Five A-levels too much?

[MumO5]

My son has just started his Lower Sixth year and either wants to do Law at university (he has Oxbridge and the U.S in mind) or Biology/Biochemistry.

His current A-levels are Biology, Chemistry, Maths and History but he is leaning more to the social science route and thinks that doing another social science A-level will help him stand out more compared to other applicants and will make Oxbridge he's more qualified for that specific course.

He says U.S universities like Princeton and Harvard want students who took the most rigorous course load possible so it would also give him a great edge in that.

He is thinking of either English Literature or Economics.

I think he's capable as he got 9 A*s and one A at GCSE but is there any truth to what he's saying?

Five a levels are too many for most people.

Many state schools limit students to three (or four if two of them are maths and further maths).

If he wants Oxbridge he'd be better off going for depth not breadth.

Can't comment on US universities.

The workload will be unmanageable. DD16 started with four and has just dropped to three after 12 GCSEs 9-7 (only two at 7)

Most U.K. uni offers are based on three A levels with exception of a fourth in further maths if continuing down that route.

How would he take five? Generally students who take four have a pretty full timetable so there wouldn't be room to add another subject.

Has he considered doing an EPQ instead of taking another A-level?

He would want to study 4 at school and do one self-studying at home.

Far better, I would think, to add an EPQ (where he can show evidence of depth and of thinking beyond the curriculum), do a range of MOOCs, and be able to demonstrate a portfolio of super-curricular interests.

Absolutely terrible idea. He will not have the time to self-teach himself an A-level and I would have thought that a subject where he needs feedback on essays (unlike a subject like maths where he can easily self-mark) would be impossible.

Rather than demonstrating academic rigour, he would be seriously damaging his grades in his other subjects by not having the proper amount of time to dedicate to them.

He should definitely look into an EPQ instead.

I'd also add that from what I know of US universities they would be more looking for extracurricular activities. So if he has spare time then doing voluntary work, sport and music would all be better uses.

First place to look is admin criteria
https://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/courses/course-listing/law-jurisprudence

The workload of 4 is a lot. A fifth is ridiculous. Even Oxbridge only require 3 with possible exception of further maths for Maths/Comp Sci/Engineering.

DS got 10 X 9’s at GCSE, started with 4 A Levels and dropped to 3 to give himself more time to focus - and even with those (which do include maths and physics) he’s spending many hours a week studying hard at home and works late into the night most nights.

I’m not sure where you’d find the time to study an extra one at home on top of the workload for 4. I think extra curricular or an EPQ would do a better job of differentiating him personally.

What are tutors looking for?

Academic achievement - check
Reasoning ability - they want AAA so he is offering up to 5 - fail
Good communication skills both on paper and verbally - an essay based A level, debating society, learning a language to conversational level (note Italian note in admin criteria) etc
A capacity for hard work - he probably has this
An interest in Law - he probably has this

He really shouldn't consider anything beyond the classes he is taking at school.

Trying to take on more subjects is bound to overload him; the real risk will be in lowering his grades at A Level and it's that which will cause him real problems when applying to Universities and in his career.

Definitely not. Most struggle with 3, the gifted can manage 4. Look up entry requirements.

Law requires LNAT for most UK universities. If you get below a certain score they won't even look at your application. If he overstretched himself trying to do 5 A levels he will not be able to study adequately for that too.

Biology/biochemistry will not see an English literature or economics A level as an advantage.

So either way a 5th A level won't help.

Five would only be a good idea if three of them are maths, FM and physics and you're good enough at maths to breeze through the maths and physics (this was my situation, but it was back in the days before A*s so you could get away with less work and still get what looked like a top grade).

Biology, chemistry and history all take a lot of work.

No point. Focus on 3 now. He can do more a levels in his adult life if he really wants to, later.

mine did 4 and it was a mistake. She also got 9s at gcse and couldn’t decide on which 3. She should have dropped one sooner.

I did 5AS and then 4 A levels at the same time as a GCSE in a third language in a year and a journalism course and worked part time and played county level netball. I don't think I worked especially hard and I had a great social life.
I think it depends, some of my classmates got similar grades because they worked really hard , revised properly etc. How did he get his grades? If it was pretty easy for him he might be ok, if he really had to put in the hard yards five is probably too many.
Also in terms of breadth, rather than a fifth A level he should consider other things (it's why I did the third language and the journalism qualification which also gave me extracurricular things and published articles to put on my application alongside sports etc). US colleges in particular want really rounded applications. I looked at Harvard and Yale when I was his age

Too many. 4 is a huge workload already 😳
He also needs to be enjoying other fun activities ie socialising, sport etc.

4 is a lot but doable, 5 is likely impact negatively on his results

I would focus on getting work experience to impress at interview, interning at a local law firm, perhaps volunteering at CAB, sitting in the gallery and watching court in action. Contacting his MP and getting work experience/ internship at the Houses of Parliament.

If he wants an extra A level though why not Law instead of English or Eco if that's what he wants to pursue?
4 is doable if one is Maths and Further Maths each one done in a year,otherwise the workload is too high.

3 top grades are preferred by these unis instead of 5 almost top.
DH interviews at a top uni, they know that children are trying to take more A Levels to “stand out”. They don’t care, they don’t want hard workers/sluggers, they take those who can fly through their admissions tests and their interview questions i.e those who have flare intuition and depth. If that is a student with 3 A Levels they will readily take that.

Teaching himself is way too much. Do a fun project or DofE or something if he has spare time.

or non committed reading about the subject

There’s not much to gain from doing 5, Westminster only do 4. He could end up dropping a grade on one or more.

If he’s determined I would add FM personally and see how it goes.

What makes people stand out is not necessarily another exam - but things like another language, a musical instrument, committed extracurricular interests beyond the school syllabus.

If he is looking to Oxford his time would be better spent preparing for the entrance tests LNAT or TSA depending on law or science. Oxford have standard offers, the tricky bit is scoring highly enough in tests to ensure an interview (only around 30% of applicants make it to interview). AFAIK Cambridge don't have entrance tests (except Maths) and interviews much higher proportion but expects samples of written work. No clue about US universitys but there are some regular posters with dc there.
So more than 4 is unnecessary and any spare time is likely better used in super curricular depth.

I really wouldn’t. Nowadays very tough and real risk something slips. Not much benefit. (I speak as someone who did five, so not in principle objecting to the “load’em up” approach)

Utterly pointless, does he have no social life? How much time does he spend outside or doing sport? Life is about more than studying, he going to spend the next 40 plus years working isn’t he so why the push ?