Should dd take 4 a levels on to next year?

[Kulakkatie]

Dd is currently doing 4 a levels and has always hoped that she’d be able to take them all to the full a level. So far, she is doing very well while volunteering, having a part time job and seeing friends (having a life basically) and so she does not see a reason to drop one. If she is doing well at this point in year 12 with 4, would it be unrealistic to say she can carry on doing well in year 13?

There is no point doing 4, unless perhaps one is further maths.

At this point in Y12 in the middle of a global pandemic. Who knows what September will bring when she hasn’t been taught for 6 months.

See how it goes.

It isn’t further maths. She knows there is no objective point but she really enjoys all the subjects and she says she just doesn’t want to not learn more about them ( I know she can read around the subject at home without the qualification but it is realistically unlikely to happen without a course to follow)

Yes the closure of schools has brought her thinking about it about as she was hoping to speak to the head of year soon and see what they thought but clearly thats unlikely to happen (obviously no where near the biggest issue with what is going on)

I think given the current situation and fact she will miss out on months of tuition it might be wise to drop one. All the uni’s say don’t bother unless it’s further maths. My DS is planning to take 4 next year but one is further maths or I’d be actively discouraging him

I think it depends on her abilities. Some students can take 4 subjects, play sport, volunteer etc without a problem and still get top grades in them all. If she is one of those, and she wants to carry on with four, encourage her to do so.

If taking 4 means she will drop grades- maybe limit things.

I did this back in the dark ages before they introduced the 4AS->3A level system, plus had General studies.

I left school as head girl, with my gold DoE, 3As and 2Bs.
If she enjoys them all, and is doing well, keep going.

Ds1 is in year 12 and doing 4 A levels but one is further maths. There really is no point taking 4 A levels. Ds is taking all 4 because he wants to do Computer Science at university and they want maths and preferably further maths.

It is best to ace out 3 A levels, than compromise on grades. Even those going into the most competitive courses such as medicine only need 3.

If you are interested in a subject you do not need a course to follow. You can direct your own interests. Let's face it, there is a wealth of information at your fingertips with access to the internet. I remember spending hours in a library, now that can be brought to life with video.

No

Given the school situation at the moment, I really wouldn’t risk it. My dd did science and maths and found the content for all subjects to be substantially harder in year 13 than year 12. She was very glad that she dropped a subject and managed to secure three top grades but in the approach to the exams she repeatedly said “I’m so glad that I dropped the fourth one there is so much to do for just three”.

My DS is in year 13. He has taken four humanities subjects (lots of writing!). He loved the four subjects equally so didn't want to drop any of them. I advised him against taking four essay based subjects but he was adamant.
Obviously now he won't be taken any exams at all. He was rejected from Cambridge after interview but he has been offered a place at Durham Both universities wanted A*AA. None of the universities that he applied to (he was offered places at four out of five) required him to have four A levels.
I keep having this recurring dream nightmare that on 'results' day he will end up with four A levels graded A (caveat obviously fantastic grades) but not enough to meet his Durham offer.
I really wished he had just concentrated on three.