school gymnasium with a hundred odd teens!
I also did an OU degree for fun/interest before the fees got out of control.
I'd definitely do more Alevels if I could - I enjoy learning but need the structure of a course to keep me on track.

I do wonder to what depth she really immerses herself in all these subjects. Does she really need a gong in the form of an A Level to validate her choices? Are they her choices?

If she's so able - she's undoubtedly very bright - why not veer off this narrow A Level path? I don't buy the 'genius' label, I'm afraid. Apart from the A Levels, what else has she done? Doing an A Level for fun or self improvement is a bit different to a 17 year old sixth former having her non school life controlled to this degree. She may well look back on it as not the best type of enrichment.

What a ridiculous post.

With that IQ it makes total sense that she’d need a lot more mental stimulation than a handful of A Levels would provide. It’s also a much better option to extend the breadth of study rather than send a child off to university to study alongside young adults that are 4+ years older than them.

We narrow down the subjects DC study at a relatively young age. I’m not suggesting all DC take 20+ subjects but it must be nice not to have to give up on everything else because you’re interested in science and maths.

I bet she’d kick ass on University Challenge.

I don't buy the 'genius' label, I'm afraid. Apart from the A Levels, what else has she done?

She’s 17! What were you expecting?

To be honest I think it’s all a bit sad. I don’t think having 28 A levels is a sign of being well rounded at all! In my opinion that comes from sports, friends, hobbies, volunteering etc. Especially if she wants to go into medicine, admissions are looking for a lot more than just academics (of which 3/4 good A level grades is perfectly sufficient)

From experience the less ‘academic’ doctors are often the better ones.

I can see both sides. it is well known that there is a risk that children with high IQs who overachieve in younger years tend not to develop their social skills and struggle with various aspects of life later on. however not always the case, if she wants to do it and enjoys it... why not?
however, if she is being pressurised - directly or indirectly, then that doesn't usually end well...

I’m doing this. I’m self teaching a language and then entering for the GCSE exam as a private student at a local private school.

It’s not cheap though!

I work in an industry which means I have a lot of contact with graduates fresh out of uni.

These are the cream of the crop, kids who’ve spent the better part of their lives with their heads in a book to be “the best”

The utter lack of social skills are remarkable. Unable to make eye contact when talking, knocking on a door and standing outside and talking THROUGH the door when you say come in. No idea how to deal with the opposite sex. No soft skills whatsoever.

I wouldn’t want this for my kids

I think she’d be better off doing exciting and academically challenging things that aren’t just A levels. The very brightest people I know did A levels plus high level music plus sport plus debating in a foreign language plus chess competitions plus being in drama productions etc.

If she can’t access those things, then I can see why more A levels might appeal. But I think they’re very much second best to a broader and equally intellectually challenging late teenage experience.

Actually I think it's a bit strange how British children are expected to narrow down their education to a few subjects so early. In my country we study at least ten or more subjects at this age.

Maths Olympiad, junior science competitions, choir competing internationally.
I recruit grads so I see a lot of this.
@IremeB I don't want to make any judgements of this girl, but this Is what I tend to see. And I'm a software dev, hardly an industry populated by people with amazing soft skills. They're still needed though as we communicate a lot despite what people think, we don't just sit and write code all day.

At the end of the day she can do what she wants. But:
Is it something 'inspiring'? No. I wouldn't my kids to aim for this.
As an employer, will it impress me? No. But I'd treat her the same as someone else who got all A*s, if all she does is memorise and isn't great with people, or needs too much structure and can't think out of the box, that will all come out in the interview.

On the one hand I agree, on the other hand, no.

These posts are so annoying.

Anyone who doesn't do things exactly like you, it's:

• why don't you have more casual sex?
• why don't you go travel?
• why don't you live in a shared house with friends?
• why don't you go partying and get drunk?
• ooh I did all these things, aren't I well rounded and interesting.

Maybe she doesn't want a boyfriend. Maybe she's not ready or doesn't want to travel. Maybe she's focused on something else. 28 A levels isn't the best use of her time and intelligence but dear god, so sick of hearing posts like the one above.

🥱

I’d imagine she’s done other stuff too and still does. The article wasn’t about that so it’s not mentioned.

I did lots of partying, getting drunk, smoking, taking stuff and having casual sex at 17. I could also have managed another A Level, even at my IQ level. Multitasking.

Absolutely commendable that this obviously very bright and curious girl is studying multiple subjects.
Totally pointless, however to take the actual a-level exams……except for bragging rights.