DS's A level choices - your opinion please

Nonetheless, the only facilitating subject for History is history, right?

Correct!

Economics is as well regarded as Chemistry yes. Politics not quite as much but ok and supports history. Biology is a better one to go with Psychology by the way, not Chem, although irrelevant to OP.

Agree Maths, at least to AS is always useful! Check syllabus though as there's a big jump from iGCSE (I assume as you've said Astar not 8 or 9) to A level.

probably why Cambridge arent so keen on History and politics at A level

although oddly is quite happy to make offers for History to DC who are doing / have done these subjects at A level

Really should have said if capable of Maths, do it, even if you can't see the immediate relevance to what you plan to study at University.
There will always be relevance in later life. Plus, it's confirmation of cleverness.

My advice to students has for a long time been:

1. If capable of Maths A level, do it. If in doubt, avoid.
2. If choosing a standalone science, be careful. I've seen far too many students fail in a standalone science, and Chemistry was by far the worst for this. It's a huge jump from GCSE. Not read the thread carefully but why not Eng Lang rather than Chem?

You were working backwards from a geography degree then Errol, which throws up a rather different angle, although I completely see the sense in that situation.

It is true that you can't go wrong with Maths, provided you can do it.... But presumably it's not on OP's DS's list for a reason and this is what tends to happen on these threads - DC narrows their preferences, then MN suggests a completely different set! There's a great deal of merit in doing what you fancy for a degree such as History - it allows far more freedom at A level than many of the sciences.

I first saw that trinity list on MN quite a few years back but maybe not that long ago, guessing your kids minimum ages.

The geography/physics thing - while many details of of the physics a level syllabus would (I guess) be irrelevant to geog, for someone wanting to go for the more physical/geological aspects of geology then some scientific understanding of the material world presumably is? I know someone who recently finished a geog degree at Cambridge- she did geog, eng lit, maths and physics to AS, and then asked some admissions tutors which 3 she should carry on to A2. She was advised to drop either the english or - get this - the geography, not the maths or physics. The point being, the contents of the geog A level weren't really important, she'd be studying the subject in depth there, either eng or geog would provide essay/analysis skills. (She's just got her first paper published, it's a statistical analysis of data.... maths esp the bloody stats really is useful in a lot of fields)

Just getting back to the OP for a minute... having just got to the usefulness of maths, some kids who are quite good at maths are bored senseless by gcse but find it a lot more interesting at A level. Sure, conversely some who can do it at gcse struggle at a-level ... wouldn't push it if he really hates it but might just be worth a little probing what he dislikes?

Errol I think the list you refer to (as well as the Russell Group's Informed Choices), postdates DD2's application and therefore I stand by what I said. I've certainly seen gulps of horror expressed in word form on MN since then, at the idea that an Oxbridge applicant might take Art&Design as one of three A levels. I don't think smelling salts are, or were, required for Art&Design as a fourth subject, but certainly they are, or were, as one of three.

With the caveat that I know remarkably little about the Physics and Geography syllabuses, why do you say that they go together so well? Perhaps they do, but I can't see it myself, not at A level.

There would have been shrieks of horror on MN had I asked whether Art&Design was a good choice for Oxbridge;

Not from anyone who'd read the trinity list. It's clearly there on list B.

DS3 I would have been told that Physics didn't 'go' with his other choices

Which would have been daft, as it goes very well with geography. The humanities don't generally 'go' with the sciences, for science/eng it's much more vital to do 3 relevant subjects, but the sciences can 'go' with humanities.

Agree a relevant EPQ can be a good idea, if it's not overdoing the workload - something that demonstrates the student's independent interest in their chosen field.

DD is doing only one facilitating subject and has an Oxbridge offer in that subject, and four other offers from other Russell Group Universities. Obviously it's not a science.

If he wants to study history, then look at what the history courses he likes suggest, and go from there.

Chemistry is a good subject to add to the mix as it shows one's breadth and depth of knowledge and ability. It goes well with psychology should he decide to study this at uni.

With mostly essay based subjects, it's good to choose a non essay and science based subject.

Don't do maths if you don't love it - so many fail to progress after year 12.

I would switch politics and psychology to something more academic personally. He can study both later if necessary.
For a levels I would be suggesting more core subjects. He sounds bright so switching to a language if he likes humanities might be a good option.

although I haven't done this course I have done another future learn course and would recommend it - so perhaps something like this would help him explore possibilities www.futurelearn.com/courses/politics-of-economics

He doesnt know what he want to do yet and ideas can change a lot in 6th form. My own view is that anyone capable of taking maths should do so as it's a facilitating subject for just about every degree. If you have aptitude getting an A* is more certain than in other courses - but you need to be prepared to work. If he struggled there are lots of online resources and the more able pupils can be involved in tutoring others. Maths is so often taught badly that students are often put off when they should be encouraged to continue.

If he did psychlogy and liked it the degree is a very popular choice as it's science lite with transferable skills. Maths is needed for the best courses.

There can be quite an overlap between history and politics, depending on the exam board, probably why Cambridge arent so keen on History and politics at A level - bit like maths and further maths overlapping.

History is actually a good degree choice as it's quite an analytical subject. At Cambridge the history students are wined and dined by law firms almost as much as the lawyers.

Whatever he does at A level for the best courses he will need to start planning extra work to show commitment, difficult when not sure what you want to do.

I did English, History and Chemistry A level many years ago and regretted either doing more sciences / maths to go with the chemistry or another humanity- the chemistry sat awkwardly with the others.

My dd got 5 offers, 4 Russell Group with English, Philosophy and Theatre Studies.

Sorry! That was re Psychology (I guess rather obviously, but even so :)).

And also, I suppose the only thing I'd be wary of is the newness of the subject at your DS's school. Do you know the teacher who will teach him? Are they in post for this year? Are they thought to be good?

OP I'm not sure if it helps but of my three DC who went to Oxford recently to read History:

DD2 took History, English and Art&Design at A2, with French to AS.
DS2 took History, English and Geography at A2, with Maths at AS.
DS3 took History, Physics and Geography at A2 , with English at AS.

There would have been shrieks of horror on MN had I asked whether Art&Design was a good choice for Oxbridge; I'd bet good money that the overwhelming response would have been to keep on the French (she also got an offer from Durham, did a Masters at Oxford and is now doing a funded PhD), and for DS3 I would have been told that Physics didn't 'go' with his other choices and was anyhow impossible without Maths. A great deal of advice on MN is very valuable and has been of great personal value to me, but the best advice on these threads for tolerably sensible DC wanting to do a humanities subject is to do exactly what they're best at, alongside their degree subject of choice. Chemistry is an excellent choice, given how it teaches a student to think - to my mind a very good substitute for Maths, if his preference is Chemistry.

It's fair to say they also all did an EPQ - is that a possibility? A History based EPQ with a political/ psychological bent? And ditch the fourth A2?

Nothing wrong with saying he might scrape an A* in Maths - not sure why you got a biscuit!

Not sure why you say chemistry is 'pointless' in this context, titchy. If other history course requirements are in line with the famous trinity list, then for a history degree history is the only specific requirement, the chemistry would be fine as an a1/a2 choice, the psychology ok as a list b choice for the 3rd subject...politics seems to be missing which may be accidental .

The chemistry in that combination isn't really 'facilitating' in that combination as it is unlikely to be specifically required alongside any of the others for any course but it is, shall we say, 'enabling' as a recognised rigorous subject,as part of an offer.

Chemistry is an excellent choice of subject including for a history degree and no, that's not a cross post :)

Chemistry is pointless here. I'm not sure you understand the reasoning behind two facilitating subjects - they are simply subjects that you NEED in order to do certain degree subjects. So having chemistry is only facilitating if considering a science degree. It does not facilitate a History degree!

Economics would be a good fit instead, although without Maths an economics degree is unlikely, but would be a good fit for History.

If you're using 'facilitating' as a shorthand for well-regarded, the Trinity list is much better:
https://www.trin.cam.ac.uk/undergraduate/applying/a-level-subject-combinations/

Psychology is fine to do without maths, but economics at degree level wouldn't be, especially at Oxford or Durham, where it's a requirement for entry.

I don't think Geography has been mentioned yet. It's a facilitating subject, halfway between sciences and arts. Would he consider that?

For the likes of Oxbridge, the message seems to be that you have to be really, really keen on your subject. What is he going to do that is above and beyond - EPQ? Will doing breadth (four subjects) hamper him from doing depth.