Do you need 4 A-Levels to get into Cambridge

[MathWhizz]

DD would eventually like to apply to do Economics at Cambridge University. She has just started A-Levels in Maths, Further Maths, Economics and History. She seems to think that she needs to take 4 A-Levels to have a chance of getting into Cambridge. However, on the Cambridge University website, she only needs 160 points which is achievable with 3 A-Levels. She is struggling to cope with the workload from A-Level History on top of the other 3 subjects. Could she drop a-level History and still get into Cambridge to study Economics?

You don’t need 3 A levels to get into Cambridge, better to get higher grades in 3 subjects.

Top grades in 3 subjects definitely better than less good grades in 4.

HOWEVER, if 2 of the 3 are Maths + Further Maths (and she is applying for a non-Maths subject) it may be worth checking.

The official advice is that you don't need more than three A-levels for any course at Cambridge.

The reality for some subjects is less clear-cut. A candidate applying for physical natural sciences with Maths, Further Maths, Physics and Chemistry is going to be in a stronger position (and better prepared for the course) than a candidate with only three of those subjects. There is no obvious subject to drop out of those four.

For the Economics course at Cambridge, those four subjects would seem like an ideal combination. As for whether Maths, Further Maths and Economics (without the History) would make a equally strong application, the answer might vary from college to college.

It may sound counter intuitive, but I would drop econ rather than history. It's not a prerequisite and it is usually seen as an easier option.

Not in my experience. DS is at Cambridge with 3 A-levels and there was never any question of needing more than that.

The most important thing in my view is to pick 3 subjects you enjoy and can get the best grades possible in. Two of his subjects were Econ and History, and there was no suggestion that one of them was more valuable than the other.

Thank you all for your advice.

Further Maths needs to be a fourth subject. It would be unusual for to have it as one of three; in fact, many schools won’t allow that. Mine wouldn’t. Bear in mind that Economics is really competitive and many of the students she’ll be competing against for a place will be doing Further Maths.

Looks like typically successful applicants do offer 4 A Levels

'
A-level applicants who receive an offer are usually doing (at least) 4 subjects. The ability to cope with a high workload is important since studying at Cambridge is intensive. The broad nature of the Economics course makes both sciences (e.g. Physics) and essay-based subjects (e.g. History) useful.'

www.econ.cam.ac.uk/apply/ba-economics/course-prerequisites

Ann is correct - further maths goes with maths and people tend to do 3 plus further maths so the logical one to drop would be further maths not the others.

Thank you all.

Drop the subject she least likes. Does general studies still exist? If so, take that.

Id speak to an admissions advisor at Cambridge rather than randoms. And/or look at some other choices.

Many universities will not accept General Studies as an A level @Jumpalicious

@Pipandmum I meant as a fourth, with three solid a’levels. Wot I did.

I’ll say it again: Further Maths is only usually taken as one of four A levels. I agree that Cambridge don’t require four, but three including Further Maths won’t be good enough. It’s not a stand-alone subject: it’s an addition to Maths.

@Annebronte

I’ll say it again: Further Maths is only usually taken as one of four A levels. I agree that Cambridge don’t require four, but three including Further Maths won’t be good enough. It’s not a stand-alone subject: it’s an addition to Maths.

This.

You don't need 4 a levels to get in - this is repeatedly stated by Cambridge in all their materials. They do have to say this as not all schools will make it easy for students to start up with 4 A Levels. The reality is that lots of successful applicants do take 4 because they are more likely to cope with the workload and also have the academic disposition which makes them want to continue with a subject when they don't strictly have to, because they like it and like the challenge.

Anecdotally at my school (lots of applications, lots of offers) its about a 50/50 split for the successful applicants between 3/4. Don't think I can remember anyone getting an offer on 3 including FM. Im sure you also realise Econ at Cam is super competitive.

I am also a History teacher, so I am used to the "history is loads of work" conversation and might worry that if they couldn't cope with the workload on 4 (especially in Year 12) that they might not cope at Cambridge.

It may sound counter intuitive, but I would drop econ rather than history

Absolutely. History - reading, research and essay based, needing to learn to make arguments drawn from evidence - will be a far better preparation for Cambridge.

I did 5 A levels. (Although one was general studies. So four really.) Dh did 3. We both got into Cambridge.

What I would say though is that the workload of Cambridge was so so so much higher than the workload of my A levels. And that when trying to get in you will be competing against people who are doing 4 (or more - guy in the year above me had 9(!) A levels) and you need to think about “why would they pick me?”.

In dh’s case he coped fine with the extra workload as he had spent his A level years competing internationally at a sport and with all the training that went with it. Once at Cambridge he cut that right down (no longer a junior and he wasn’t good enough to make it as a senior international) so he suddenly had a lot more time. He was also probably attractive to the admissions because anyone who can get perfect grades in an A level module when he had flown back from the European Championships overnight to make it to the exam is going to good at time management.

might worry that if they couldn't cope with the workload on 4 (especially in Year 12) that they might not cope at Cambridge.

DS is in his first year. The workload is slightly more than he had in the sixth form (when he was doing four A-levels including Further Maths).

Cambridge will never officially say you need more than 3. However if your school offers the chance of doing more than 3, they may wonder why you haven't , if you are of the caliber to apply to Cambridge. Have a look at LSE entry requirements- even they say that they look for someone who can do more than the standard 3 AL- either another AL or an EPQ.

No, their offer is only based on 3. Unless it is useful like Further Maths in an application for Maths or Engineering, studying for a fourth may compromise other grades.

@Ironoaks

might worry that if they couldn't cope with the workload on 4 (especially in Year 12) that they might not cope at Cambridge.

DS is in his first year. The workload is slightly more than he had in the sixth form (when he was doing four A-levels including Further Maths).

First year is easy!

my nephew is in his final year doing economics at Cambridge, and did Maths, Further Maths and History (his school didn't offer economics). Do three and do bloody well.
DS also went to Cambridge but to do English. Hie did 4 As levels and dropped one in upper sixth.
Both tho did highly targeted EPQs so they could delve into their subject

@Annebronte really? Further Maths isn't considered a whole subject, more of an additional one? As I just said, Cambridge were happy with FM , Maths and History for DN. And DD did FM with Maths and Physics for Durham (and Chemistry to AS). Pretty sure it's judged as an A level in its own right