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Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

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Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

Secondary education

What do you think would be the best choices? A Levels

38 replies

needmorespace · 30/08/2015 11:57

My dtr did extremely well in her GCSEs (four A* / four A / two B grades).
Unfortunately one of her B grades was in a subject she wanted to study at A level and now cannot do that (A grade was required). As it was Chemistry, this means that applying for medicine is now out of the question - at this stage at least.

We have therefore spent a lot of time this week trying to get our heads around how we juggle her A level choices.

She was originally going to take:
Maths, Chemistry, Biology and RS (but got Bs in Maths/Chemistry despite being predicted A*s). The maths has been regraded to an A grade so this is now not a problem.

When the results originally came through, she changed her options to:
Spanish, Biology, Physics and RE.

Now that her maths has been regraded we don't know whether to change the Physics to Maths or perhaps the Spanish to Maths - or to leave things as they are.

Does anyone have any advice? Even though medicine is out of the question she would still like to have a career in a health related field - perhaps nursing or midwifery.

Any ideas on what way to go forward.

OP posts:

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Daffydil · 30/08/2015 12:03

I'd stick with maths, physics, biology and one other. Lots of science options with that combo.

IguanaTail · 30/08/2015 12:05

Agree with Daffy

TeenAndTween · 30/08/2015 12:16

Well, if she wanted to do medicine then it seems to me she could still do something else science related. So I agree with Daffy.

GloriaHotcakes · 30/08/2015 12:23

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

FrancesOldhamKelseyRIP · 30/08/2015 12:24

How hard did she have to work for the Maths A grade? What does her teacher say? What's her natural aptitude and accent like in Spanish?

I'm asking because whilst Maths is a fabulously useful A Level, it isn't so useful if she hits the wall and ends up with an E amongst her lovely A grades, so you need to be a little bit cautious.

YeOldeTrout · 30/08/2015 12:38

There are lots of biomed degrees run by biology depts. catching the near-miss would-be medical school applicants. I'd look at entry requirements for those

needmorespace · 30/08/2015 12:41

Thanks so far...

Everyone has seconded the thoughts we have had over the last few days since the Maths was regraded.

It is a low A grade - she was one mark away from the boundary and gained two marks in a re-marking of her scripts. She was predicated an A*/A.

She is very good at Spanish - A - excellent accent and enjoys it (along with RS - A).

I think what we are trying to do (like everyone else I suppose) is keep her options open. I would be happy for her to do Physics (A grade) and Biology (A*) if it still enabled her to pursue a career in health which is what she wants to do.

But that Maths is a great enabling subject - I wonder if Physics is in the same way?

OP posts:

needmorespace · 30/08/2015 12:43

The other thing of course is that Maths and Physics sort of underpin each other don't they so would that be too STEM like?

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Daffydil · 30/08/2015 12:45

I would really avoid physics without maths.

SquadGoals · 30/08/2015 12:49

When selecting AS Levels, I was advised by a RG admissions tutor to select 3 core subjects which underpin each other and one for fun.

I ended up with 3 language and Psychology as the one I was really keen on.

Can she not do Maths, Physics, Biology and Spanish? Or is she fixed on RE?

SleepyForest · 30/08/2015 12:51

Don't attempt physics without maths, it makes it twice as hard.

needmorespace · 30/08/2015 12:54

Daffydil That is exactly the issue I have. I can't see the point of Physics as a stand alone A level without Maths (especially if she doesn't go into a health related career).

Squad She is totally fixed on RE (I wish it wasn't the case!!). She did exceptionally well in her GSCE paper (100/100) and absolutely loves it.

If it were me I would edge her towards:
Maths, Physics, Biology and RE.

But I hear the niggling voice in my head about how hard Maths at A level is and how demoralising it would be to struggle.

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needmorespace · 30/08/2015 12:55

Sleepy exactly what I think - it is like a double whammy of the course content I think so lots of re-enforcing.
Arggghhhh - it is driving us demented.

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BoboChic · 30/08/2015 13:01

I agree with PP: don't even think of doing Physics without Maths!

I don't rate A-level MFLs one little bit - they really don't constitute any real form of education - so unless your DD is at an exceptional school that doesn't restrict its vision of MFL teaching to the A-level syllabus, it's both a waste of time and hard work with no real learning = worst of all worlds.

addictedtosugar · 30/08/2015 13:06

I don't know how it works these days, but don't attempt physics without some maths. So I'd say bio, phys maths, and RE or Spanish would be good.

Has she looked at medicinal bio, pharmacy ( might need chem) and medical physics as posibilities for uni?

TeenAndTween · 30/08/2015 13:18

Having second thoughts here.

Why did she only just scrape an A for her maths? If she did Edexcel that means only around 125/200 scored, or 75 marks missed. Was it carelessness, lack or work, or lack of understanding? How does she plan to rectify that for A level?

( Bobo can you expand a bit on your view of A level MFL for me?)

BoboChic · 30/08/2015 13:27

Very little thinking is required in A-level MFL; cultural insight is very superficial; oral fluency requirement is low.

I am a huge fan of MFLs - but not of the A-level approach.

IguanaTail · 30/08/2015 13:29

Are you an A Level MFL teacher, Bobo?

BoboChic · 30/08/2015 13:32

No. I do lots of things to do with language teaching, however, and about a year ago wrote and presented a analysis of skills developed by five European school leaving diplomas for Maths and MFL.

needmorespace · 30/08/2015 13:42

TeenandTween I think it was lack of work in the build up. She had improved quite a lot in the last couple of years and I think she got complacent. I could be wrong. She had also adopted a mindset many years ago that she was not very good at maths and that she couldn't do it and it kind of became a self fulfilling prophecy. She then realised that it was actually ok in the last year or so. That is what frightens me about Maths A level. We're going to go to lunch and thrash it over again. Maybe a complete move away from STEM subjects is what is needed.
Also, throughout her exam season and for the six months prior she had been suffering from anxiety and panic attacks. Some days she couldn't actually even move. She was taking medication to alleviate it throughout exams and is currently have CBT with a Clinical Psychologist. I have no doubt that some of this impacted on her exams.
In the face of it - she did amazingly.

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throckenholt · 30/08/2015 13:43

Personally I would question the value of RE, teamed with sciences.

I would go for maths, physics, biology and spanish.

Any chance of redoing the chemistry and maybe picking up an AS along the way ? If she was predicted A* then she should be able to do better than a B - and it does complement both physics and biology (particularly biology where biochemistry is a big part of it now).

PrincessHairyMclary · 30/08/2015 13:47

I'm sure you have already done so but look at the required subjects for the University/course she wants to take.

If it is an option could she go to Spain on a gap year or even the summer break as she would probably gain more from living within the culture and using the language daily than doing an A level in it. I'm sure there is a modern version of a penfriend where perhaps she could use skype to talk to a young Spanish student perhaps who would like to practice their English. If she doesn't intend to do a course where it is a prerequisite then this might be a good option and she can alway study at an FE college in the future.

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throckenholt · 30/08/2015 13:48

actually reading your last post - if she isn't confident in maths then I would step away now - there is a big step up from GCSE to A level and I know quite a few who have struggled to bridge the gap.

Biology and physics might be a good lead in to something like physiotherapy eg here

If she is keen on the medical field I would look around for what other options there are apart from medicine and see what they require for A level and then see where that leads her.

howabout · 30/08/2015 13:54

If she did well in Physics then I strongly suspect she has the capability to do Maths. I may be in a minority but I found it easier as it became more theoretical. Definitely worth exploring what bits of Maths she does and doesn't like. Also worth exploring what about medicine it is that appeals to start looking at alternatives. Agree Physics without Maths would be very challenging and not very useful.

catslife · 30/08/2015 15:00

Have posted this on another thread but for A level Physics just taking Maths to AS level should be sufficient if she doesn't intend to study Physics or Engineering at uni.
The 2 medical related degrees which come to mind for Biology and Physics would be radiography and Ophthalmology (to become an optician) but there could also be other options.
Hope this helps with her decision.

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