Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Teenagers

Parenting teenagers has its ups and downs. Get advice from Mumsnetters here.

Original poster

3 AS levels or 4?

61 replies

GetOrfMoiiLand · 16/07/2012 15:22

DD is attending sixth form in September, she is studying 3 AS levels - History, Geography, Media Studies. Her head of sixth form wants her to study an additional subject at AS (and going on to do 3 at A2) - this will be either Biology, ICT, Photography or Business Studies.

DD and I really want her to concentrate on the 3 AS and not take an extra one. She is not interested at all in any of those subjects, and I think the jump from GCSE workload to a level will be a significant one. I would rather she concentrates on 3 subjects she really wants to study. She is dyslexic and therefore essays etc take her longer than anyone else - she works very well but I don'y want her to be demoralised by the workload if it proves too much.

Are 3 AS levels enough?

OP posts:
out2lunch · 16/07/2012 15:30

yes they are - the jump is much harder

ds goes to an excellent college and they do 4 and drop 1

Parttimeslave · 16/07/2012 15:31

It may depend on whether/which university she wants to go to. You can pick up extra UCAS points for the AS subject you drop - which may help towards getting a uni place.

My ds took maths as his 4th option as it was the only subject that didn't clash with his other subjects. It was a big mistake! He got a U in his January module and we had to fight hard to let the school drop it for his AS exams in June. It was a huge benefit not having to revise for maths during the run up to the June exams - he was really struggling with it.

Your DD may find she quite likes one of the options - maybe photography. It may not be as heavy-going as Biology! She always has the option of dropping it later if she really isn't enjoying it.

Original poster
GetOrfMoiiLand · 16/07/2012 15:31

That's what dd's school plans - so 4 at AS, then drop one for the second year.

The school says that it is good for ucas points, but I really don't see the point in working in a subject she doesn't care for to get a maximum of 60 points.

OP posts:
out2lunch · 16/07/2012 15:32

i don't think those ucas point count anyway

Original poster
GetOrfMoiiLand · 16/07/2012 15:34

I did think about photography, but the workload looks quite high, assembling portfolios of work and presenting them. And she is not really interested in it, would be hard to keep a momentum. And what use is an AS in photography, really?

I would worry that she would be like your son parttime, in that it would be something which she may not do well in and it would be hugely demoralising.

Plus good point about revising for 3 subjects instead of 4 next June.

OP posts:
out2lunch · 16/07/2012 15:35

do they?

Original poster
GetOrfMoiiLand · 16/07/2012 15:36

I think they do don't they Confused

OP posts:
almapudden · 16/07/2012 15:37

Biology would keep her options open a bit, though - History and Geography is an artsy combination, whereas Geography and Biology is quite science. Plus, Media Studies can be perceived as a bit lacklustre by some more academic universities, so depending on where she hoped to go and what she wants to study, a fourth, more 'academic' subject might be beneficial.

Original poster
GetOrfMoiiLand · 16/07/2012 15:39

Just looked at one of the universities that dd is interested in going to (Hull) and AS levels are accepted as part of the points score.

OP posts:
out2lunch · 16/07/2012 15:40

ds says not much - i think she should concentrate on her best subjects tbh the ones she needs for uni

Original poster
GetOrfMoiiLand · 16/07/2012 15:42

You're right, Alma, and I did try and encourage dd to study Biology as I thought it was far more robust than Media, however the science department at her school has currently been in a state of change (lots of teachers have left in the last year inclusing the dept head, so has a lot of uncertainty).

All of those subjects to me are too arty farty for words - my idea of A levels is maths, physics and chemistry! I have to bite my lip.

OP posts:
Original poster
GetOrfMoiiLand · 16/07/2012 15:57

Oh god that sounds horrible - I didn't mean it like that. Blush

She wants to read history at university fwiw.

OP posts:
almapudden · 16/07/2012 16:00

No, I understand! Well, History and Geography are good traditional subjects, and if it's taught well, then Media Studies might teach her useful analytical skills. English Language might be a better choice than Media Studies, if it's on offer.

Parttimeslave · 16/07/2012 16:05

UCAS points can make a difference at certain unis. My ds1 was only looking at the top Russell Groupish ones where they were only interested in the grades from 3 subjects at A2.

DS2 is looking more at the ex-polys. An extra few UCAS points could make all the difference between getting in and not. Won't get a bean for his maths then!

BonnieBumble · 16/07/2012 16:09

Unless she is really keen on Media Studies I would go for the English Language option. Media Studies is ok if she was doing the standard 4 but as other posters have said it isn't very well regarded. I think sticking at 3 and going for English language would give her more options in the future.

OatyBeatie · 16/07/2012 16:10

I think it is worth starting with four. It will keep her options a bit wider. If she did three and regretted one of her choices, it probably wouldn't be possible at that point to take up another subject. But if she is already studying that other subject as a fourth subject, then she won't have cut herself off from it.

At any point, if she isn't managing the four, she could drop one.

It is standard at my son's 6th form to start with four subjects I think.

Original poster
GetOrfMoiiLand · 16/07/2012 16:19

Hmm. That is a good point.

She can't do english language as it is in the same block as geography.

I think photography and ICT are a waste of time, so think biology (hmm) or business.

OP posts:
SecretSquirrels · 16/07/2012 16:39

It's a shame to narrow her choices because of timetabling. Is it a small 6th form?

almapudden · 16/07/2012 16:47

I second those why say start with four - its extra UCAS points and gives her the option of dropping one if necessary. If she only takes three, she's stuck with them.

Sarcalogos · 16/07/2012 16:48

Her UCAS form will stand out (in a bad way) is she doesn't do 4. The only students I have ever known (over my secondary teaching career), not do 4 AS's are those who are not able enough to do 4.

It would be a barrier to university. Not neccersarily insurmountable (depending on what she wants to do/where) but I would never advise a student to take this risk. The vast majority of A level students take 4 in year 12.

I would chose Biology from the options you've listed as the best bet for university.

I would worry about Media, it is not well respected. If she does not want to do a media based or other artsy vocational course at uni then it could be a big mistake at A level.

NoComet · 16/07/2012 16:59

Personally, I think biology is easiest well regarded academic subject there is.

It ended up as my degree subject and I only did it as a fourth A'level more or less for fun.

MedusaIsHavingABadHairDay · 16/07/2012 17:02

Most start with 4 and drop one.. however amongst my DD2's year group quite a large number dropped their 4th before the summer AS exams , just doing three..and none have failed to get offers for universities.

My DD2 dropped maths after Xmas.. she had Glandular Fever and was ill for months and there was no way she could catch up with 4 (including two sciences). She still received 4 offers for her chosen course... including Russell Group Universities. The 'higher ranking' Unis all wanted three good grades at A2 or high UCAS points at A2 and the AS levels were not counted.

I would say though, if she isn't keen to do 4, encourage at least two to be 'traditional' subjects:)

OoOoOoOo · 16/07/2012 20:28

Why don't you have a look at UCAS-History courses
Have a good look at a wide range of History courses and the entry requirements so that you have some idea of what AS's or A's your DD will need. This will also help confirm that this is the direction your daughter wants to go in. It is time consuming but worth the effort as decisions made now can have lasting implications.

The good thing with a subject like History is that there is such a wide range of courses with such varying entry requirements so if you DD does better or worse than expected she will still have plenty of choice. I had a quick look at Sheffield Uni which is a Redbrick and it only requires three A levels.
There is no harm in starting and then quitting a 4th AS if she can't make a final decision just yet.
Personally, I would have thought it would be better to do three well but maybe you can wait until after your DD has her GCSE results.
If you can, make sure your DD understands that its best to start working hard right at the beginning of starting AS's and not just in the run up to the first January modules. Othwise you end up having to do lots of resists alongside your scheduled summer exams. Its not at all unusual for able students to bomb the January exams.

FallenCaryatid · 16/07/2012 20:33

DS had the same problem, it was to do with the number of hours taught to count as a full-time student. He had to take his 3 AS and another subject.

Loshad · 16/07/2012 20:37

Getorf
the school will be keen on it for several reasons
a) they nearly all do 4
b) they do not know how studious she is, they may be very concerned about having so many frees and hanging around with nothing to do.
c) most importantly for you - it really does limit her options, if one of her choices doesn't go too well she is stuck
d) further from that, if half way through term 1, or post jan exams in yr 12 she discovers she really hates/can't do one of her subjects she will be down to only 2 - insufficient for uni entry

Starball, i agree for me personally, though many of my students (am biology teacher, have 2 or 3 groups every year at AS and A2) disagree and find biology very challenging.