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Further education

You'll find discussions about A Levels and universities on our Further Education forum.

Original poster

Which of these four subjects at A level?

40 replies

ThinkingAgainAndAgain · 21/07/2024 20:14

DS has just finished y11, awaiting GCSE results. He’s always planned to do A levels, never contemplated a different path, hoping to stay in at his current school subject to getting the grade requirements (quite an academic independent).

He is not interested in sciences or creative subjects, likes the humanities.

He did English Lang, English Lit, Maths, Spanish, triple science, history, geography and classics at GCSE. On track to achieve results were History (9), English Language, Spanish, physics, maths, English literature (all 8s), chemistry, biology geography and classics (all 7s). Obviously nobody knows whether he will get these grades.

He is toying between Economics, Politics, history and geography. History is nailed in as he loves it. Unsure which two of Geography, politics and economics. He is interested in politics but I’ve said that doesn’t mean he has to study it for A level. Ditto economics. He loves Geography but it isn’t one of his strongest GCSE subjects. He reads, but not a huge amount outside of his subjects, which rules out English Lit. He isn’t confident enough in his ability do Spanish. His classics GCSE went badly and he now just wants to leave it behind (plus it’s not offered at his current school at A level).

Any thoughts?

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PeachPairPlum · 21/07/2024 21:30

I would say history, geography and economics.

I feel there's cross over with history and politics and it would be better to not do both.

Spirallingdownwards · 21/07/2024 21:26

My son did Economics, History and Geography. He has now just finished a History degree and found he liked the more political modules and wonders whether he may have preferred a politics degree!

I don't see it being an issue that he has done neither politics not Economics before and many students do this combination.

clary · 21/07/2024 21:19

Yeh I was thinking Eng lit. I don’t think the reading is such an issue … if he can analyse texts and read them. A level lit is much better than GCSE imo - themes so it’s more interesting. Worth considering but obvs not if he hates the idea!

Ellmau · 21/07/2024 21:13

History, English Lit and either politics or Econ. I'd suggest Spanish as it could be really useful if he goes on to do History at university, but you say he's not confident in doing it at A Level. I'd avoid Geography as he isn't as strong in it.

Penguinsa · 21/07/2024 21:09

You can generally also swap early on so if one doesn't appeal can change it. If he loves modern political history (Nazis, Russia etc) would be fairly confident he will love politics especially if he follows things like Brexit, elections, parliament. Economics and Geography would look at the syllabuses in more detail, both could be good.

clary · 21/07/2024 21:06

Sorry I see you have answered my last point! Well then happy days

Penguinsa · 21/07/2024 21:06

I would go with Politics, Economics, History though any combination of those works. Sounds like those are his 3 favourites and Politics is quite similar to History in approach so should suit him. Though would have a look at degrees and their requirements and contents and see if anything inspires him. I did those A levels, politics was my favourite.

clary · 21/07/2024 21:05

Any of those are good tbh. Might a geog or related degree be a possibility? I guess the only caveat is he has two new subjects - will he enjoy them? Has he had taster lessons?

Original poster
ThinkingAgainAndAgain · 21/07/2024 20:34

Mumofteenandtween · 21/07/2024 20:28

Personally I would avoid doing both economics and politics as he has never studied either before. Always a risk that he ends up hating them both!

This is always a possibility! He does really like both subjects. He’s done some of the pre course reading and listens to podcasts on both. He also talks a good talk 😊

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Original poster
ThinkingAgainAndAgain · 21/07/2024 20:32

Roryno · 21/07/2024 20:16

I’d say history, politics and economics.

Thanks, what is your thinking behind this?

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Original poster
ThinkingAgainAndAgain · 21/07/2024 20:32

Welshcake15 · 21/07/2024 20:24

Does he know what subject he would want to study if he decides to go to University? Only that for some economics degrees (and related subjects) you need a Maths A Level, particularly in the higher ranked universities. It might be worth sitting down and having a bit of a research into this before making any firm choices.

He is aware of this. He says he wouldn’t do a straight economics degree, so it wouldn’t matter that he doesn’t do maths a level (he really doesn’t want to do maths a level which I think is for the best). He might consider a joint honours degree so something with economics. He doesn’t know what he wants to do as a career.

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Mumofteenandtween · 21/07/2024 20:28

Personally I would avoid doing both economics and politics as he has never studied either before. Always a risk that he ends up hating them both!

Welshcake15 · 21/07/2024 20:24

Does he know what subject he would want to study if he decides to go to University? Only that for some economics degrees (and related subjects) you need a Maths A Level, particularly in the higher ranked universities. It might be worth sitting down and having a bit of a research into this before making any firm choices.

Roryno · 21/07/2024 20:16

I’d say history, politics and economics.

Original poster
ThinkingAgainAndAgain · 21/07/2024 20:15

I should have said that he can’t start off doing four and choose after, say, a term (unless one of those was further maths). They have to choose three plus EPQ.

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