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Original poster

A levels: Maths, Economics and....

95 replies

Goingdooolally · 22/01/2021 20:38

Which third one?

He doesn’t like French or English. Is quite good at Chemistry but doesn’t like Physics or Biology. He likes History but doesn’t enjoy essay writing. Maybe Geography but he doesn’t seem that fussed.

Maths and Chemistry are his strongest subjects (targeting grade 8s) although he is doing Trilogy Science.

What do others do? He’s not sure what he wants to study but I’d say he might suit something Business/Economics/Maths related as he’s interested in the business field/how economies work.

Thanks!

OP posts:
Phineyj · 23/01/2021 17:47

Geography goes brilliantly with Economics! There is overlap between the content.

needadvice54321 · 23/01/2021 17:13

[quote NotDonna]**@needadvice54321* He is suggesting further maths or business studies?*[/quote]
Yeah he just said it as subjects that are similar, l'm not sure how well they're regarded at universities

NotDonna · 23/01/2021 17:05

Agh! Posted accidentally. Do not do both economics and business studies - choose one. A number of universities don’t accept both for reading economics. Also only do FM if maths is super strong. 8/9 at GCSE. Geography is super popular to go with maths and economics, regardless of it not being related, so don’t let that put you off.
I think it’s ‘which uni’ that states popular 3 A levels taken for degrees and the most popular for economics degrees is maths, economics & geography. But like posters have said, the 3rd being film studies, or drama, or DT, or French or whatever is equally fine.

NotDonna · 23/01/2021 16:53

@needadvice54321 He is suggesting further maths or business studies?

MarshaBradyo · 23/01/2021 16:42

Mine is doing CS, Maths, Physics, maybe FM

But really wanted to do economics too but too many

needadvice54321 · 23/01/2021 16:39

DS is doing Maths, Economics and Geography. Geography was his favourite school subject so that's why he chose it, I've just asked him and he loves it but it doesn't match Economics particularly well. He is suggesting further maths or business studies?

He's planning on doing Economics, possibly with finance at university next year

Feelingworried2021 · 23/01/2021 16:35

My ds is doing those two plus geography (mainly motivated by the field trip to Canada ))

Original poster
Goingdooolally · 23/01/2021 16:33

@NotDonna

Depends what DC finds ‘easy’ - I’d find film studies fascinating but very difficult as it’s sooooo subjective. Give me a maths question any day!
Too right! I’m with you on that Grin
OP posts:
NotDonna · 23/01/2021 15:22

Depends what DC finds ‘easy’ - I’d find film studies fascinating but very difficult as it’s sooooo subjective. Give me a maths question any day!

Frodont · 23/01/2021 15:14

I always like two 'hard' and an 'easy'. So dd3 will do English Lit, History and Tv and Film production btec.

Dds friend did maths, economics and film studies! Is doing economics at warwick.

NotDonna · 23/01/2021 15:12

@montlieu

Please can I ask for my DC He is looking at Maths, physics, economics ... plus either chemistry or Spanish. Is Spanish seen as another Essay subject? Is there a lot of writing ? Plus if the Spanish is that we speak a continental language at home which gives him an advantage. However, I am also concerned that we may have another bumpy winter ahead of us and chemistry will be an easier subject to learn remotely than a MFL At the moment, he can’t decide whether uni will be science or more like economics/business. Thanks !
4 is unusual to take all the way through the 2 years. Some schools allow 4 to start, do one at AS/drop at Xmas, take 3 to completion. So I’d really think about which 3 he needs, most enjoys, is best at.
NotDonna · 23/01/2021 15:10

@JBX2013

Hi *@Goingdooolally*!

A mundane suggestion: I would wait until the results come out in August. I would then ask for frank advice from teachers.

I’d be asking for advice waaay before August. A levels start in September so giving yourself a week or two to decide? 6th forms will want to know his choices well before then. There maybe leeway on one subject choice in August given GCSEs etc. but they’ll want a reasonable idea before then.
dairydairy · 23/01/2021 14:51

He's having a rethink and is likely going to drop physics in favour of chemistry

titchy · 23/01/2021 12:01

@dairydairy

Please try and get your ds to rethink Maths. He's effectively ruled out a physics degree and made his Physics A level a lot more difficult by not taking it.

SabrinaThwaite · 23/01/2021 11:43

@dairydairy

I'd like to ask for my dc too who has opted for biology, physics and geography. He doesn't like chemistry and is good at maths but doesn't want to do a level.
Apart from biology / geography / physics degrees some suggestions could be:

Earth sciences
Environmental sciences
Zoology
Anthropology
Archaeology

www.informedchoices.ac.uk/degrees

RedskyBynight · 23/01/2021 11:42

I'd like to ask for my dc too who has opted for biology, physics and geography. He doesn't like chemistry and is good at maths but doesn't want to do a level.

With that combination you'll need at least Core Maths. And you'll have to pick a place that doesn't require its Physics students to take A Level maths. DS is taking physics, maths and geography despite not wanting to take maths, for precisely that reason.

dairydairy · 23/01/2021 10:57

I'd like to ask for my dc too who has opted for biology, physics and geography. He doesn't like chemistry and is good at maths but doesn't want to do a level.

JBX2013 · 23/01/2021 10:26

Hi @Goingdooolally!

A mundane suggestion: I would wait until the results come out in August. I would then ask for frank advice from teachers.

bigbird1969 · 23/01/2021 10:18

My DD is doing maths, economics and geography.

Has your DS looked at university courses that he is interested in? They will have must have subjects in the admission criteria so might help guide him.

Decorhate · 23/01/2021 10:14

Taking 4 subjects is rare these days (around here anyway) unless the 4th is FM. It’s quite a mix too. But obviously good to keep options open if they are unsure what they want to do.

montlieu · 23/01/2021 10:01

Please can I ask for my DC
He is looking at Maths, physics, economics ... plus either chemistry or Spanish.
Is Spanish seen as another Essay subject? Is there a lot of writing ?
Plus if the Spanish is that we speak a continental language at home which gives him an advantage. However, I am also concerned that we may have another bumpy winter ahead of us and chemistry will be an easier subject to learn remotely than a MFL
At the moment, he can’t decide whether uni will be science or more like economics/business. Thanks !

Decorhate · 23/01/2021 09:49

My Ds is doing Maths, Economics & Politics. He is really enjoying the Politics course in spite of having a weekly essay. But if essays are a total no then a Science subject might be better but they are more wordier than they used to be...

SuperPug · 23/01/2021 09:35

Agree with choosing Chemistry.
I would also have a look at Informed Choices, published by the Russell Group. Some A Levels are seen as more ‘academic’ than others - for example, Economics would generally be seen as a stronger A Level to take, compared to Business Studies.

SabrinaThwaite · 23/01/2021 09:05

Not having further maths at A level (or equivalent) does not rule out an engineering degree - some sixth forms don’t offer it in England and it doesn’t even exist as a subject in Scotland.

If your DS enjoys physical geography then I’d definitely suggest geology, but it might be the human geography aspects that sit better with economics.

Psychology might be useful, but it may require a certain level at biology GCSE to take it?

Original poster
Goingdooolally · 23/01/2021 07:50

Thanks so much everyone and @NotDonna thanks for your kind words. 💗

I suggested to him we look at courses he fancied doing and may try working back from there, to see if that helped.

Unfortunately his chemistry teacher is leaving (he really likes him) but hopefully they’ll get someone good for September.

This place is amazing! Thank you!

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