What is the point of an extra AS?

[ZandathePanda]

My Dd is in Year 12, studying 4 ALevels. After Christmas, the least favourite one is dropped down to an AS to be taken this summer. She wants to do a degree in English Literature. She needs AAA or A*AA. Many pupils have asked to drop the 4th subject (some success) but they don't want my daughter to. She is struggling to get any background/ extra curricula reading done due to time constraints as the subjects she's chosen are essay heavy). She also is doing an EPQ and wants to do well in that. For the universities she wants to go to visit, 3 will not take any notice of AS Levels. Cambridge will look at it but the offer is still based on the 3 A Levels and they like for pupils to look at things in depth (i.e. Read around the subject). One university likes the EPQ but not the AS (although, if you do take one they don't like you to have got a bad grade in it).
What is the point of her continuing with the AS? Why are the school insisting on it? Surely she's better concentrating on doing well in 3?

Speak to the school. It gives her more options

Schools cannot make students take an exam. We often think schools will say no, but if approached you will be surprised how accommodating they will be. If she does not want to do the AS, it does make very little sense, send an email in. I am a firm believer in quality of exam results not quantity.

My DD goes to a top Grammar where everyone is supposed to do 4 A levels (or 5 if taking FM). She insisted on taking FM as a 4th, but when this became too challenging (she has a 9 in maths GCSE) and it was making her miserable, she dropped down to three. Luckily it was too late to pick up a 4th A level but she is now doing EPQ. She still went on to become senior prefect; so school have certainly not side-lined her because she is the minority in taking 3 A levels at this stage in Y12. (Most will only take 3 by the end of Y13)

Thank you oldowl I agree. Quality over quantity. The universities that will consider an AS will only consider it if she doesn't get the grades in their offer based on 3 ALevels. She's more likely to get offers in the first place if her predicted grades are higher. The predicted grades are likely to be higher if she drops the subject she hates and has to do for AS.
I really can't see any logic to having an AS level on top of 3 A Levels.

I'm a Head of Sixth. Any more than 3 A Levels for a UK uni application or apprenticeship program is pointless and un-necessary stress. Mine take 4 to Christmas to allow them greater flexibility but drop way before the exam and are not forced to take the AS.

The only justification I can think of would be if they were applying to uni in Ireland where the AS buys them a few more points at the competitive unis there.

There was an outcry from some MNetters not so long ago about the pointlessness of subjects being studied during year 12 without the endpoint of an AS level. There is a perception that time studying is only worthwhile through the currency of a public exam qualification.

For those schools that can offer the flexibility of choice of starting off with four or even five A levels that is great. It is often only by trying that sixth formers can realise what they are capable of and want to focus on. I think that is benefit enough (even without the bonus of a bit more knowledge and study skills) without pushing inexorably onto that AS or A level qualification.

Thank you everyone. My Dd is worrying about only revising for 3 exams when they go back rather than 4, but we've told her to concentrate on the 3. Her school are adamant she needs to do 4 subjects, dropping one down to the AS. She hates not doing well in anything and not revising for Philosophy is stressful in itself but she wants to concentrate on her English quotes and history. She feels like she's 'failed' in some way as the school think she should be doing the 4 plus EPQ plus all the background reading (plus volunteering, sorting out work experience and other stuff to put on a CV).

There are a couple of reasons I can think of. One is that if something goes drastically wrong next year she has some qualification. I'm thinking something like major illness.

The other is simply timetabling and teaching hours. If you have 25 students taking philosophy and at Xmas 24 drop the subject can the school continue the AS/A level for one child?

I know your priority is your own child but if they were the one who had to drop a subject because others did you might feel differently.

Then there is also a good mix of internal politics, grades by subject etc.

Only the first reason is relevant to an individual.

One final thought, after AS do they get more hours/classes in the A Level year? If so it might be due to the funding being for a certain number of hours.

Thanks for replying sashh those are all points we have thought of too. I think you are 'on the money' with your last point tbh. Dd had to deal with a traumatic death of a family member in Year 10 so we are very aware about things going wrong. Thankfully she managed to do very well in her GCSEs but she had a mountain of work to get through. We have other family members ill at the moment. I am quite proud of her thinking logically about this and making an informed decision. She's had to grow up a lot. In the past she wouldn't have argued her case against 'authority' and would never think about giving something up - but keeping going with the AS really doesn't stack up.

If you have 25 students taking philosophy and at Xmas 24 drop the subject can the school continue the AS/A level for one child?
Likely not but that is not a reason to force DCs to continue since large numbers dropping a subject will most likely be to very poor departmental teaching.
A DC only has one go at sixth form so should do what is best for them with the proviso that it is not a rash decision (which it obviously is not here). .

Schools may want extra AS levels and EPQs to accumulate points for league tables but quality over quantity sounds very sensible for the individual.