A-level subjects - Maths and what? Advice needed...

My dd has just done Psychology A Level and she didn't do Physics GCSE - like your son, she just did Chemistry and Biology. She didn't struggle with the subject and the only science that really seemed at all relevant was Biology.

This was recent enough for these pupils to have taken 9-1 GCSEs.

I am a big fan of picking things that don't close doors, but my much younger brother did a comp sci a level, and while it wasn't needed to go on and do a comp sci degree, what it did give him was enough knowledge and experience in programming to Know that that was what he wanted to do at university.

So I wouldn't rule things out on the basis that they aren't absolutely required if it's something like that where you tend to either really love it or feel quite agnostic about it.

I took A levels in biology, chemistry and maths without having done physics O level and didn't find the lack of physics a problem. Ended up doing a biological sciences degree. This was some time ago though, hence the O level rather than GCSE!

If he is thinking about a biological sciences degree the chemistry is required for many courses. It was an essential requirement for all courses the biological sciences department at my uni, even biology wasn't essential and could be covered by some extra reading being set in the summer break before starting the first year.

Has he considered philosophy? It's a well regarded academic subject and the emphasis on reasoned argument goes well with mathematics. DS did both maths and philosophy and chose to do a philosophy degree. He found the grounding in maths very helpful in his degree, found the Logic modules a breeze while his classmates who didn't do maths struggled quite a bit with them.

He also did Spanish A level and hated it! Loved it at GCSE but didn't like the emphasis on literature in the A level. That would apply for all modern languages I believe.

Brilliant at languages => he could do a term or year abroad as part of his Uni degree in country with one of those languages.

@PerpetualOptimist so not going mad then!!!
I totally agree that the third subject must be something they love.... and that's why I guess 'new' subjects are riskier than ones he has studied before... unless of course he does not love any of those!!!
BTW music is an essay subject and so ticks that box with maths, fm and bio.

Lots of helpful advice here, @sixthformsubjects. Some additional points to add to the mix...choosing subjects that 'close the least doors' can be a good strategy but needs to be balanced with 'love of subject'. The step up from GCSE to A-level can be demanding, particularly in relation to Maths and the physical sciences. Getting a B in a worthy 'door opener' could actually limit options to a greater extent than say, Maths, Biology and a third subject like CS or Economics, if your DC was likely to achieve an A or higher because they really engaged with that subject. Something to think about.

On a slight tangent, I just wanted to comment on a point @waltzingparrot says was made by Sixth Form Heads that 'chemistry on its own is useless'. It is important to understand that Chemistry and other science uni departments typically see Mathematics as a 'second science' in any offer that might be Chemistry A level plus one other science. Indeed, Further Maths is often (though not always) seen as a 'third science' in any offer. This is why @Lottsbiffandsmudge's A level combination opened the door to a Chemistry degree and Lotts will be pleased to hear still opens that door. Some DC also like to take Chemistry as one of their 'filler' A levels simply because they are good at it and enjoy the rigour and structure, even if they have no intention to take it further at degree level. As ever, check out a sample of uni websites for A level requirements - it is all there!

I think the advantage of something like economics at a level is that it gives a taste of the subject - going in blind to a degree without having studied anything previously connected is a bit of a risk.

My DD really wanted to do a psych degree, but having done the A level (which she enjoyed) she realised that she really didn't want to take it any further by the end of Y12 and was able to choose a different area for her uni applications.

You would need to ask the sixth form, but I do know people who recently have taken A level Biology (or Chemistry) without GCSE Physics. Providing you have good GCSE grades, this shouldn't be an issue.

My sons both studied A level maths

son 1: A levels - Maths, Advanced Maths, German, Chemistry, Physics - Degree - Maths - Masters - AstroPhysics - career - Actuary
He didn’t need the Physics for his Maths degree and he chose AstroPhysics because he wanted a change.

son 2 - A Levels - Maths, Chemistry, Law, History - Degree - Business and Accounting - career - Finance

I Have an A’level in Psychology, it’s not a rigorous subject at A’level. I don’t think my sons would have had the life experience at that age to really understand some of the perspectives.

www.theuniguide.co.uk/a-level-explorer

This is a useful website to see what degree subjects might be 'closed' if you don't take certain A-Levels. There are surprisingly few though. Not a surprise that a Biology degree is unlikely without biology A-Level but you could do Finance and Accountancy without maths or a Geography degree without geography.

If he's really uncertain about what he wants to do next he can still do subjects he enjoys and should do well in without closing too many doors.

if he wants maths, he should probably be doing FM..
so Maths, FM, Biology and something that he'll find easier..psychology?

I've got 2 at uni.
eldest did Maths, Biology and Chemistry and just graduated with a first in Economics

youngest did maths, FM, Physics and History and he's taking maths with physics

PE is an odd choice given that you keep stressing how academic he is.

Looking back to your original list, physics has ruled itself out. The only other one that he'd need at A level in order to study at university is biology. Economics, music, computing, psychology, sports science can all be studied to degree level without having done the subject at A level.

So that's really his next decision - does he want to rule out a biology degree (followed by bioinformatics at postgrad as a pp suggested?) at this point? If not, then biology plus any of the others as a third.

I would be tempted to advise him to stick to core subjects; maths, sciences, languages, music (if he enjoys it) rather than Comp Sci. If he wanted to go that at degree level then a really strong Maths A level will be important. The CS A level isn’t often needed.

Ultimately, he’s got to be super happy with what he chooses as it’s a big step from GCSE.

There are limitless options!
Seriously the only careers he is ruling out are medicine/vet .... many 'careers' are not v subject specific....banking, accountancy, poss law. He could go into maths based degree (esp if he added FM to any of those combos), Biology based psychology, computer science, economics, sport science, etc etc.
Then other things like forensic science (with a chemistry add on course).

But again don't let him do music if he isn't interested

I was going to suggest looking at Economics.

Maths, Computing, Economics work well together. Or Maths, Computing, Business.

To give him more choices at uni, he needs to do a broader range of subjects at A Level so that they are not too similar and narrow his options down afterwards. Business Studies/Economics are both quite general subjects and perfect for someone like me (and perhaps your ds), who didn't know what she wanted to do. Great combo for a Maths fan too 😉

You are right.

If he has no interest in music A level he shouldn't take it! It's incredibly hard and he needs to 89want to do it!