A Level choices

Biology, psychology and geography would be good. My daughter who was good at all GCSEs chose science A levels to keep medicine and law both open to her at university. Her 4 siblings all did arts A levels including economics. She did find physics and chemistry at A level harder and dropped physics after As so did Geograaphy, economics and chemistry. I might be biased as I did history, English and German but be a bit careful of the harder sciences as the step up to A level can be a bigger leap in my view than say history, geography. Economics is a useful one and although not facilitating is highly regarded by universities and employers.

Most people who study Criminology at degree level have never touched the subject before that. So it’s one of those irrelevant ones as far as getting into a degree course is concerned.

Although they are no longer called “facilitating” subjects, Cambridge university still lists them. So it’s definitely true that at the most very competitive universities, having a strong set of these subjects (2) is probably preferred but some subjects will only require one which is stated in the entry criteria. However a set of subjects such as Media Studies, Sociology and Criminology won’t get you far for some courses at se universities. We all know certain subjects keep more doors open.

However, you don’t need all three of them to be “facilitating”
so she could easily do Biology, Psychology and Geography and have lots of options open for degrees. Chemistry is usually better paired with Maths. You could substitute Sociology for Psychology but Media Studies is another one never required.

qips.ucas.com/qip/wjec-applied-generals-reformed this may help.

It's a very new course. It holds the same number of UCAS points as an A Level.

Let her choose what she wants, but if she wants science she needs to be bloody good at it. My mum forced me to do Chem, and despite getting an A at GCSE with no revision and getting As easily in my other A Levels (English, History among others) I got a U in Chem.

I just couldn't get it at all.

Chemistry, biology, psychology would be a good acceptable combination even in top state grammars and private schools but usually with a 4th one for lower sixth too. I am a fan of geography too which is on her list and is a traditional well regarded one too (and 2 of my children did a BSc in Geography at university too).

She should pick those that will give her most choice of university subject unless she has already chosen that and look good on a CV even if the person looking at it is aged 50 and very old fashioned which therefore means things like geography, chemistry, physics looks better than some of the newer subjects no matter how unfair that sounds. Also only pick those she will get good grades in too,

Our physics department strongly encourage their A Level students to take maths too. If maths is too hard, then I’m afraid physics probably will be too.

The Applied Diploma means it's a Level 3 course lasting 2 years and is the equivalent of an A Level. If it's WJEC I'd have taught it before so happy to answer any questions.

Hi @MollynAlly!

Maths and Chemistry are the core STEM subjects for most Uni courses and careers.

Physics is generally found to be harder than Biology. Several doctors I know struggled with Physics!

Hi @MollynAlly
For the level 3 qualifications there are 3 different possibilities:
level 3 certificate is equivalent to 1 A level subject
level 3 diploma is equivalent to 2 A level subjects
and level 3 extended diploma is equivalent to 3 A level subjects.
So looks as if at your dds sixth form it would take up 2 slots on a timetable.
Some sixth forms (but not many) allow a mixture of level 3 and A levels but with the diploma your dd would only be able to choose 1 A level subject.
For most sixth forms you can list your 3 subjects and another one as a reserve.
Hope that helps

Chemistry-biology-psychology sounds like a nice combination.

Some sixth forms allow students to start with 4 A levels with a view to dropping one around Christmas. So DC could give new subjects a try. The downside is that an EPQ is then forfeited as this is often timetabled and the ‘trial’ A level takes up that slot. But it may be worth asking School/college if this is an option if DC are really torn between choices.

@MollynAlly
Trouble is he actually wants to do something Media related so I can see why he has picked that. It’s a minefield isn’t it, you want them to pick ones that they are going to excel at and more importantly enjoy without narrowing their future choices too much.

DS1 is also in y11 and considering which a levels to do. At the moment he wants to do Physics, PE and Media studies which is a very random combination but they are his best subjects and the ones he really enjoys (and predicted the best grades in). He was considering biology rather than Media but then he thought it would be too “sciencey” along with PE.

Most of the criminology syllabi are actually quite boring and not really what students think they’ll be like so I’d have a good look at them. A colleague with a degree in sociology/criminology and a masters in criminology says she wouldn’t recommend any of them to a student.

I agree Chem and Bio would be a better fit - middle set for maths sounds like A Level Physics would be difficult. Especially with the learning students have missed during lockdown because maths constantly builds on what’s been done before and even if you don’t do maths as an A Level choice you still need good knowledge - so there’s the chance of doing three a levels but then also having to study at maths to access some of physics.

Is computing an option at all? I understand that graphic design is quite time consuming, similar to Art and Photography so I’d approach that with caution. A language may also be worth consideration?

I’ve seen Criminology as a Level 3 one-A Level equivalent. I’m not sure there is a 2 or 3 A Level version so it should be fine in terms of timetabling. Lots of universities accept A Level equivalents, but I understand not all do, so it’s probably worth checking a few university entry requirements to see/emailing some admissions tutors. Having had a look at Sociology, that also has a large unit on crime and deviance, so that might also appeal? And it’s an A Level (but is more of an essay subject).

Are you sure that Criminology is an A level? I think it may be a level 3 qualification. Depending on how the sixth form offer the course, this may not be timetabled as one subject but could take up the space for 2 or even 3 subjects!
My suggestion for forensic Science would be Chemistry, biology and a 3rd subject e.g. Pyschology. Having a non Science for the 3rd subject e.g. Graphic Design could work if it fits the timetable.
I would possibly suggest an EPQ in criminology or forensics.
I would also look up degrees in Criminology and their entry requirements if your dd finds this subject fascinating.
The good news is that any A level choices are preliminary at this stage. Lots of students change their minds during Y11 or have to change options when they receive their results.
I would agree with PP who say that for Physics A level you need Maths.

I have recently found out that most of colleges DS is looking at will not allow you to do A Level Physics without A Level Maths unless you have a grade 7/8 in Maths GCSE, it might be worth checking the entry requirements.

It sounds from what you say that Maths might be a struggle at 6/7. The boy I knew who got a 7 really struggled at A Level and got an E. And if you rule out Maths, that probably rules out Physics, leaving her with Chemistry and Biology which go well together (and presumably would lead into forensics but check uni entry requirements on the UCAS site).

For a third subject it probably doesn’t matter too much and she should go with her interests. One thing dd did which really helped was look at past exam papers online for different subjects - it helped her to see the topics covered, the sort of questions asked, how much they had to write etc.

@MollynAlly most schools will ask for a 7 in Maths GCSE to do the A Level, but some people struggle even with a 7. Dd's school asked for an 8. Also, as others have said, Physics probably wouldn't be allowed without Maths.

Does she see herself working in Science? I would have thought Sciences only 'keep your options open' in the sense that they allow you to access Science related careers? Others might say differently though.

The advice I've see is do subjects you're really interested in, as well as considering what you're best at. Dd is in year 12 and really pleased with her choices so far. She did also have an eye to the future as she wants to work in healthcare of some sort, maybe clinical psychology, occupational therapy, nursing etc. For all of these degrees, a Psychology A Level is all that's required as it counts as a science (her other two subjects are History and RS).

So I would try to do some research into what she might want to do in the future - either career wise, or if she's really not sure, at least what subjects she could see herself studying at university - and go from there.