Anyone else’s SC taken 5 A levels?

[Parvolax]

DS has taken 5 A levels and is half way through his 20 exams (with a few step etc thrown in). Anyone else taken 5 A levels?

Not my DC! (One did 3.5, the other is starting sixth form next year).

"Back in the day" when I was at school in the late '80s, I took 7 A-levels. However, one was General Studies (remember that?) so it didn't really count. 4 were on the normal school timetable, and the others 2 were done from school "for fun" clubs which let you take the exam if you wanted. I don't think anyone at the school realised that I was doing them all otherwise I might have been advised against it.

I didn't do STEP, but I did also take two S-levels. These no longer exist; it meant one extra paper, testing much the same material as the A-level but at a higher level.

- what did you get?? I’m your vintage and 3 were bad enough!

I did 4. That was the norm in the nineties I think.

@AnyBenny 5 As (including General Studies), a B, and a C. Two 1s in the S papers. A-star didn't exist at that time. I had fun, and would do it again if I had my time over. Still a tiny bit annoyed about the C!

I went on to do a very small academic subject at Oxbridge, and a handful of degrees later I'm now a teacher nearing retirement and still enjoying every lesson I teach my sixth-formers (although other parts of the job are increasingly rubbish).

At my school (private, academic) we rarely get students doing more than four these days, and when they do it tends to include Lots Of Maths.

Very impressive! Sciences or humanities? Sorry to be nosy- I have a DD doing GCSEs at the moment so A level choices are a live topic in our house!

I'd be worried it would put them at a disadvantage as 4 would be easier to undertake, better 4 top marks than 5 near top marks
What subjects and what are they planning to do afterwards?

You could be me! Our school now does IB so they are only allowed to do three unless they are doing Further Maths - if they want breadth they do IB.

I found some government statistics on this not too long ago. Numbers nationally taking 5 A levels used to be around 1000 but have now dropped to around 250-300 per year. The drop happened around the time of the curriculum reforms and change from modular to linear A levels, ie 2016 ish. I suspect the way the data was collected, if you did one a year early then 4 in the second year, it would count as 4 not 5, i.e. there are 250-300 doing 5 at the end of the 2 years. There must be some doing 1 (most likely maths) at the end of Y12 then 4 at the end of Y13. Having all the exams at the end rather than being able to take modules mid-way made people reluctant to take on 5. The 2016 reforms also made it difficult/impossible to do statistics or additional further maths as a 3rd "mathematical" A level - the kids who previously did 5-6 A levels at the top-performing schools near us would invariable have done further maths and more often than not additional further maths. Since the death of additional further maths, I haven't seen any locally taking 5 for a few years. 4 plus an EPQ or AS taken in Y12 is rare but happens.

Mine both took five. I have just checked and the majority at their school take four, though some will drop down to three at the end of year 12.

The extra, which is still available, comes from electronics which is an option as part of the Yr 12 "cultural perspectives" programme, where students were encouraged to keep some unexamined breadth: a language, music, art, take up sign language, or an EPQ. Electronics was the exception as they worked towards a Welsh board AS. And if they wanted, could keep it up through A level. The teacher was popular and the emphasis was on building course work, so not a lot of teaching time, instead they tended to gather as a group of friends and work together, more as downtime from their more academic subjects, than as homework.

An extra-ordinary number went on to study some form of EEE. DD intercalated in Bio-medical Engineering where having the electronics A level both helped her get on the course and gave her real advantage when she started. DS went on to build his own computer(s), which has given him more practical experience. His most entrepreneurial friend made some money by putting his course work into small scale production.

Given there is an AS, and coursework, the exam pile up was not too bad. The actual science was pretty straightforward for those likely to gain top grades in FM or physics. What proved to be very useful was the requirement to do some coding, experience DC were able to use at University.

My son took maths advanced higher a year early in year 12 (Scottish qualification which is slightly harder than A level according to UCAS pts).

He's taking four other advanced highers this year so he will end up with 5 by end of year 13. His subjects this year are physics, chemistry, music, maths of mechanics (similar to further maths).

I did STEP and S-levels too! I think it's a shame they dropped S-levels, which gave context and breadth to genuinely interested students. I guess it was hard to find teaching time for them and would be another thing that would then set private and state pupils apart.

DS is doing maths, further maths, computer science, physics and chemistry.
He’s on track for 5 A*
He applied to Cambridge but they turned him down so it makes you wonder what they are looking for. He’s state school and college so maybe that’s why.

Just to add, he’s mainly taken the 5 because he’s so bloody indecisive!
There was 8 of them who started two years ago with 5 A levels and this last year there was 2 of them up until Easter and now my son is the only one left in his year at his college doing 5.
I thought he was mad for doing 5 but to be fair he’s really enjoying them and come in to his own the last couple of weeks.

Yes, way back, in the last century, before the whole AS reform stuff, I did 5.
Started with 4 and added in Maths after half a term because physics was much more fun than biology!
AAABB.

There are dc going to Cambridge from state here so that does seem tough with 5 A stars

5 is a lot and seems unnecessary.I think 3 or 4 are best, comfortable for them to work hard at them, as well as have time to do sports/hobbies and work part time.

My friends sons are both at Cambridge with ‘only’ 3 A levels done at state school.

My son is doing 3, only biology paper 3 left to do. 😅

"He applied to Cambridge but they turned him down so it makes you wonder what they are looking for. He’s state school and college so maybe that’s why." Don't Oxbridge interview and set their own assessments for lots of courses so I'm really surprised if it due to that reason. How did he do on their assessments?

And is he a well rounded human being, does he have friends and hobbies, is he allowed the odd lie-in or teenage off day? Maybe a part-time job or a girl/ boy friend?
You only get to be a teenager once, it can’t all be about academic success!

I did 6 plus general studies, got A's - top grade at the time. Utter waste of time and energy, I wish I'd done 3. I encouraged DC to do 3 only and read/get a job etc etc. They are much better of with this range if skills.

@Parvolax did he reach interview stage at Cambridge?

The amount of students (from around the world) who apply with all Astars, especially in STEM means Cambridge can't take all applicants so many applicants won't get an offer. A state education would have been advantageous as the students I know with Oxbridge offers, this year, are all state, due to levelling the field which is completely reasonable.

Cambridge at open days make it very clear that they are looking for a type of student that thrives in their unique tutoring approach. They talk about how they are looking for a specific brain type as all applicants who get through to interview will be bright (no doubt about that). Those with offers "match" the teaching approach and style. They also say 3 Alevels are only required but if studying Maths then FM is definitely positive.

I have one teen there and one who might apply but despite being extremely bright (all Astars) I'm not sure if it would suit. If they don't get an offer I think it will just confirm it wouldn't be right.

In terms of doing more than three, it was not a particular problem for my two. They mastered the art of "good enough" early on so never got particularly stressed and were not aiming to be top of the class. Almost everyone at their school was taking four so that was standard, and they took the fifth because they enjoyed it. DD has used content from all her A levels at University (medicine with an engineering intercalation) and it allowed her to keep options open. She held leadership positions at school, did plenty of volunteering and played sport at a high level. DS still managed to find a lot of time for gaming, did a lot of super-curricular and played school sport. His fifth was a nice, practical, contrast to academic study. His fourth (history) help him develop essay skills.

A good number of sixth formers are either playing serious sport, or music on top of A levels, which is about the same. Some can manage quite a heavy load. Others have to work hard to get three good grades. Some get very stressed about school work, others don't. There is a huge focus on grades and getting the place. However learning, skills and knowledge, in whatever field, rarely goes unused.

Ds did 4 A levels with the usual further maths as the 4th and managed to do all the homework within the 5 hours of free periods he had in school with time to spare for peer to peer teaching. Sixth form finished at 3.20pm he was home by 3.40pm leaving him plenty of time for hobbies and friendships. Had he had done 5 A levels he would have just used up those 5 hours of free periods for teaching time and then had what, maybe 6 or 7 hours of homework across the week?

Free time he had around 6 hours every evening from finishing sixth form plus maybe 12-14 hours on weekends. It is a lot of time. He never stayed in bed until 2pm like some teens do. Some things just come easily to some students. Both my sons absolutely love maths. Ds1 has always played with maths, looked up why formulas work etc. He found maths and fm a breeze. Got 4 A stars for A level.

I did 5 (4 + general studies) back in the day shit it was 25 years ago . Got 4 As and a B. It was hard graft. 2 X English, 2 X humanities subjects

Oh forgot to add I got an offer from Oxford and also was playing sport at regional level too. I was a busy bee!

@Livinghappy yes he interviewed at Cambridge