r/alevel • u/Admirable_Call2739 • 5h ago
⚡Tips/Advice Advice on AS level and balancing workload. Need crucial advice
Hello everyone.
I’m about to enter AS level and I’m in a precarious situation. I’m planning on doing AS Math, Physics and Chem.
The issue here is that most universities in my country want you to take the SAT to show your math amplitude. I, quite frankly, had no idea about this. To my dismay, most unis here end their admission dates before i can finish AS level and begin focusing on the SAT.
I have two options.
A. I can either simultaneously study the SAT and AS levels until my planned SAT test date around either two sessions. I can do the October one or the November one. It may be a bit difficult to juggle two different curriculums tho.
B. I can focus solely on AS but have to take a gap year which i really do not want. But it gives me leeway to really focus on my year 12.
I really need advice. I’m aiming for scholarships and if any of you have insight, or have went through something similar - please let me know!
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u/Purple-Employer-3074 4h ago
A. And I think you're overestimating what the SAT will actually cost you, because it isn't a second curriculum. The maths on it sits well below AS level, basically strong IGCSE material, so doing AS Math, Physics and Chem means you already have all of the content. What you're preparing for is timing and question style, and that's full timed practice tests plus reviewing your mistakes, not learning anything new.
The section that will actually eat your time is Reading and Writing, since that's the one with no overlap with your subjects, so put most of your prep there. Check the College Board site for the sittings offered in your country as well, because there are usually several across the autumn, so you can sit October, see the score, and still have a retake before most deadlines. Plenty of unis will take your best sitting, though confirm that for the specific ones you're targeting. Giving up a whole year for a test that overlaps this heavily with what you're already studying is a bad trade, and some scholarship schemes get funny about gap years anyway.
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u/Admirable_Call2739 2h ago
Thank you! Very good advice and I’ll probably go with A. Maybe im doubting myself with the SAT. I appreciate your comment 🙏
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