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Original poster

A-Level Economics - any views?

62 replies

grumiosmum · 06/09/2018 17:42

DS was supposed to do Maths A level, but didn't do well in his Further Maths GCSE. So he's thinking of doing Economics instead.

Anyone got any views on it? Other subjects are History, English & German AS.

I did an Economics degree a gazillion years ago & thought it was quite boring, but hoping the A-level syllabus is better?

DS is bright but lazy.

OP posts:
Original poster
grumiosmum · 06/09/2018 19:21

Thanks hertsandessex you've pretty much summarised my own views on it - good to hear them from another person 9and I'm far from an expert).

Thesearepearls good to know - and yes, I think DS is going to find he needs to work hard for A-levels. I think he can do it, but we will see.

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Thesearepearls · 06/09/2018 19:17

This might not be a particularly helpful post but here's some views

You don't need A level maths to do A level economics, from the experience of DS's cohorts. You can even do very well without doing A level maths. But you do need A level maths to do degree level economics.

So if your DS wants to do A level economics then he should be fine. But I do worry about kids that do well at GCSE because they're bright and they kind of can't help it, but are lazy. A levels are a whole different ball game - more like further maths IME - the kids who don't work get quickly found out.

hertsandessex · 06/09/2018 19:12

If he got an A in maths then he would be fine with the maths in A level Economics so go for it. If he ends up studying say history at university then Economics is complementary and he would still have the PPE option (harder without maths but not out of the question especially as he has the A to show he is capable)

Original poster
grumiosmum · 06/09/2018 19:05

I'm not assuming anything noblegiraffe I just think it's more likely to engage him as a subject therefore he'll do better. And he does not have a natural aptitude for Maths, which obviously helps.

He could crash & burn and get Ds in everything for all I know, just trying to help him to decide on the options which he stands the greatest chance of success in.

He got a C in Further Maths, he says it was because he did not start revising until too late. A*s & As in everything else.

OP posts:
noblegiraffe · 06/09/2018 18:57

Why do you assume he’d get an A in Economics but not maths? If he’s lazy then it’s not a given in any subject.

What did he get in further maths?

Original poster
grumiosmum · 06/09/2018 18:56

Don't think his school does Politics as an A Level option.

OP posts:
ShalomJackie · 06/09/2018 18:54

If you want to keep PPE as an option ( which for many unis it won't be without Maths a level but some do) what about Politics as his replacement?

Original poster
grumiosmum · 06/09/2018 18:12

He scraped an A* in normal maths a year ago. But the school thinks he would struggle to get an A in Maths A-Level, and I think an A in Economics is likely to be better than a B in Maths for a good Uni.

OP posts:
noblegiraffe · 06/09/2018 18:06

How did he do in his maths GCSE? I wouldn’t suggest that a student not take maths A-level just based on further maths GCSE.

hertsandessex · 06/09/2018 18:05

If you mean PPE at Oxford it now very hard to get in without maths. Something like 80-90% of successful applicants have done maths. It used to be much lower.

Original poster
grumiosmum · 06/09/2018 17:57

He's doing German AS Level in lieu of the EPQ.

He probably wants to read History at Uni, not Economics - but want to keep the possibility open for PPE, for example.

I didn't know Maths A level was essential for that?

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jeanne16 · 06/09/2018 17:51

There is no point doing Economics without Maths A level. He will struggle with the course and won’t be able to do it at a decent university without Maths. Also lots of schools are now doing just 3 A levels plus the EPQ. Is that a possibility?