#Is Going For 5 Subjects For AS/ALs Realistic ?

93 messages · Page 1 of 1 (latest)

stable plank
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Will I be able to complete 5 subjects. (Biology, Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics and Computer Science.) Would I be able to pass all of them with A* or basically distinction if I do all five of them?

I’m planing to take all the subjects at one sitting, with both the years together. In other words, I’ll be taking both the AS and AL exams at the end of AL year, instead of going for two sittings, because our school doesn’t allow it. I think it will be more convient too, tho it has a few downsid. Our school’s only allowing three subjects. So, I’ll probably be doing the other two, privately anyway.

But that’s not the issue. I want to know if that would be realistic, with the expectations I have for my results. I’m not sure about distinction for mathematics, maybe just an A* for that. But the other’s basically yeah.

I have started AS, it’s been a few months now. So I know how hard it is. And I’m currently preparing for some IGCSE subjects for the October/November 2023 series as well. So, my schedule is kinda packed. I wasn’t able to start mathematics or computer science yet. So I don’t have much insight on how it’s would feel once I’ll go with all five of them.

So, I’ll be really grateful, if you could maybe just give some ideas on it. Or recommendations maybe ?

balmy girder
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you want the lie? yes it's useful and possible if you try hard

tulip kraken
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Going for 5 subs isn't very realistic as the workload is immense. It's even more unrealistic to do 5AS and ALs in the same sitting...

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A levels is built to be done in 2 years

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What do you want to do in uni? Perhaps you could stick to 3 subs and split across two sittings (your A2 would have to be done by self studying)

balmy girder
stable plank
stray cliffBOT
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Gave +1 Rep to yankee.fn#0 (88)

stable plank
tulip kraken
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because you said you want to take both AS and A2 at the same time

stable plank
tulip kraken
stable plank
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Yeah, basically.

tulip kraken
stable plank
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Ohhh wait sorry no no, I’ll be sitting for both AS and AL in the same year, same session.

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Sorry i confused you earlier.

tulip kraken
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that's your plan?

stable plank
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Yeah

tulip kraken
# stable plank Yeah

I think it's better if you do AS in an earlier session so you can purely focus on the A2 content of your subs after finishing AS

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because since you're taking the 3 sciences

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esp bio and chem which has heavy content

stable plank
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I know, but the thing is our school doesn’t give any choice with that. I’m definitely not gonna change schools again. That’s an issue.

tulip kraken
stable plank
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We can, but there’s some complexities with that. A lot in fact, so it’s not in my control really.

tulip kraken
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if you really have no choice then i guess you have to make do

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but if you're going into med

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why cs?

stable plank
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I just like the subject, and I’m hoping to take up something from that field as well. Maybe, I’m not sure about that. But, I freelance on Web Development already. So I felt like it would be great, if I had a little more qualifications and bit of theoretical knowledge on that as well.

tulip kraken
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so taking cs is a plan B if med doesn't work out?

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taking 5 alvl subs is a lot

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a very heavy workload

stable plank
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No actually not a plan B. I’m planing to have it as a side thingy. So yeah. I like comp science as much as I do for medicine.

deft wind
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i don't know why you'd want to do that to begin with

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though you're welcome to, i guess

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doing all 5 composite (as+a2 in the same session) would be a near death wish, though

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for the subjects you'll be doing privately, try splitting them into as + a2 in separate sessions

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maybe do them separate from your composite subjects as well, if possible

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cs as a plan b isn't too wise (imo) if you'd like to study cs at uni (ie u want to apply for cs courses), bec more competitive courses require further maths at a level

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if you just want the general skill that comes with cs, you could do that w/o the qualification, though i understand why you'd want to study it at a level to get a good sense of the theory involved..... still, if you want to seriously get into cs, studying it at uni is the way to go (small-time freelancing aside), i think

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ofc, you'd be better off looking up the specifics urself. but my understanding is that the img of a self-made computer scientist working their way from the ground-up using udemy courses (although not 100% false) is very rare / uncommon

stable plank
stray cliffBOT
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Gave +1 Rep to Dit#1300 (974)

native pagoda
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A friend of mine took 6 A levels subjects, 3 in year 12 and 3 in year 13, so do that

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@stable plank

stable plank
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@native pagoda Ohhh you mean she completed 3 subjects in one year and wrote for both AS&AL, and the other 3 was taken the following year ?

native pagoda
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No wait

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Just A levels haha

stable plank
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E what, but you possibly can’t do ALs without the basics of AS right ?

native pagoda
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Honestly not very sure about AS I'm only in my o levels right now, but as for now that's all I can tell you, I thought I might be helpful, sorry

stable plank
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Haha no, it was helpful. I think what you meant by doing AL is that, she completed both her AS and AL content for one subject in one year.

deft wind
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Which subjects

quartz cedar
# deft wind Which subjects

I'll do you one better: Wtf the difference between AS and A levels. Like I know AS is for grade 11 and A2 is for Grade 12. But is there a seperate syllabus for them?

stable plank
stable plank
quartz cedar
stable plank
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Yeah it is possible.

quartz cedar
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But 5 is too much work cuz a lot of teachers like to give essays at A Levels

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The only reason I know all of this is cuz my cousin was struggling with the HW 💀

silver locust
stable plank
stray cliffBOT
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Gave +1 Rep to azeureka#0 (3)

native pagoda
quartz cedar
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I mean 6 subjects are possible if you wanna get the AICE diploma I think

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I'm not sure, AICE diploma is for completing subjects in the 6 groups right?

grizzled briar
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You can definitely do 5 subjects if you want to I would say not to expect A*s for all your subjects unless you're REALLY good at all of the subjects or you spend absolutely all your free time studying.

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Some subjects are AL easier than others but you're not doing yourself a favour by taking all sciences and maths.

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I'd recommend you to not take CS

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A lot of people say what you learn in AL CS is useless and since you probably want the skill itself, there are many places to learn it, especially online.

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Additionally, if you want to do CS in uni (in which case you don't really need chem or bio unless you just want to keep your options open), you won't always need CS in high school (I know someone who got into CS degree without studying any CS in high school but they did online courses and stuff).

stable plank
stable plank
stable plank
stable plank
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Felt like doing the course for ALs itself would give an insight on all the the areas related. So at least I’d know what I want.

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That’s what I wanted to hear actually.

stable plank
stray cliffBOT
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Gave +1 Rep to arsonist_arson#0 (386)

stable plank
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And wanna know if it’s possible to do the syllabus by myself. As if without any teacher’s guidance.

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Is it possible to do that. Or are there stuff in addition to what’s in the book that you need for the exams.

quartz cedar
fierce yew
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but it's basically useless dont take aice 😭

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it forces you to take both gp and english or another language 💀💀

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aice actually restricts your choices taking it is worse than not taking it

stable plank
stray cliffBOT
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Gave +1 Rep to whyytho#0 (967)

quartz cedar