If you’re in Year 11, you won’t just have your GCSEs to think about. Rather, you’ll also be thinking ahead to your A Levels.
So, how many A Levels can you take?
Well, most students take 3 A Levels, although it is possible to take 5 or even more. Read on to learn what’s typically best (hint: focus on quality, not quantity!).
How many A Levels can you take?
There’s technically no maximum number of A Levels you can take.
Rather, your college or sixth form will set their own policies when it comes to how many A Levels you have to do.
Usually, the maximum number will be 4 or 5 – although only a very small proportion of students (0.1%) take 5 A Levels or more, according to Ofqual.
How many A Levels do most students take?
Most students take 3 A Levels.
After all, this is usually the number required for university entry. Plus, bear in mind that quality is more important than quantity.
We generally find that it’s better to focus on excelling at 3 A Levels, rather than spreading yourself too thin.
That said, some students choose to take 4 A Levels, and a few will even opt for 5 (assuming their college or sixth form lets them).
Which brings us onto…
How many A Levels should I take?
Weighing up whether you should take 3 A Levels like most students, or opt for more?
Here are some factors to think about.
Quality
The quality of your A Level results is far more important than the quantity.
With that in mind, doing really well in 3 A Levels will be much more advantageous than doing 4 A Levels and getting average grades.
That said, if you’re confident that you can get top grades with an increased workload, this may not be an issue.
Workload
On the topic of workload, bear in mind that A Levels require a serious time commitment.
Adding a whole extra A Level on top of what’s already a heavy workload for most students can be overwhelming for many.
In particular, think about how much time you have free to study. If you do lots of extra-curricular activities, you may struggle to find the time to take more than 3 A Levels.
University entry requirements
Unis will usually want to see that you have A Levels in specific subjects.
If you know what course you’d like to take after your A Levels, check what the entry requirements are. While you won’t normally need more than 3 A Levels, there are a few courses that may ask for 4.
On the other hand, if you’re really not sure what you want to do after your A Levels, taking an extra A Level may help you to keep your options open, so that you can make your choice further down the line.
University offers
Most universities will make conditional offers based on 3 A Levels, even if you’ve taken more.
However, if you take 4 A Levels, there’s always a chance that you receive a conditional offer based on all 4. Naturally, it’s going to be harder to achieve AAA* than it will be to achieve AAAA*!
It’s true that, if a university is hard to get into, having an additional A Level may help you stand out. However, bear in mind that taking an extra A Level isn’t the only way to impress – other opportunities to make your application stand out include your personal statement, extra-curricular activities and volunteer work.
Interests
When you’re making your A Level subject choices, always think about what subjects interest you most.
If there’s a subject that really interests you beyond what’s required for your future studies or career plans, you might want to take it as an additional option, on top of those you need.
That way, you get to satisfy your curiosity at the same time as ticking all the boxes for your next steps. Plus, picking subjects you enjoy will increase your chances of performing well!
Expert advice
Last but not least, make sure to speak to your teachers or a tutor to get their advice on how many subjects you should take.
Someone who knows you well and has seen your work will be able to give you guidance on what might be right for you.
For instance, they could help you to decide whether you’d cope with the additional workload, or even point you in the direction of the subjects that fit best with your skillset and future career ambitions.
Find a tutor to guide you to A Level success
If you’re umming and ahhing about how many A Levels to take – and which ones – you don’t have to struggle alone.
A handpicked tutor can give you expert guidance on the right A Level subject combinations for your needs, as well as how many A Levels will be necessary to help you reach your future goals.
Plus, they’ll be able to help you prepare for your A Levels and support you to reach your potential throughout your A Level studies, boosting your confidence and grades with every session.
FAQs
How many A Levels do you need for uni?
Normally, you need 3 A Levels for uni.
However, it’s always worth checking the entry requirements for any specific course you’re interested in – while most won’t need more than 3 A Levels, there are a few that may need 4.
Is it possible to do 7 A Levels?
Yes, it’s technically possible to do 7 A Levels as there’s no legal limit. However, most sixth forms and colleges will have their own policies around how many A Levels you can take, and it’s unlikely that they’d let you study that many. After all, there likely wouldn’t be enough room on your timetable!
To study 7 A Levels, you’d probably need to study for some externally – for instance, with a tutor rather than with your college or sixth form.
Are 4 A Levels too much?
That depends on your work ethic, time constraints and ability to handle the workload!
For many students, 4 A Levels are too much as it’s better to focus on quality rather than quantity. However, students who are passionate about a range of subjects or who do well under pressure may rise to the challenge and thrive.
Are you allowed to do 4 A Levels?
Yes, you’re allowed to do 4 A Levels, although you’ll need to check that your sixth form or college will let you do this many.
Although most students only do 3 A Levels, taking 4 can help you to keep your options open, pursue additional interests or stand out on university applications (as long as you’re not sacrificing quality for quantity!).
Can you take 10 A Levels?
Yes. There’s no legal limit to the number of A Levels you can study, so technically, you can take 10 or even more.
However, it would be extremely difficult to study for them all at once – not least because there wouldn’t be room on your sixth form or college timetable!
To take 10 A Levels, you’d likely have to register for some externally (for instance, studying for them with a tutor rather than at college), and perhaps even spread them out over a couple of years. Le
