Doing 4 a levels

[Lunchonawagon]

Dd currently doing 4 a levels- history, maths, biology and chemistry which she started with the premise of doing maths to AS and then sticking with the others for A2. However, she’s now saying that she really loves all her subjects and wants to opt out of the maths AS exam to do the full a level (have to let the school know), saying that she doesn’t want to stop doing maths and also that she’s much more likely to get a place on her chosen degree (medicine) with maths. My concern though is that she will have much more work than her peers, who’ll be sitting the same exams having had more time to prepare, with less free periods (5 hours a week less) to study in. Am I underestimating her or am I right to be concerned about her mental health and grades next year?

[Ginfordinner]

cantkeep starting with 4 is what Dd did which was good as she dropped one that she thought she’d like and hated.

That's exactly what happened with DD Zanda. She really wanted to take psychology A level, but hated it. The volume of work was out of proportion to her other subjects. Her school still did AS levels in 2017, so she banked an A at AS in psychology and dropped it, much to the disappointment of her psychology teacher who said that she would have got an A* in it at A2.

[IrmaFayLear]

I saw an Oxbridge admissions person saying that they definitely do not prioritise those doing four A Levels, as this would be disingenuous given that they ask for three. If they wanted four, they'd ask for four. Otherwise they'd be hauled over the coals for some "back door" entrance policy.

Ds did four (humanities) under the old system and "did not break a sweat" which seems to be the bar on MN . The sixth form's advice is - in line with what some posters have been saying here - is that now the A Levels are harder in that they are linear, so spreading oneself too thinly could be a costly error.

Surprised at all these full houses of 9s. Are all the parents of all 837 full house pupils on MN?!

[Hoghgyni]

My friend got 10 x grade 9s last year, but didn't fall into the magic number Irma because he got a D for Add Maths!

[Grumpyperson]

One of ds' friends got 6 x 9s, but I think he got the best results in his school. I don't know anyone with all 9s.

[Michaelahpurple]

There are loads more than 837 or whatever it is with 8+ grade 9s - that stat was defined madly narrowly (and excludes IGCSEs so knocks most do the academic independent sector). For instance, dS's school gets something like 70 something percent 9s, I vaguely think).

But nonetheless Mumsnet seems to have more than its fair share!

[Tvstar]

My dcs grammar school 4a levels is the norm. Lots get 3 or 4A*

[IrmaFayLear]

70% got all grade 9s?

[IrmaFayLear]

I suspect the "10" will be introduced before long.

[Parisa5]

I did wonder about this claim that only 837 pupils got “at least 7 9s”. At DD’s school for instance, of all the grades achieved, 96% were 9/8/7, 86% were 9/8 and 60% were 9. So that’s a lot of 9s when you think there are100 pupils in the year and they all did at least 10 GCSEs. Plus there are many other schools around us that achieve very similar results. But it’s because they are IGCSEs, so apparently not counted in govt stats.

[Grufallosfriends]

Actually it's true. I just checked our school website and the of all GCSE results 2019
74% of all grades were grades 8-9
49% of all grades were grade 9

So yes, there will probably soon be a grade 10!

[Grufallosfriends]

And a lot of pupils go on to take 4 A levels (and manage just fine). So op's dd may well regret not taking 4.

[ZandathePanda]

Can’t find any results on high grades at GCSE but a government website says DCs school average score for 3 A levels is C+.
Interesting the government criteria is on 3 A Levels. It also goes on and on about the English Baccalaureate which I thought died a death with everyone ages ago.

[Ginfordinner]

"Actually it's true. I just checked our school website and the of all GCSE results 2019
74% of all grades were grades 8-9
49% of all grades were grade 9"

Is that a very selective grammar school Grufallosfriends? They are very exceptional results for your average comprehensive school.

[Grufallosfriends]

Yes, it is a selective school, but it is only one of many in the country, so the 837 that got 'at least 7 grade 9s appears low.

[Lunchonawagon]

A fair few of dds friends got 7+ 9s and we’re talking about a local non-selective, albeit very good, comp

[Cos1ma]

I wonder why they refer to seven “9s” as a “clean sweep” when the curriculum is to take 10 GCSEs?

Also, does anyone know how many UK pupils got ten “9s” at IGCSE?

[FanDabbyFloozy]

Also, does anyone know how many UK pupils got ten “9s” at IGCSE?
iGCSE are much less transparent than other exams which are published in good detail. I did read somewhere that the government DofE numbers wouldn't include old style iGCSE soon for their official records. Is that why some of the best independent schools are moving back to the reformed GCSE?

[twosoups1972]

What a disturbing thread.

Is it any wonder our children are suffering such poor mental health??

Everyone is OBSESSED with grades. And as parents we are not helping. I read/hear so much about parents constantly comparing their dc's grades and being disappointed that their dc didn't get any (or all) 9s.

Universities only want 3 subjects at A Level. There is NO reason why anyone needs to take four. Education is about so much more than taking exams. I don't know why schools don't clamp down on students taking four, after all they pretend to care about mental health what with pointless 'Well Being' weeks and other such token fuckery.

I have bright academic dc and they know I don't believe in grades. I want them to be happy and healthy and spend time on many other activities that don't lead to exams. If they get the required grades to get to the next stage, that is enough.

The new A Levels are much harder with up to 25% more content. Doing three subjects is challenging enough. Four leaves very little time for other things.

OP, you are right to be concerned. If she wants to do Medicine, maybe she can drop History instead? You can still maintain an interest/passion for History in many other ways than sit a demanding A Level in it.

[Lavenderblues]

Doing three subjects is challenging enough. Four leaves very little time for other things.

That may be the case for some children. Others, however, manage and actually enjoy taking 4 subjects.

[Lunchonawagon]

twosoups1972 I don’t think she sees dropping history as an option- she just won’t do it unless someone can prove to her that there’s no way she’ll get into medical school without maths, which of course no one can do. We’ve agreed to see how she goes this year and make decisions later in the year

[mumsneedwine]

It says on all the Uni websites that you don't need maths (except Cambridge). You don't need maths !!

[ZandathePanda]

twosoups what a refreshing post. Thank you

[Lunchonawagon]

mumsneedwine she knows she doesn’t need maths what’s making her want to continue studying it is really enjoying it so far (but of course it’s so early on who knows if this will continue)

[cantkeepawayforever]

There is NO reason why anyone needs to take four. Education is about so much more than taking exams.

However, education is also about much more than 3 subjects. Many of those who do 4 do not do 4 because of the narrow 'needs X grades' functional argument - they do it because they genuinely cannot narrow down their school experience to 3 subjects.

In fact, it seems to me that it is some of the 'must only do 3' posters who are the most obsessed by grades, because their argument fior not doing 4 is because 'it might compromise the grades obtained in the 3 A levels needed for university'. That ignores the needs of teh child who says 'Honestly, I don't care about one A* more or less. I'm just not willing to reduce my educational experience to 3 subjects in such a dry and mechanistic, functional way. I love Art / French / Maths / History / Classical civilisation just as much as I love the subjects I 'need' to take, and I genuinely don't want to narrow my education down too much'.

It also ignores the experience of the 'start on 4' schools - that the 3 'kept' are not usually the 3 'initial top choices'. I am entirely happy that both mu DCs' sixth forms start on 4 and drop down (usually) to 3, because I am happy that my DCs get to choose the subjects they know that they REALLY love at A-level, not the subjects they THOUGHT they would love at a random point at the end of Y11.

[cantkeepawayforever]

(As to whether Four leaves very little time for other things. DD dances many hours per week, does Gold D of E, numerous clubs etc etc. DS combined 4 A levels for a year with almost daily county music ensembles and preparing for conservatoire entry. Both also had / have jobs a few hours per week. I don't really buy that argument.)