A level choices - too weak?

I find this so very weird. Your DD should pick the subjects she wants to do. I also don’t get the obsession with STEM subjects. It’s all a bit Nigel Farage for my liking and not to be encouraged. Incidentally Philosophy is a very tough subject and I’m surprised it hasn’t been mentioned. Perhaps there isn’t enough critical thinking and independence of mind going on with some mumsnetters.

WTF, these are great! History is hard and essay. Economics is really hard and respected massively.

@mondaytosunday Thats precisely why Oxbridge like it. Shows dc can manage a high workload. It’s perfect for the right dc! Lots take 2 essay subjects.

History is on the 'preferred A level ' list for Oxbridge. I wouldn't do English and History together - it's a common combination but gosh so essay heavy! And last year at least the exams were in the same day! You don't have to do a law degree to do law. Politics is popular now but I think is a very new A level so people may not 'get' it.

Subjects absolutely do matter. History is one that’s considered a hard subject. You would not necessarily expect to get into an academic course with some subjects, eg Photography and some vocational courses. You would get into the vocational courses. The best prep for academic courses at top tier unis is at least one “hard” subject that’s recognised as good prep intellectually. I think the Cambridge guide is clear on this and of course it doesn’t have to be three subjects from their recommended list.

Mine has done History/Politics/RS.
It’s a very Stem heavy grammar sixth form and those who have done Stem following parental pressure have had a difficult time.
For most courses grades alone not subjects matter, better to be doing subjects they are likely to get the top grades in.
Certainly from my dc’s group of friends in the history/politics classes they are all holding Oxbridge or RG offers.

@dinomirror Politics and History go well together. Cambridge Uni has great advuce about choosing A levels for their courses. Obviously I’m not suggesting she follows that slavishly, but it gives a view on subject combinations. “How to choose A levels or High School Subjects” is what you should look at. They recommend you take two from Eng Lit, History, MFLs or ancient languages or maths. To study Law there, they like students to have maths. Other subjects they list as relevant include Economics or Politics. She could also look at Classical Civilisation, History of Art, Economics, Law, Philolophy, Psychology and RE. There’s a few more I’ve not listed. So for a less elite uni, one from the recommended list is fine but choose wisely for the other two to keep options open, Econ is very limited without maths. Think about what she’s most interested in, uni course and possible subjects needed. . You can do Law without maths of course. It’s interesting Cambridge place MFLs so highly. The additional subjects C suggests are important for individual courses. Eg Music.

I'd like to grovellingly apologise for all my typos...

For some reason, I can't edit that post!

My DCs' comp is (rightly) neutral about STEM vs non-STEM. It does actively encourage those taking all non-STEM A levels to take core maths in Y12 and this, to my mind, is a good approach. It also works hard on its option blocking to allow students to easily mix STEM and non-STEM options and mine took advantage of that.

Having looked in detail at the Econ syllabus with one of my DC, I would not say it is particularly quantitative in any shape or form (to echo piggy's comments). My DC was more put off by the slightly dry and theoretical demand curve charts etc. So, it is important to lift the lid on the subject to understand what you are letting yourself into.

Other A level subjects like Sociology and Business have very interesting syllabi in my view and if mine had wanted to do those (say, in place of Geog which is what they chose), I would have been very supportive.

Not sure I would encourage her to take Economics in that case. English (Lit not Lang as Lang) might be a good swap?

Ignore those who say these are 'easy' A Levels though!

Just seen that Eng Lit not for her. If she is keen for Economics then she should go for it but be aware it's a pretty tough subject. Most places will allow a swap early doors if it is not for her.

My dd is choosing A levels, and she tells me that most of her friends are being pushed by their parents to choose STEM A levels, or at least Maths, even if they don’t like those subjects. School is telling them to choose what they love. I wondered if it was a similar environment to yours OP, as the DC are largely predicted 8/9s across the board for GCSEs. My dd will be unusual in doing all essay subjects, as the vast majority take Maths at A level.

Some people don't really get the idea that non-STEM subjects can be intellectually rigorous. It's depressing but there's a view promoted by parts of government that in future we're all going to be working in tech and therefore the humanities and arts are slightly pointless and irrelevant. It's wrong on both counts obviously (that we'll all be in tech and that the humanities and arts are pointless and irrelevant if you work in tech).

My DS did A level economics with a 7 in GCSE maths. He thought the maths content of A level was a bit exaggerated, perhaps to talk the subject up in front of those certain sneery types ( biards may vary, I guess). He found it really interesting, had a fab teacher and did more than fine, as he got an A star!

It's definitely true about most economics degrees... He swapped out of a joint degree because economics became, for him, a slog.But then your DD doesn't want to do that.

He also did history, and ( the horror!) , sociology.

I askedhim not long ago which knew was hardest and he said it depended on the topics, teaching , and skills. But none were east.

My students tend to say that politics is lighter in content and variety than other A levels they do.

Those A levels are fine - I did those and went to Cambridge Uni and really enjoyed those A levels especially the politics. The only thing is if she wants an Economics degree in the end (that's what I have) nowadays you need Maths A level at most places. Something like PPE would be possible and a similar match.

Ignore their ignorance.

I don’t understand why these people who are implying they are not hard enough can’t mind their own business, DD should do what appeals and what she enjoys. 2 years is a long time to concentrate on subjects which she hates or has been ‘forced’ into. I am sure she will be brilliant at whatever she chooses to do.

There is a lot of sneering about A Level subjects but the reality is you can secure an offer from an Elite university with those subjects should your Dd decide to go down that route. Ds has secured an offer from a number of elite universities with Politics as one of his 3 A Levels. There were lots of 'that's interesting' comments from other students and parents' about the A Level Politics but ultimately the Admission Tutors view is the only one that counts.

They are great a levels if she would consider law as a career, with either a law degree or a history degree.

Does she enjoy psych GCSE? Enough to continue studying it?

Eng lang A level is nothing like the GCSE according to DD's pals who took it.

I want to stress that there is nothing wrong with the options she has chosen - just I would want her to be sure she is choosing them bc she will enjoy those subjects and do well in them, not just bc she doesn't like the GCSEs she is doing, these subjects are new and she thinks they might be interesting.

When the exams finish, the school will run taster lessons - she should go to those.

Ah I would maybe steer clear of maths if she is likely to get a 7, and will get 8/9 in other subjects. I would suggest Eng lit rather than economics as that will also enable an Eng lit degree and you say it is a strength of hers.

I agree that it is often the unknown A levels that appeal but also that disappoint - psychology is a classic for this. I would second the suggestion to look at past papers to see what kinds of questions are asked.

Agree with others, no point doing STEM if not keen. DD got As for all her sciences (pre-number grades) but would have hated a triad of biol/chem/phys.

To repeat, there is nothing wrong with the chosen subjects, but has she considered all other options? You say she didn't know what else to pick - as in, didn't like anything enough, or as in, couldn't choose as she liked so many things? What else does she do for GCSE apart from science and maths?

I would get her to watch some videos of A level economics so that she can get more idea of what it is like and if she would be interested.

If your DD is naturally gifted at essay based subjects why doesn’t she take more of those subjects and play to her strengths?

DD got mostly 9’s and a few 8’s at GCSE’s and was being pestered by her Maths teacher to take Maths. She was good enough but didn’t love it. But she also has a natural talent and a passion for English and essay based subjects. She took English Lit, History and Philosophy & Ethics and is on track for Astar, Astar, A. Got an interview at Cambridge (rejected after) and offers from Durham, Warwick, Exeter and Lancaster.

Your DD should choose the subjects that she loves and is most likely to get the best grades in.

DD can attest to History NOT being an easy A level. It is the hardest of her 3 and the only one she hasn’t been predicted Astar in.