You finally get to choose what subjects you can do but for some learning that there’s a maximum limit to the number you can take will make that decision pretty tricky. We tell you how many A Levels can you take and why most take 3 or 4.
Many will be thankful for being able to finally get rid of the subjects they don’t like. It makes going through your GCSEs and exam season all worth it. However, having to select less than a handful of subjects to carry on with can be hard. Or, you’ve had it planned out for a number of years!
What’s crucial to making your decision, is knowing how many subjects you’re allowed to do.
How Many A Levels Can You Take?
You can take a maximum of 5 A-Levels when you go into your first year. Typically, students are asked to drop at least one going into Year 13, so the number you study for the full two years is less.
That being said, not many people take 5 subjects as it’s a lot more content. Already, the step up from GCSE will be noticeable as your study will be more independent and you’ll have less time in the subject.
The more A-Levels you take the less time you’ll have for revising and independent study. You should only take that amount after thoroughly thinking about it and discussing it with your tutor and family.
One bonus of doing this is that it will look great on your academic CV if you’re applying to a competitive university, such as a Russell Group.
However, it’s a huge commitment and only worth it if you get good grades. There’s no point in taking on the extra work if it comprises all of your subjects.
The Recommend Limit To A-Level Subjects
Although taking 5 will be an option for some, most colleges will recommend a limit of 3 or 4 A-Levels.
Most students will take 4 AS-levels and then drop to 3 as the content gets more intense for their second year. So dropping from around 10 to less than half of that will be a hard decision.
Nowadays, many students just start off with 3 subjects and carry on with all of them throughout the two years. Though this won’t give you the option to drop one, you’ll have a lot more time to dedicate to them which may benefit your grades.
Some colleges only offer this, completely focusing on A-Levels instead of AS. It’s worth finding out what the institution you’re attending does, and that will affect your decision.
How To Make Your Subject Choice
There are a couple of factors to consider when choosing your A-Levels.
Firstly, you need to think about what you enjoy. Some might not say this is a priority, but you won’t enjoy the next two years otherwise. Plus, you’re more likely to make the commitment to independent study and get better grades.
It’s a win-win situation.
More seriously, you should also look at what your university course looks for. Don’t worry if you haven’t decided yet, but you may have an idea for a subject. Look around to see what most universities’ A-Level requirements are and tailor your A-Level subjects to that.
What you should then do, is combine them both. Hopefully, there’s a crossover and they are mostly the same, but we recommend having at least one you actually enjoy!
