Doing one A level early?

[MarshallZEK]

I’ve posted on here rather than FE in the hopes of some people with knowledge of university admissions seeing it.

Dd is in year 10. She had to move school at the beginning of Y9, and at her old school she had been learning German, but new school doesn’t offer it.

So we said we would pay for a private tutor for GCSE. She got on so well, she is now due to sit the gcse this summer, and she really, really wants to carry on and do A Level, and then German and history at university.

Unfortunately the only 6th form locally that offers German A level is really not good.

So we are thinking about carrying on with the tutor during year 11 and 12, and completing the German A level at the end of year 12, and in the meantime choose 3 further A level subjects to study at school in the normal way.

I know that some universities don’t like A levels completed in a “piecemeal” fashion, though hopefully still doing three in one go would counter that somewhat? But what would admissions tutors think about the A level for the main subject you were studying being done early? Obviously she’d need some sort of plan to keep up her skills in Y13.

The alternative option would be to do it in a more leisurely fashion over three years, so take all the exams in Y13.

Dd would likely be aiming high for university, places like St Andrews, Oxbridge, UCL etc

It would be seen as an extra, not an instead of. Be good to have a grade in hand when applying to unis.

You would think it would be ok,
But be careful
My Dd did two AS levels instead of GCSEs, they weren’t counted as it didn’t fit algorithms apparently!!! Absolutely bonkers!!!

A friend's daughter did maths a-level in a year, then further maths, physics, chemistry the next year. I think taking the three in one go is what matters, not sure how the offers work and whether the early one counts? Shes now at Oxford doing phyiscs, got all A stars so there were no issues.

Fine as an extra particularly a language

Shouldn’t be a problem as long as you can demonstrate how she intends to maintain during yr 13. Bigger problem will be finding enough unis still doing languages in 2029/30….

MFL is my subject (sorry she is struggling to find somewhere to take A level German). If she wanted to study German at uni I would really caution against this. I don't have any uni stats and in fact they will be so keen they probably won't mind, but keeping her German up to scratch when in year 13 and taking three other A levels is a big big ask. A levels are tough and a lot of work.

Is there some way she could take German as one of three in year 13, and take the other two A levels at her sixth form of choice? You would have to discuss with them whether this would be acceptable as it would be unusual to say the least. I do think four especially where one is MFL is a big workload.

Hmm, that’s something to think about Clary.

The sixth form at the school she is at do need you to do a fourth timetabled “activity” in Y12 - AS, EPQ, work experience, fourth A level etc.
So I thought it might work well in that slot, and she should complete it at the end of year 12 like everyone else (though the website does mention some people doing four full a levels anyway, but I expect maybe further maths mostly).

But maybe spreading it across three years, taking the exam in Y13 and taking a fourth A level subject where you can “jump ship” at the end of y12 and do the AS instead might make more sense?
Though problem with that is, she currently wants to do English, history and maths for the other 3 and they don’t offer those as AS at her school.

She is very academic and a hard worker - I think she probably could cope with 4, but of course you don’t know until you try.

Hi, OP -

As a former admissions tutor in a high tariff School I was about to say what a great plan this was. Then I saw @clary’s post. I respect it very much

Her concern about keeping up seems analogous to the concern many STEM departments have with gap years: they worry Maths will be lost. I do think DD needs a plan for keeping up and there is a potential workload issue

Your second post, discussing the additional timetabled activity, may show the way. If DD follows this plan, could she centre the timetabled activity around German? Either an EPQ or continued tutoring? Nothing as cognitively demanding as an A level! She only nee keep up and polish during Y13 (and enthuse her referee and the admissions tutors)

I suggest DD think about a tentative plan she can summarise in an email to the MFL admissions teams at her preferred universities, expressing strong interest in their programmes and asking whether this is a sound idea, considering the circumstances. The plan should include a tentative German-focused activity for the Y13 timetabled slot

If the admissions people like the idea, or have a better one, when DD goes to 6th Form she will have powerful ammunition (in the form of their replies) as to why she should be allowed to to pursue it

The possible obstacle I see is that DD’s tutor may lack some kind of official credential, but if work experience is allowed I hope this won’t be an issue. If it is, she may need to do an EPQ. It sounds like she could do well

Best wishes to DD

Ah thanks @poetryandwine appreciate your kind words.

OP the idea of an EPQ in German may work actually – I am thinking A level in year 12, EPQ in year 13? Still a very heavy workload with three content/skill heavy A levels (tho they all are really).

In terms of losing the skills – while I am sure your DD would have a solid plan to keep her German up, it’s not always easy to stick to that when other subjects have actual exams looming. A lesser example, but DD took French GCSE, exams done in May (old spec), not carrying it on, and then in September realised one of her A level choices was not for her – and switched to French. She had done no French for a bit less than four months and found it very hard.

Another thought – working in a year 12 way (ie covering a lot of the content, starting the IRP, studying the film or the book) on German A level in your GCSE year may also be a bit of an ask.

I think poetry's idea of an email to admissions tutors suggesting her plan is a really good one.

Here's what I would do – either:
a) See if there is any mileage in doing just (say) history and English in year 12 at school, plus an enrichment subject – core maths? do they offer that?, alongside her German A level work, and then continuing with Eng/hist/German on the side in year 13. They may say no though. This way the German in year 11 could be at a lower level as she would be doing German A level across three years, which might take the pressure off.

b) Take German in year 12 as planned and then an EPQ in German in year 13 but that's a lot of work.

c) Take German across three years and take all four A levels in year 13. Also a lot of work.

How would it work with PGs for unis as well? if she does German in year 13 she won't obvs have the grade in hand so will need her tutor to provide PGs. Are they a teacher?

I love that she is so keen on German so I do hope she is able to work it out. It may be that if in year 13 the workload of any of her possible options is too much, the school will allow her to drop one A level. The German A level spec is so good, I really rate it. Hope she enjoys it and ich wünsche ihr alles Gute.

Thank you Poetry and wine.
To clarify, the additional timetabled slot is Y12 only.
I imagine she would be timetabled to a quiet study classroom and could work through activities her tutor had given her.

This could also be the plan for y13 if she has already completed the A level - we could keep the tutor on to just do some language and literature work for fun and to keep her skills up.

Sending an email to admissions at (probably) Oxford and St Andrews to ask their advice about the best plan going forward is a very good idea.

I was wrong in the previous post - actually her school does offer AS maths, which does give a further possibility.

So our possibilities are:
Start A level syllabus at the beginning of Y11 with tutor.
Pick 3 further A levels to study starting Y12 - probably Eng, history, maths.

Then either:
Sit German A level at the end of y12.
Continue with 3 other A levels, plus continue German tutoring to maintain skills outside school.

or
Sit AS level maths at end of year 12.
Continue with 2 school based A levels and German outside school (if school will agree)

Or don’t sit anything in Y12 (or can you take an AS level and then change your mind and carry on to full A level?)
Sit 4 full A levels at the end of Y13.

In terms of her German becoming rusty during Year 13, could she not spend an extended period in Germany, maybe incorporating a stint at a language school, after A levels? And/or have top-up sessions during Year 13? She can keep reading German and listening to the news and to podcasts etc.

Sorry, cross posted with Clary.

Good point about it maybe being a lot of work in GCSE year to do it in two years.

So maybe doing it across 3 does make the most sense. In which case we need to discuss with the school, but maybe the decision doesn’t ultimately need to be made until end of Y12.

With regard to predicted grades, I think the tutor just does private tutoring, I don’t think she is attached to a secondary school.

But the school do have a teacher who can speak German and is doing dd’s gcse oral exam and has given her a couple of practice papers for the reading and writing. So perhaps that teacher could set her a mock exam to gain predicted grades. I think they do base them on the mock exams at the end of Y12.

If she is bright and hardworking, and aiming for Oxbridge, I would imagine doing four A-levels in year 13 is her best bet.

I have a friend who is an admissions tutor at a Cambridge college and she has said before to me that they really don't like A-levels being spread out (whereas GCSEs would be OK to split over a couple of years), especially not if she does her intended subject for uni early.

I am thinking A level in year 12, EPQ in year 13?

I think you have rejected this option but for anyone else reading - find out what the school deal with EPQs are. At my school they start them between now and Easter in Y12 and finish them just before Christmas in Y13, and I think this is quite common - let the Y12s settle into their courses before deciding to pick up another one and get it finished before the proper exam grind of Y13 starts.

Sit AS level maths at end of year 12.
Continue with 2 school based A levels and German outside school (if school will agree)
School is unlikely to agree this as they are funded per pupil taking 3 A-levels so won't get funding if the student is only doing two.

I would suggest contacting the admissions departments of some target universities and asking them what their opinion would be of a student who sat the A-level early.

Yes I think @noblegiraffe is right that the school is unfortunately unlikely to agree to her just studying for two A levels in school in year 13. Shame as that feels like the most workable plan. Also correct re EPQ – it's usually done and dusted before December of year 13 so my suggestion there won't work.

At least get the school to agree that her year 12 enrichment is her A level German study; then maybe German over three years and four A levels in year 13 is the best way.

Re the tutor – I meant are they an actual German teacher? – plenty of tutors I know are qualified teachers who no longer teach in school, but tutor (retired, changed job etc). If the tutor is a qual teacher of MFL they should be able to give a predicted grade. Might need to liaise with the school as to timing for UCAS form.

(If they are not a qualified teacher that might be a concern wrt A level tbh. Though it’s unlikely that they would be tutoring even GCSE if they were simply a native speaker with no teaching qual.)

Thank you, I didn’t realise that about the funding, it will have to be 4 A levels then.

And it looks like there are more reasons to take all four together at the end of y13 than to take it early.

As far as the tutor being a qualified teacher, DH tells me she is actually an ex-university lecturer (though possibly not of German, not sure about that, she is from Germany though). She is very thorough and rigorous, which has suited Dd down to the ground so far.

I think DD should say in her queries to Admissions that her tutor is a former university lecturer from Germany. If the subject and/or uni are an asset, mention them.

My aim here is to generate replies that can help her gain approval from the College for her preferred plan of action. All the more so as to me (as an outsider) this person sounds a well qualified tutor.

But I defer to @clary

@MarshallZEK the tutor sounds like someone who is a good match for DD which is great. And she has clearly inspired your DD which is also so valuable.

Tbh it’s not crucial so much that a tutor is a qualified secondary teacher (and I know it was me that mentioned that!). The thing that I think is really important is a thorough knowledge of the GSCE and then A level spec, bc (as I am sure you know) getting a good grade in GCSE and A level MFL is not simply about learning the language; it’s about ticking the boxes to get the marks. (That's why native speakers taking MFL exams are not an automatic shoo-in for a top grade.) If your tutor has that, QTS or not, then she will be excellent, especially as she clearly suits your DD so well.

honestly, being at a school that has dropped teaching German full stop and removed a compulsory language at gcse (with the result that numbers taking them has dropped off a cliff), MFL admissions tutors will have to get creative about accepting students that have non traditional A level paths! Our school is very multi cultural so a lot of students do home languages courses/exams externally and school staff are supportive of their workarounds .

I don't know if she is able to attend this or similar elsewhere. They are trying to encourage uptake of German.

CUCGS 2026 Schools Programme: Workshop Registration

Date: 27 feb • 12:45

www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cucgs-2026-schools-programme-workshop-registration-tickets-1976714545417?aff=ebdsshother&utm_share_source=listing_android&sg=c7fd374d133200a97c79a9219bfeac3b3f5986775b719ef55f0cbfae9a5b9e20fade1bbd4739ea0ec34781017c3b83741f13f20680e65b74d5903fa3dee3fc2118a8bffa24b6894cb639235c

I always liked the look of these courses: https://www.goethe.de/ins/de/en/jug.html

Also, just to cover off options, any chance you could move house to be near schools that offer German A level? It seems odd, but in NE England more schools seem to offer it, for example.

Thank you, that day at Cambridge looks interesting. I think it might be in half term too, so perhaps we could go. There might be a chance to chat to tutors too, about our plan.

Dd is going to write an email this week. I’m slightly worried it will just get filtered off and answered at a generic level by someone who deals with the first line admin, and won’t get through to someone who could actually answer the question. I’m imagining something like “Our flexible degrees allow applicants to study German from diffetent levels, including post A level or ab initio, and we consider each application individually”. But maybe I’m just cynical.

We have looked at Goethe Institut but DD’s tutor meets our needs better at the moment. I’m sure a residential summer camp would be amazing, but it’s expensive.

Good points about making sure the tutor knows the A level syllabus. I’m sure she would say if she wasn’t suitably qualified to teach it. I know she adheres very closely to the topics and vocabulary in the gcse syllabus, because Dd has been talking about knowing the vocabulary when she just did some mock papers.

And we can’t move house! We did have to completely relocate at the end of y8, but everyone is settled now. And it would probably cost the same as going private for 6th form to move again anyway (we can’t afford either option).

Dd’s current school is actually pretty supportive of MFL, so that’s a big positive. They offer both French and Spanish to gcse, and allowed Dd to pick up both in Y9, one in an intensive beginner class they offer to to set, the other just sitting in with the timetabled class who’s been studying it from y7. That one was supposed to be just for the year, but actually she’s now doing both for gcse. Sadly for the purposes of an easy life she doesn’t consider either of them an attractive enough substitute for German at A level.

Hi, OP -

You raise a good point.

DD needs to word her message carefully. She can politely request an opinion from an admissions tutor about the best way forward. A pointed, unusual question will help. IME these questions are passed to the tutors.

For Oxford she will need to inquire at a couple of Colleges she is interested in. The admissions requirements sometimes vary a bit, and the Colleges can have their particular views on things.

Best wishes to her

You could check what might be available in your area to keep the language going in year 13. For instance, DD's university runs extra-curricular language classes which are open to non-students as well as students/staff. Not every level runs every year, depending on numbers, but they'd probably be able to tell you whether there would be something approximately right. (DD had to do the one for those with "rusty A-level" instead of "good A-level" last year, but that did a good job of keeping her going, along with the fact that she regularly reads books in the language. It was one evening a week, plus a bit of homework.)

I was coming on to say the same thing. DD took Maths A Level in Y12, then did Further Maths, Physics and Chemistry in Y13. Her Oxford offer was A star, A, A and the Admissions team told her that the Maths A star in Y12 would count. Theoretically she only needed 2 As in Y13.