Changing to World Development AS level?

[MN216]

16yo DS started A levels in September, taking Biology, Chemistry, Geography and RE, with intention to study Zoology at uni. Is finding Chemistry boring and difficult, and has not performed well in recent assessment.

Teacher has quite rightly told him he needs to apply himself or will not attain what he is capable of. DS feels that the amount of work he will have to do to gain a respectable grade will impact adversely on the rest of his subjects. It is possible for him to move to a different subject but he needs to make a decision in the next few days.

For various reasons, his alternatives are rather limited and it would appear that the only realistic option is World Development. He is likely to do this to A2 level and drop the RE and my concern is that World Development may not be accepted as a "proper" A level - a quick google shows that it wouldn't be a problem as far as his (current) preferred uni course is concerned but could be a problem for others courses/unis should his ideas about what he wants to do evolve/change.

Clearly it has to be his decision but I need to make sure he is making an informed decision and is fully aware of the possible implications and risks of moving to World Development as opposed to sticking with Chemistry.

Any views out there?

[MillyMollyMama]

I think World Development may be a problem. It is explicitly excluded from the Zoology Course at Birmingham, for example, and one suspects they may not be the only university that takes a dim view of it. From what I have seen Biology and Geography are suitable for the 2 required subjects and the 3rd would be far better if it was not on any "not considered" list. It is therefore taking a risk to do it. He would be better advised to stick with RE if he cannot do the Chemistry because RE is not likely to be on any "not considered" list. Chemistry would make his application much stronger but obviously a low grade would be detrimental.

Personally I would trawl through all the courses he might want to do and see if you can get a reasonable shortlist of universities that will consider it. Whether he would get an offer is another matter though, especially if other candidates are offering 3 highly desirable/required subjects as listed by the universities.

[MN216]

Thanks for the comment - I think you are right hence my concerns. Of course, it would be open to him to continue with RE to A2 and then he would have 3 "traditional" subjects - it is just RE was required by his school for at least AS and he, and I, have always rather assumed that would be the one he would drop. It really is a situation of weighing up the possible detriment to his other subjects of continuing with Chemistry, and the possible impact on his uni choices of moving to WD. Aaaaaagh - and I though our worries were over when the GCSE results arrived!!

[MillyMollyMama]

There may also be a detriment to his university choices if the Chemistry A2 grade is low though. Just a brief glance seemed to suggest AAA or AAB. Biology and Geography seem fine but it is definitely a risk to do a subject some (and probably the best) universities will not want. RE at least will not be in that category.