A level choices, History, Art, RS and Biology a good mix?

There is a boom coming, but the effects of it on the 18 year old population don't start to show until 2019 or so, so anyone applying to university in the next 2-3 years (especially with the number cap gone) faces a relatively easy ride, depending on what they want to do, and as long as they show the required level of aptitude. Universities across the board are spending lots of money into marketing as it's going to be SO competitive as the pool of candidates is smaller.

I thought there was a baby boom from 2000 not a dip ?

Unless she wants to do a specific very competitive course don't worry too much about university entry - the next 6 years show a dip in the population for 18 year olds and universities are no longer capped for numbers - it's going to be much easier to get on a course you want if you have the grades.

Incidentally, my nephew is studying biology at a top 10 uni (for that subject). He studied A levels in history, English and biology. Maths is not his strong point but got a B at GSCE after lots of tutoring. He stayed at college an extra year, to do A level Chemistry - on people's advice when he decided that he wanted to further study biology at uni. However, he has realised since starting uni that a lot of people only have A level biology and neither A level chemistry or maths.

For all those suggesting Philosophy, isn't RS really Philosophy at A level? It is at DD's school.
Maths or English Lit, instead of Bio would probably leave more doors open.

Lots of children do A level maths without doing FM you are right.

Personally I think its better to do FM as it covers most of the first terms work which makes life easier also if a child finds FM too hard they will probably struggle at AS level.

Loads of kids successfully do A-level maths without further/additional GCSE. Yes there is a big jump, but schools are aware of this and emphasise the algebra, give prep work for over the summer etc.

I would not take A level maths without doing additional/further maths at GCSE.

GCSE maths alone does not bridge the gap between A levels and GCSE

i was going to suggest philosophy
what about english lang or lit
or sociology

I agree that GCSE Maths is pants!

I have recently had my eyes opened to SATS maths Level 5 and that is pants too!

Bonsoir it depends what you want to do. For many courses an excellent grade is required in the subject most relevant to the one you are choosing plus really good grades in two other A levels. Ie for many arts courses it's the grades rather than the subjects that count, although it's probably a good idea to do at least two facilitating subjects. Eg Law has no specific A level subject requirements. Also there is a large gap, particularly for maths, between the ability required for GCSE and A level. Sometimes even those with A* at GCSE can struggle to get a good grade at A level. It's not an A level to be chosen lightly.

A single science without maths isn't going to be very powerful when applying to university.

Lots of courses require maths A-level.

Look at University courses and see what subject combinations are required. I wish someone had mentioned this to me before my DD picked her A Levels.

Why wouldn't you recommend RS 3littlefrogs?

The Russell University group Informed choices booklet recommend RS A level as a good choice for history degrees. It's generally considered to go well with history.

Trinity college Cambridge also rank it as an A2 subject - so in their list of most academic arts subjects.

Of the OPs A level choices, they're the two that go together best I'd say.

Many moons ago I studied English, History & Biology. Loved Biology - did reasonably in it and went to to study first Nursing & then Psychology. Biology V useful for both although I could have studied either without it. I agree that an IB if available would be a good choice as it does give you the range thereby keeping options open.

As a biology teacher, I would agree that Biology is best taken alongside at least one of other science. If she fancies something in the sciences then perhaps psychology which she may well enjoy if she likes biology.
Alternatively lots of history students opt for philosophy.
We have lots of students doing history and psychology,

If you do an Arts degree, not Art, then doing a language and combining it as a joint honours for a degree is a sure fire way to get offers. Many universities are seriously short of MFL students, so people who opt for joint honours with an MFL can have lower, and more, offers.

OP, if your DD actually wants Art to be her degree, she might find another Art type A level of use. People on a Mumsnet tend to think people who are likely to get A*s at GCSE must be academic and cannot possibly be talented at art! Some of our best artists are highly intelligent but this gets glossed over on this forum. A language will be hard work but extremely useful. More so than a Biology with her other choices.

Can she do Philosophy?

I wouldn't advise Art and RS.
I wouldn't advise Art unless she is absolutely going to do an Art degree.

Ds did Rs and really enjoyed it, but he could afford to do it because he was also doing Maths, Physics and Chemistry. He dropped the Rs after AS level.

Maths maths maths maths maths maths maths. I would seriously advise any student getting an A* at GCSE to take A-level.

The higher maths qualifications you sit, the greater your earnings (on average) over your lifetime. The country needs more maths-qualified people. If she decides to become a primary school teacher down the line, she'd be snapped up.

DD is looking at taking biology as her only "real" science but along with geography as the uni course she is looking at considers geography to be a science! However as her other ASs will be french and English lit I am trying to persaude her to consider the IB as I think that selection will fit well with it.
With regards to the OP, I dont think those subjects would work with the IB as history and RE would be in the same block and the only way to take a second humanity would be to drop the art.

If she's predicted all A* at GCSE she might as well do four facilitating subjects (the better harder subjects) to show what she's made of. History and biology are two facilitating subjects. She really wants to do Art so okay do that. What about doing English which goes well with history? She might be better going with 4 arts or 4 science / maths subjects to be honest though rather than the science/arts mixture. Has she a clue about careers yet?

There is an essay in art of 3000 words, English A level may help her do really well in that. Art and history, go well together, I would recommend English.

I did Biology, English and History at A level and did very well in all three subjects. I was good at, but didn't especially enjoy, the other science subjects and would have been "allowed" to take both Maths and Chemistry if I had wanted to. I was aware that I would not be able to do sciences at University with only one science A level and was okay with this.

I think that provided your DD is good at Biology and reasonable at GCSE level Chemistry and aware that post A level it would be tricky to go in a science direction then there is no harm in going with what she is good at and enjoys.

Personally, I would keep biology in. It's good to have a science and this is quite a common "stand alone" science to have if children are more naturally drawn to the arts/languages. I think they look like a good mix. If she doesn't have a direction, I think it's most important to choose subjects that she likes and is likely to get good grades in.