British Sixth Former is Studying for 28 A-levels!

An amazing story from the UK where a teenager is studying for a total of 28 A-levels which is a record breaking by all standards. I know in the British educational system A-level students are required to take 3 A-levels for university entrance.

The student is said to have an IQ of 161 (being a member of MENSA) which places her higher than the late Professor Stephen Hawking and has completed already 4 A-levels since she started her A-levels in September.

It's always refreshing to see people who are academically gifted and use their talent wisely. You can still be exceptional and have a great career/life even if you follow the standard route just like the vast majority of students but well done to her!



www.bbc.com...

Is that a lot of A levels?

Your education system Is balmy.

a reply to: Venkuish1

originally posted by: Dalamax
Is that a lot of A levels?

Your education system Is balmy.

a reply to: Venkuish1

Not from the UK but the 28 A-levels is truly amazing and very impressive.

a reply to: Dalamax

Your education system Is balmy.

Irony?

originally posted by: Freeborn
a reply to: Dalamax

Your education system Is balmy.

Irony?

Perhaps...

Thats a truly crazy number of A levels, but it troubles me, because doing that many leaves zero time to be a kid, so how is she going to grow up to be a normal, caring human being?

originally posted by: SprocketUK
Thats a truly crazy number of A levels, but it troubles me, because doing that many leaves zero time to be a kid, so how is she going to grow up to be a normal, caring human being?

You have a good point and it's discussed in the article.

I don't think teenagers should stop being teenagers and there has to be time for them and for entertainment and socialisation. Perhaps the mother and parents push her and encourage her at the same time to be 'perfect'.

That's incredible and she manages to keep a social life too.

a reply to: Venkuish1

Smart cookie, good luck to her with her results and future endeavors.

originally posted by: Dalamax
Is that a lot of A levels?

Your education system Is balmy.

a reply to: Venkuish1

I gonna say autocorrect made the error

Balmy - warm, lovely weather

Barmy - crazy, bit odd

You wouldn’t be claiming our education system is like a warm day, would you?

I can't work out if this is a sign of genius or insanity.

Top universities only ask for 3 or 4 A levels. What they care about is the grade not the quantity.

28 C grades isn't going to get you anywhere.

a reply to: BedevereTheWise

Her IQ is 161 I'm apt to go with genius.

I don't think she would be contemplating the prospect of 28 band C.

She is apt to walk away with the majority of "A*" if she is as bright as she appears and can handle the workload.

I'm sure if that was not the case her guidance teacher or persons responsible for putting her forward for the exams would not have done so.

That being said how shes going to handle 28 different subjects, and exams, will be quite the feat indeed.

a reply to: andy06shake

According to the article only 4 through her school, the others she is doing entirely herself.

High IQ and good grades don't always correlate, particularly if putting yourself under ridiculous pressure.

Getting that many A levels isn't really going to help get into university other than as a bit of self promotion.

I wish her all the best but there are very good reasons why even exceptional students don't do that many a levels.

It will be interesting if the story is followed up to see how she gers on.

a reply to: BedevereTheWise

Her life, her choices i suppose.

As to how she will fare.

Time will tell if shes bitten off more than she can chew.

Getting that many A levels certainly is not going to hurt her chances of getting into uni, put it that way.

No doubt very intelligent and I firmly believe all knowledge is good knowledge.

But I wouldn't be surprised if the same person can't manage to cross the road on her own.
Many highly intelligent people lack even the most basic of common sense and struggle in real life situations.

Once she's finished these A Levels I'd recommend she take a couple of years off studying and go out into the real world before deciding what to do - probably the best A Level she'll take.

Hmmmm..... Many Universities, particularly Oxford and Cambridge will take students much earlier than 18 years old if they show this level of IQ and have already attained required entrance qualifications of A levels and passed their admitance exam/interview. Why is her mother holding her back with a whole raft of other A levels..... get her off to university to start studying as a doctor now!
It's a tiny little thing, but I also noticed in the link that the photo had the mum in front of her daughter, not behind her..... is mum the one that is driving this for some narcissistic/munchausen reasons?
Oh and look up Ruth Lawrence that went to Oxford and graduated in 1985 having taken just 2 years to complete her degree at age 13!!!
Link to Ruth Lawrence
Rainbows
Jane

originally posted by: Freeborn
No doubt very intelligent and I firmly believe all knowledge is good knowledge.

But I wouldn't be surprised if the same person can't manage to cross the road on her own.
Many highly intelligent people lack even the most basic of common sense and struggle in real life situations.

Once she's finished these A Levels I'd recommend she take a couple of years off studying and go out into the real world before deciding what to do - probably the best A Level she'll take.

I tend to agree with what you said.
Real world experience and knowledge is something you can't get at a school or university. From my experience university students would approach education in a very different way if they have worked for a few years and gained valuable experience.

a reply to: Venkuish1

Real world experience and knowledge is something you can't get at a school or university.

That depends on how you do student and how you approach the educational experience.

I loved my college/uni days Venkuish1, also most students here in the UK work part-time whilst gaining their degree.

Unless they are the silver spoon sort.

Anyhoo, good luck the the young lady, i hope she does well and and can handle the workload.

originally posted by: BedevereTheWise
a reply to: andy06shake

According to the article only 4 through her school, the others she is doing entirely herself.

High IQ and good grades don't always correlate, particularly if putting yourself under ridiculous pressure.

Getting that many A levels isn't really going to help get into university other than as a bit of self promotion.

I wish her all the best but there are very good reasons why even exceptional students don't do that many a levels.

It will be interesting if the story is followed up to see how she gers on.

If someone has an IQ of 161 and very good grades at A-level then I will find it impossible she doesn't get a place at any of the top universities. She said she will aim for Oxford or Imperial College. Part of my education happened in the UK and I was fortunate enough to attend the top university in my opinion for natural sciences. I can say that competition is fierce but for her it would be easy to find a place.

originally posted by: BedevereTheWise
I can't work out if this is a sign of genius or insanity.

Top universities only ask for 3 or 4 A levels. What they care about is the grade not the quantity.

28 C grades isn't going to get you anywhere.

It is likely to be many A grades rather than C as it looks. Remember the article describes her as a genius with IQ 161 and a member of MENSA who has already finished 4 A-levels. I think any university roll offer her a place in any course she chooses to do.