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Original poster

Sorry another A level choices thread

33 replies

IdontknowwhyIcare · 29/11/2011 15:33

Ds is making his choices for 6th form. He doesnt find reading easy at all and has struggled with the two books for this years Eng Lit (mice and men, and Lord of the flies) and he has a diagnosed learning disability which entitles him to an extra 25% time, a scribe, use of a computer and someone to transcribe if he uses a grid system like in science multiple choice (bit like a lottery ticket).

He is very interested in politics and would like to work behind the scenes in government, or head and NGO.

He is happy to go with History, Government & Politics and economics. His fourth choice is proving more problematic. I suggested Eng Lit as you cant go wrong with that (IMHO) but he is worried (and I can certainly see his point) about the amount of reading coupled with the other subjects.

My question is this, would Psychology be a better option? Useful and maybe more relevant and therefore more easily digested reading? Is Psychology considered a useful subject? I'm checking the UCAS site for links to course he is interested in, like International relations etc. Any advice would be more than welcome. TIA

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daireen · 13/12/2011 22:45

have you thought about not taking 4 at all? My DS has dyslexia and rather than taking opted to have private study instead of 4th subject. The extra time meant better grades on the other three and he is now at a good uni studying history.

Original poster
IdontknowwhyIcare · 13/12/2011 14:16

Sorry meant to say tutoring for maths.
Also I like the idea of geography. He was put off taking it for GCSE, too much volcanos and stuff. I will ask the school what syllabus is offered for geog, and also for psychology and sociology.
Thanks very much for all the really positive help. Good luck to everyone else.

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Original poster
IdontknowwhyIcare · 13/12/2011 14:12

Interesting reading this thread. Apologies for being away, its been mocks here, before the 2 resits and modular components in january. It seems relentless, or maybe thats just me and DS.
He and I have spoken in detail about the reading component for history and he is adamant he will do what is needed (I do know it WILL be a struggle but he is passionate about it).
Reading is his issue, he can talk eloquently about all his subjects but getting it on paper is just plain very vvery hard work. He doesnt really like art drama music etc, politics is his passion. He is still wavering about economics, loves the subject glued to all the news about the Euro etc but is already having tutoring. Its hard to tell if he is just making up for lost time before he was diagnosed or if he really doesnt get it. His tutor seems to think he can get an A but it hardly seems fair to go ahead to A level and study a subject you need a tutor for IYSWIM. Decisions decisions.

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ratherbeinnorfolk · 08/12/2011 13:01

My dd did AQA Psychology A level last summer, very little reading apart from the textbook but a lot of fact learning, much more than for Government and Politics. So if your ds can absorb and remember vast numbers of case studies he would be fine, there was also a considerable mathematical section in one of the A2 papers about methods.

SnapesMistressofMerriment · 07/12/2011 17:14

I did 4 'soft' subjects to a level including psychology and sociology and got into a good Russell group uni, I did get 3 A's and a B though.

Go for sociology it is piss easy, I did so little work for it its untrue and got an A.

knitknack · 06/12/2011 19:56

I teach A Level history and I would say that reading is the number one, key, must do activity. I set large amounts of reading every week, as well as expecting my students to 'read around 'what I give them!

Good luck with his choices - you're doing the right thing to really think about his strengths and weaknesses - so many don't!

Vicky2011 · 04/12/2011 20:48

I wld second the Geography suggestion - I did a Politics degree about 1000 years ago and did A Levels of Pol, Hist, Geog and Econ. As long as your syllabus has a fairly strong human geography element and doesn't do too much on glaciers, for someone who is social science minded, it's a pretty logical choice and doesn't seem to have the "easy" rep some A level subjects, including politics, have.

Takver · 04/12/2011 15:59

As campaigner said,if he's thinking of studying economics at university then maths would be a very sensible choice.

happygardening · 04/12/2011 10:27

Geography I'm a geog grad if he wants to work for an NGO geography is an excellent subject particularly when human and physical are studied side by side. It's covers economics history and sociology so even iif one bit bores you there will always be more interesting bits round the corner.

cory · 03/12/2011 20:37

parietal, do you object to non-traditional subjects even as a fourth choice if good marks are achieved in three heavy subjects?

campaigner · 03/12/2011 18:38

Four rather similar AS subjects have been suggested - heavy reading and writing components. Economics also requires strong Maths for a high grade at A level. The 4th AS choice will not overtly influence university choice if that is the possible plan. Don't discard subjects which he is good at in school but which may not 'go well' with his other choices. Has he an artistic side to him? What about any interest in Sports? Psychology could work out well depending on the specification which the school offers - Sociology might also be considered as some overlap with Politics.

Kez100 · 01/12/2011 12:39

And join the charity, listening books

sashh · 01/12/2011 05:25

Before making the choice sort out the techy side of things. Does he have a kindke? Kindles have an option to read the book to you.

Does he have voice - text software - something like Dragon, or the one that comes with windows 7.

As he has 3 solid academic subjects then let him choose something he will enjoy.

Parietal · 01/12/2011 05:00

Go with a trad subject, not media studies or drama or sport

Maths or physics would be a strength if he can manage it. Not much reading and shows breadth of knowledge.

I do uni admissions for a Russell gp uni. We always like to see maths / science, and are less keen on non-trad subjects.

Original poster
IdontknowwhyIcare · 01/12/2011 04:01

Thanks. It's given both of us a lot more to think about. Audio books is a great idea. Agree very important not to cock up the main 3 by being overwhelmed with the fourth.

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BornToBeRiled · 30/11/2011 18:48

I'd go for maths or geography. Either would be useful, and are accepted at all universities. Both demonstrate logical thinking, number handling, statistical analysis etc.

grovel · 30/11/2011 18:40

gettingalife, thanks.

From my DS's experience you can get an A* by just reading the (comparatively few) set texts at A/S, A2. Assuming a good, sparky teacher.

Agree that university is a different kettle of fish but OP's son wants to read Politics.

TheFallenMadonna · 30/11/2011 18:08

Maths.

gettingalifenow · 30/11/2011 17:52

grovel - audio books is an excellent idea...that would make Eng Lit much more accessible for the OP's son. I would have said that the amount of reading in Eng Lit is huge (my DD has just started Eng Lit at uni) but the audio books would cut that down a lot. Plus theatre visits to see the plays would help too.

circular · 30/11/2011 07:34

Has he thought about Geography - Generally well accepted for Arts & Humanities degrees.

Maths is another option - goes well with economics.

Or even a science if he us that way inclined - goes well with psychology. And may even leave more options open if he changes his mind.

grovel · 29/11/2011 18:18

Thinking about it, my DS (referred to above) did comparatively little reading for Eng Lit. There are not that many texts and I know he never "read" 3 of them. He used audiobooks (supposedly while looking at the text).

mrswoodentop · 29/11/2011 18:11

Ds certainly finds history very hard going and a lot of work,and I would say he was a natural historian ,there a huge amount of reading involved.How about RS ,well regarded by universities but definitely less reading

grovel · 29/11/2011 18:01

My DS is reading Politics at Durham. He did Politics, Economics (A/S only), History and English. I'm pretty sure Durham would have accepted Psychology in place of English.

MindtheGappp · 29/11/2011 17:40

If he doesn't want to do a lot of reading, then the sciences, mathematics, geography, art...

If he wants to loosely go into politics, NGOs, then any decent/traditional degree will do.

Economics is a hard-slog reading-wise. My DS does A2 Economics and I have tried to read some of his texts (because I want to understand what is going on in the economy - I feel pretty motivated), but my eyes soon glaze over.

mumblechum1 · 29/11/2011 17:36

Kez, I think normally they have to get a minimum of a B in a subject to be allowed to take it at A level, or that's how it is in DS's school. Even then, he got As in all his GCSE sciences but is still finding Chem in particular massively hard, it's a big leap up from GCSE.