I know for most college stats, we either have AP or IB courses but I was wondering what equivalence does A-Level get when it comes to applying for Ivy League or other major uni in US?
is having 5 alevels with all A*s good? and in particular, which a level subjects are seen as more respectable and “hard” compared to others?
3 is typical and expected. 4 is rare, and usually only when the 4th is a related subject, like Further Maths. But 4 offers no further advantage in admissions, since many schools do not allow more than 3. 5 is unnecessary except maybe ( and this will vary by college) for credit.
Unless you are applying on a gap year, you will not have all A*.
Any group of academic subjects related to your major is fine.
At my D22’s school in the UK, US college applicants (most of whom apply to top universities/LACs) are advised to take 4 A levels (most do) - Further Maths is the 4th subject for many, but probably not a majority.
3 with A or A*
A 4th that is related to your major or other A Levels (like Further Maths) or a 4th that is “for fun” (like Media Studies) is okay but will not yield much benefit strictly in terms of admission (obviously useful for general knowledge and/or to prepare for a major).