How do you pick A levels when you don't enjoy any of the subjects

I agree with other, try to look at other places.

If the schools not offering what your DD is interested in doing then she may find a different setting and choices for her to look at.

There are units within btecs that are transferable skills. E.g. my DD1 did travel and tourism. That included some customer service, marketing, business and event management as well as some more specific units.

Could she combine French, with some IT course, and secretarial/ office skills? That combination could open doors to a wide range of interesting work.

That's exactly why I chose academic subjects and did English, and two other totally academic subjects and nothing vocational.

University was the same. With a degree you can train in a few things so it was just a door opener for me. I got a few jobs with degree educated in the essential criteria.

I don't think this is a good idea now though with the fees being so high. I'd encourage academic A-Levels then encourage apprenticeships in things that are useful like trades with a view to being able to be self-employed and set up a business later in life. Employment wouldn't be what I would aim for, earnings are capped and few enjoy the rigidity.

But you can also go down the route of training on the job for many things as well and working your way up.

Um please look at the syllabus for french - in some of them, they have to do literature - like essays in french. She may not like this as she doesn’t really like English lit. It is hard to do a levels if you dislike the subject. Can she consider more vocational courses?

@SnarkyBag same with my son- went down IT apprenticeship (paid) route

I would encourage her to look at alternatives to A levels. DS got stuck with A levels he wasn’t interested and lasted a term before going down an apprenticeship route instead.

The difficulty is that btecs and t-levels are more specific. So you do kind of need a better idea of what it is that you want to do. If you’re able academically , then A levels do allow you to keep more breadth across 3 subjects (or more). But you’ve got to love academic studying.

Don't do A level French if she doesn't like literature!

IB? Broad range of subjects and leaves options open

A levels are hard going and if she hates her subjects it’ll be even worse.

would she prefer something more vocational? T levels look like a good option.

How depressing that she is so utterly unenthused by any subject

what’s the teaching like?

There are lots of other subjects which aren't offered at school, like law, psychology, etc, but if she really doesn't like any of the current subjects maybe she has had enough of school-type learning and would prefer something more practical or vocational? Or she might have just had enough of her current school and would prefer to go somewhere else.
I agree you should take her to look round colleges to see what else is available, it might give her some ideas or she might realise that she would rather stay at school after all.

I would recommend going to a college open day that offers a much wider range of courses.

And a 9 at French means nothing, a level languages are very hard, dd got almost full marks at gcse and c at a level

And don't worry about her closing off her future, my sil quit school at 26 to work in a clothing shop, after a year she found an apprenticeship in engineering, now has a PhD and never paid a penny in fees for university as her company funded everything whilst paying her a salary,

French was a ‘given’ for me too, got A grade at GCSE and won French prize. It is VERY different and much harder at A Level. I’d maybe look at BTEC/NVQ as pp have said.

My DD changed schools because hers wasn't offering the subjects she was interested in taking at A Level.

Have you looked around at courses on offer at other schools and colleges? Why does it have to be the more limited choice at her school? Can she not apply to others?

Or maybe an apprenticeship would work better if she doesn't like academia and doesn't want to study.

University isn't the only route to consider, and students do generally emerge with around £60 - £70k of debt hanging round their necks.

Typically at A level you choose what’s required by the degree you intend to go on to. If she wants to go to university, it’s worth getting some ideas! Browse the university websites, look at people who’ve done those degrees on LinkedIn to see what they’ve done with it, watch stuff with characters who are accountants/nurses/computer scientists/French majors.
I’m not sure there’s any merit in taking A levels if you’ve nothing to use them for, particularly if you don’t even enjoy it. Maybe a vocational calling at college will be more fitting?

I am trying to encourage her to just pick the 2 she hates the least because she has to pick something

Why does she have to pick something? It doesnt sound like she wants to do A levelss so why are you forcing her?

A mix of A Levels and BTEC? BTECs available in different subject areas. Can be equivalent of 1, 2or 3 ALevels. My son was the same. Only keen on ALevel PE so chose Extended Diploma in Sport (3 ALevel equivalent) Some of his friends do the 1 ALevel equivalent, others the 2 combined with Alevels.

If she knows what career path she wants to follow then she should choose the appropriate degree or apprenticeships etc. So if she then knows what degree she would like to do that will guide her A level choices.

I’d be sure she meant it and have a discussion about career aspirations. She’ll not do well if she genuinely doesn’t want to study and isn’t excited by her subjects or at least, what they might bring her. There are other routes to degrees and other routes to university entrance. Look at those.
Consider apprenticeships (some end up with masters), consider armed forces (they don’t go to conflict zones under 18), consider local colleges, BTech etc.

Lots of things that offer chance for academic success that aren’t as levels. Our son did battle through A levels but chose not to go to university, settling on armed forces at 18. He had his degree paid for, has masters, other vocational and leadership qualifications, played high level sport most of his working time and travelled the world doing exciting things. It was absolutely the right thing for him, but we took some persuading initially.

What doesn't she like about them? Often ita the teacher rather than the subject. Or the way it's taught at GCSE (boring and teaching to the test). Or maybe it's too easy, or irrelevant. Until she can say what she doesn't like about her current subjects, she won't be able to decide what she does want.

Honestly, I wouldn't be encouraging her to do A levels in subjects she doesn't like. There are so many other options available to her, Btecs and advanced diplomas, or apprenticeships. My DD did an advanced diploma as A levels really weren't for her. It is equivalent to 3 A levels in terms of UCAS points, and she's now at university.