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Original poster

Which A level would you drop?

144 replies

EachandEveryone · 14/06/2021 18:36

If you were 17 and didnt have a clue what you wanted to do. Medicine is out because she knows it would be too stressful. She wants to earn money and has had part time jobs since she was 14 so she likes to spend😃. No interest in computing. She is quite argumentative and much more woke than me. Typical teen really. She is desparate to do a course which means she cannwork abroad for a year.

Todays halfway results Geography A Biology B Sociology A and Chemistry C (which she is gutted about) Apparently they dont have to drop one but it would make sense to.

OP posts:
SeasonFinale · 14/06/2021 19:31

@Frazzled2207

I'd drop sociology or chemistry if she isn't enjoying. But a Chemistry B at a level will look better than a Sociology A IMO.
Not if she wants to aim for unis that want AAA as an entry requirement.
Dozer · 14/06/2021 19:25

Grades can be brought up with hard study.

Frazzled2207 · 14/06/2021 19:24

I'd drop sociology
or chemistry if she isn't enjoying.
But a Chemistry B at a level will look better than a Sociology A IMO.

RampantIvy · 14/06/2021 19:22

She should keep the subjects she will get the best grades in. DD did biology, chemistry and geography, and found chemistry hard. She also did psychology in year 12, but dropped it after AS levels. She then had the time to bring her C grade in chemistry up to an A grade.

MadMadMadamMim · 14/06/2021 19:20

Drop the one she likes the least. She won't put as much work in.

TeenMinusTests · 14/06/2021 19:16

Drop Chemistry. It's her weakest. The other 3 make quite a good threesome too.
But before doing that go onto relevant websites and see what courses require Chemistry A level and make sure she doesn't want to do them.

PlanDeRaccordement · 14/06/2021 18:54

Going against grain, but I think she should drop chemistry.
Play to her strengths.

A job that pays well and involves arguing is a lawyer or politician/MP and any essay based critical thinking course is good towards degrees in both Law or Politics and similar. None of them have chemistry backgrounds!

I think ABA is much better than ABC for grades. She has biology to show she’s got a serious technical type course, she’s not interested in a STEM career so why push chemistry?

Theresa May has a degree in Geography. Jess Phillips in Sociology. Nicola Sturgeon in law.

frogsarejumpy · 14/06/2021 18:54

I’d drop Chemistry - she could look at courses like Development Studies, often have time abroad, uses geography and sociology and is making a difference

Shimy · 14/06/2021 18:52

Going against the grain. She likes ‘debating’ and would love a Yr abroad. I’d say drop Chemistry, study something like International relations and do a Yr abroad or study Law, both do not require Chemistry.

If she continues with Chemistry but doesn’t fancy Medicine she will end up following the allied healthcare route. They rarely involve a year abroad her earning potential will be a lot less and there’s no arguing.

PracticingPerson · 14/06/2021 18:52

But also not having a second science could shut down science options. Is so hard for them to choose sometimes!

Spied · 14/06/2021 18:51

Sociology is the most interesting of the four and from the description of your dd I think she sounds like a sociology kind of girlGrin
I'd drop the Chemistry. Or the Biology.

GiantToadstool · 14/06/2021 18:49

Depends a lot what sort of course she fancies doing, and which subjects she is enjoying most.

If she isn't really enjoying Chemistry drop Chemistry....

PracticingPerson · 14/06/2021 18:47

My child with a similar dilemma went through loads of prospectuses and chose a whole load of courses they liked the look off, then did a big diagram showing which A-level they needed. Then discarded based on future opportunities.

A in sociology could be worth more than C in chemistry if the offer is e.g. AAB and not subject specific so be careful.

titchy · 14/06/2021 18:47

@Tibtab

I wouldn’t drop one but I would work super hard over summer getting the AS Chemistry concepts nailed. Then resit the AS next year - can you still do that? I resit some AS exams in the A2 year and The best result counts.
No point resitting - AS doesn't count towards AL result any more.
titchy · 14/06/2021 18:46

Well it depends what degree course she's wants to do - she doesn't have much time to decide so decide that, at least broadly (science, social science, creative for example) then work back.

Tibtab · 14/06/2021 18:46

I wouldn’t drop one but I would work super hard over summer getting the AS Chemistry concepts nailed. Then resit the AS next year - can you still do that? I resit some AS exams in the A2 year and
The best result counts.

TotorosCatBus · 14/06/2021 18:41

Despite the low Chemistry grade I think it's a subject that opens up a lot of possibilities

I'd drop sociology tbh

HasaDigaEebowai · 14/06/2021 18:41

Chemistry is clearly not her best subject. I agree sociology is the least well regarded out of those but it’s her best grade so I’d keep it.

alexdgr8 · 14/06/2021 18:39

drop sociology.
nobody takes it seriously, except for those who struggle to get an A-level at all.
more time to concentrate on the other solid subjects, get grades up.
good luck.