Physics or Economics A level alongside Maths & English...

I did psychology at a level and then did a few modules at university, basically they did the entire 2 year a level syllabus in 1 term at uni, so it was good in a sense I had a nice slow intro to it and properly understood what I was being taught at uni whereas lots of others felt totally overwhelmed.
Psychology is quite essay based so I would suggest a subject which would help her develop critical thinking and essay based skills, lots of stats obviously and biology would be useful.

www.score-education.org/media/3194/relativedifficulty.pdf

See the above report which included an easy to read graph on relative hardness of A levels. It is from 2008 but more recent studies have replicated it.

Physics is recognised as (one of) the hardest A levels. You either need aptitude or commitment (ideally both) to do well at it. Plenty of strong A* GCSE grades get converted to Bs or lower at A level.

I love Physics but I am fascinated by solving the problems it poses (even in middle age). I would not pick it to make up A level numbers as it will quickly be apparent that it is a HUGE step up from GCSEs.

On a side note, how can a 16 year old be so committed to such a specific and rarefied career (‘possibly consultancy’). I think that they need to keep all options open as long as possible.

DS is very keen to do A level psychology but has deliberately aimed for a 6th form where you can start with 4 A levels (presuming GCSE grades are ok) and drop one if needed, just in case. He's chosen biology as well. I couldn't see any degree course that actually required psychology but biology and maths seemed to be in demand.
Apparently there is a shortage of clinical psychologists but that involves pg study.

I don't think so. I suggested trying the A level course as a taster because of DD's experience. She really thought she would enjoy it but found it utterly, utterly boring (and unchallenging).

Do any Psychology degrees actually ask for A level psychology? I doubt it. Biology may well be best but check out preferred subjects on the top ranked university web sites. Most graduates seem to struggle to get any job in this sector at all. Presumably, to be a consultant in a particular field, you have to have more than a degree otherwise everyone would do it.

DD's teachers were lovely as well. She achieved an A at AS level, and her teacher said she was throwing away an A* by not continuing with it. She needs her other subjects more though for what she wants to do.

I did physics and economics at A level (decades ago though). My ds has also done both but in a very different school system, and he is now taking economics and astronomy at university, but in a system which doesn't specialise until after two years of university (he also has courses in history, politics, maths, computing and english). Psychology is a very popular first year university course here, but I don't think very many major in it.

Given your child is a long way off having to decide what they want to do for their degree and have already picked two very flexible subjects I'd encourage them to pick the third according to how much they enjoy/are good at physics now, how good the economics and physics teachers are, what feedback those teachers can give on the courses. Otherwise if she is more interested in how people behave and why then economics seems more likely to appeal.

That was the same for my DCs. Boring.

They said it wasn't hard was just dull compared to their other A levels. The teacher was lovely too so if he couldn't make it exciting god help anyone with a bad teacher.

I have A level psychology and I absolutely loved it. I got an A following just one year's study.

DD found psychology mind numbingly boring, and the workload was ridiculous. She said it wasn't difficult, but the volume of work was almost as much as her other 3 subjects put together.

My DCs both chose psychology at A level and hated it. Not at all what they were expecting.

Get her to look in to it before committing to a degree in it.

Could she start both of them and try them out for a few weeks. Probably wouldn't work timetable wise but worth a shot. One might have an awful teacher and the other a brilliant teacher or whatever.

Otherwise, I don't think it matters too much. Physics used to be the A level that was the most 'over' predicted. i.e. The majority of students were predicted TWO whole grades higher than they actually achieved. Admittedly this was maybe two or three years ago and I'm sorry but I can't be bothered getting the data out however it might be worthwhile you having a look.

I'd also find out what the achieved grades for both subjects are are your kids school. Obviously not super relevant but might help form a picture. IYSWIM

Sorry, was on my phone earlier and it died. If your DD has the option to try psychology as a 4th option it would give her an idea of whether she would enjoy it as a subject. DD and a lot of her classmates hated it, and a lot of students dropped it early on. DD continued to AS then dropped it.

Most Psychology degrees have a large element of Biology. You can on the course without Biology A Level but the course is much harder without it.

Yes doing Psychology A level is a good idea. At least you find out whether you like it. I suggested biology as a degree in Psychology includes some human biology. Maths is also useful, as Psychology includes a paper on statistics.

Agree behavioural economics is fascinating, you can approach it from psychology or economics. I think she should do what she finds interesting. English and maths are facilitating subjects and the third subject will not matter so much.

DD did psychology up to AS level and discovered she hated it.

If her 6th form offer Psychology, then why not that if that is her chosen degree course, it seems slightly odd to me that she wouldn't do it, I know plenty that did it at A level only to find that it wasn't what they thought. Surely it's better to find out at A level than embark on a degree and find out you do not enjoy it!?

As she wants to do psychology, then I thinking riding anither science would be useful (check entry requirements to see which if any are required, and in somewhere like Student Room to see which are widely expected/desirable)

I'd suggest a science - probably chemistry, physics, biology (in that order, based on usefulness should she change her mind about university subject).

But having an older teen studying the subjects she is really keen on is in itself important. If that's the subject she really wants to do, then that's what she should do.

Doesn't matter a bit. Why not Psychology? Does she realise there will be biology component of a Psychology degree?

1 and 2 just aren't really questions that matter. She has two facilitating subjects, she knows what she wants to do at university, so all she needs to do is check a few likely choices' entry requirements.

My brother did maths, English and economics, iirc. Behavioural economics is an interesting area - I was listening to something about this year's economics Nobel prize winner, Thaler, and his book Nudge the other day.