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Original poster

Third A-level

34 replies

berrymerry · 13/11/2019 15:54

DD is choosing A-levels now. She wants to do History, maybe English Literature and then a third which is not so essay heavy. We were thinking maybe Computer Science, she's predicted a 6 or 7 at GCSE but not confident at all. She doesn't think she'd be able to get that high on the gcse, let alone a good grade on the a level. She isn't amazing enough at maths so that wouldn't be an option, but doesn't want to do all essay based. Advice?

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Original poster
berrymerry · 13/11/2019 16:34

She wants to do History at university, and I have read that having a more maths based subject is a good mix.

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Original poster
berrymerry · 13/11/2019 16:32

Her main focus is history, and she'd just do that if she could but as she cannot she is having to choose. Didn't take a language (which she now regrets quite a lot) And hates creative subjects (GCSE Art has taken up her time and it's not fun) Smile

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Original poster
berrymerry · 13/11/2019 16:30

Yes, we hadn't thought of psychology. How much maths/science is in it? We will have a look at the course but it would be good for an opinion.

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berrymerry · 13/11/2019 16:29

She's doing RE, Art History and Computing. Absolutely no way she'd do art or RE. Combined Science (she's predicted 8-9 we did combined so she'd get higher grades as she's not fussed about sciences)

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crazycrofter · 13/11/2019 16:26

It sounds like she’s left with either a science or Music/Art/something creative? How about Psychology? It’s a science but more of a crossover subject than the traditional sciences. My daughter plans to do it with History and Geography next year.

Walkaround · 13/11/2019 16:24

Well, obviously maths is the best for avoiding essays, but I guess she isn't keen or she'd already have chosen it as number 3! A language should be less essay-heavy, as there are other elements to language A-levels. Geography should also be a bit less essay-obsessed, surely? Biology is possible without other sciences or maths. Then there are things like photography, art, some kind of design technology? What is she actually interested in?!

Fifthtimelucky · 13/11/2019 16:13

Just to add that my husband my sister and I all did English and history A levels. Our third subjects were music, RS and politics.

Xenia · 13/11/2019 16:07

4 of my children loved economics (and did not do maths A level) Although not a traditional facilitating subject (but your daughter 2 of those with history and English lti anyway which is enough) economics is highly ranked by universities. It is also useful for business and other careers. In fact one of m lawyer daughters says it was her most useful subject. My children have not been at schools offering computer science so I am not sure about that one.

Do work backwards from university. Eg if she has a idea for what sunbject to do there then she probably in most cases needs an A level in it (unlike something like law where law A level puts you at a disadvantage).

Fifthtimelucky · 13/11/2019 16:05

What are her other GCSEs? A language would go well with history and English, as would art, music or drama.