Opposing views on A-Level choices

Thinking some more about this thread @lyraa, if your DS doesn't like biology and finds maths hard, psychology may not be a good idea, as it is closely related to both. Has he looked into the subject in detail?

It does make me wonder, as he is not keen on any of his GCSEs beyond geog and Eng lang, if he might be better suited to a different post-16 setting which would offer Eng lang A level (tho tbf it is nothing like the GCSE) or even a T-level focusing on a geog-related subject? He can hold multiple post-16 offers and tbh it's a good idea to have a second option.

So then he drops out and finds something he does like and is good at. He's young, this is what this time is for. He doesnt need to rush off to uni at 18 to do a subject he will regret. Let him chop and change as many times as it takes to find his niche.

Why do you and DH need to be aligned? It is your son's choice. Back off and leave him alone.

That's interesting. DD started 6th form in 2016 and started with biology, chemistry, geography and psychology. She found psychology boring, unchallenging and extremely content heavy, and dropped it after AS levels.

I agree with @clary that as it is an untried subject, and too many 16 year olds find the volume of content and memorising all the case studies of horrible experiments carried out by people with difficult to spell names (et al) just want to give up.

It was also the most dropped subject at DD's school. It didn't help that many of the 16 year olds chose psychology because they didn't get the right grades at GCSE to pursue other, more "tradional" subjects. I wonder if this is why it is viewed as a soft option?

Neither geography, nor psychology are soft subjects IMO. Geography includes an NEA (non examined assessment) which was good preparation for DD for writing her dissertation at university.

Exam boards have actually updated the spec and reduced the content for 2026 onwards in recognition of this.

You are right. Psychology and Geography can be very complementary.

I disagree. I think they’re a reasonably complimentary group of subjects on the intersection of the humanities and social sciences. Particularly if it’s the human geography side he prefers - alongside Psy and Bus that looks ideal for town/urban planning, environment type degrees. Would this be of interest, or at least allay your dh’s fears? https://www.ucl.ac.uk/prospective-students/undergraduate/degrees/urban-planning-design-and-management-bsc-2025

That’s interesting. I think many people choose psychology because they think it sounds interesting, but without really understanding what it involves, especially as few of them will have studied it for GCSE. Once they start the course they realise that there is lot of content to learn and there is more science in it that they had expected. That puts some of them off.

Psychology is nevertheless an extremely popular subject. It’s the second most commonly taken A level (after maths).

Your husband is letting his own prejudices on what he thinks are worthy or not academically affect his reasoning. There will always be people who only think maths, the sciences, maybe English literature and history are “strong” subjects. Unless a child has a specific uni course or career in mind where there are non-negotiable A Level subject requirements, you should absolutely allow them to take what they are going to enjoy.
Your husband needs to reflect on why he thinks like he does, then drag himself into 2025!

If he likes history just not the options at his school he should consider other schools/sixth forms. There’s a lot of choice in the history syllabi and he might find areas he us interested in.

likewise English language is an a level even if his current school does not offer it.

he should be looking at other options for sixth forms anyway in case he doesn’t make the grades for his current school.

he needs a plan A, B and C.

In my opinion, you are right, your DH is wrong.
nothing wrong with those A level choices.
Do NOT suggest a science A level to anyone who isn't fully keen and committed to it and getting top GCSE grades because it won't work out well.
Another recommendation for Core Maths if you can find it - my son did this alongside A levels (including Psychology) - he found it helpful and also got a good grade which reduced his university offer.

Many don't. Often psychology on its own is fine, and geography is often accepted as a science. Occasionally a higher offer may be given if there is no science. But there are certainly options available - Birmingham, Nottingham and Exeter for example

There are still a lot of psychology courses at decent universities that don’t require maths, though, so it’s not a dealbreaker even if he wanted to go down that route.

This is not true for most BSc Psychology courses (Russell group included). Most ask for one Science which can include A level Psychology.

If he does choose Psychology and enjoys it enough to want to study it at university, he will need maths or biology A level as well to be considered for a lot of Psychology courses.

Would he consider economics, its a growing field, with lots of different jobs available, yes the trad investment banking grad roles or analyst but loads more as well. The companies do loads of insight days, internships (yes competitive but smaller companies have started as well, and there's loads to access down the line). It also gives him an opening into STEM and more unis are allowing economics degree applications without having done Maths A-level. It obviously has maths but down the line can go into interdisciplinary roles he might like.

With history its really hard because you can love history (the subject) but not what you are doing. And it's completely down to the path your school takes as to whether you even think you like the subject, unfortunately both due to training, resources etc these topics tend to be pretty run of the mill and the under emphasis on history and geography compared to the past has impacted this.

Get him to properly look into the topics, the specifications, the assesment (what do the papers look like - he can see this online, they tend to be structured the same every year). Also he likely can (depends on his school) do what he wants for his history nea.
Though check as schools are allowed to do 1. Let everyone do what they want 2. Give a list of topics based on the teachers specialisms, particular areas of interest, even if it's not something they are teaching to any year, ans let students pick from that or 3. Pick for students, and have the overall topics be the same for everyone (questions and question focus would be different though).

As a whole he needs to like the subjects, there's no point doing something he think he'll hate unless he 100% needs it. I will say though somtimes the challenge of A-level, the opportunity for more depth, means students can love subjects they didn't always use to at GCSE. I know many people who took subjects they weren't too fond of or didn't at all like at GCSE and it became their favourite at A-level. But wouldn't recommend as a guide of how to choose subjects. He can change across y11 so it's not the be all and end all now.

It looks like he's just picked 3 random A levels that don't go together with no thought towards his university course, if i'm being honest.

I think those are perfectly fine A-levels for him to put down for his current school. I would be wary about the math and science content of both geography and psych if he genuinely wants to avoid that, but he's also not wedded to the initial choices he submits.

I would actually push this conversation in a different direction and (very insistently) ask him to explore and choose at least one other 16+ option to apply to in addition to his current school. If he resists, repeatedly point out that applying can only give him an additional option if he ends up needing or wanting it and he's absolutely not agreeing to leave his school by applying elsewhere. Having a backup plan is always a smart idea, and I think that actually looking at what else is out there could lead to him finding something that appeals and plays to his strengths more than what is available at his current school. I'd specifically encourage him to look at colleges that offer more options than just taking all A-levels because it really sounds like he might benefit from mixing in a BTEC or other option with more of a practical component. I know he's dead set on his current school right now, but as next fall draws closer he may find that some of his friends are at least considering leaving as well and regret not looking, especially as the reality of mocks and then actual exams hits.

DD likes maths and considered taking it at A level for a while - she had a high enough grade to do it. She also looked at economics A level but you can't take it alongside business at her school. Core maths seems to fill the 'maths gap' for her!

Ds is doing this alongside Economics A Level
He got a 6 in Maths at GCSE so doesn't need it but wanted to

I'd be worried that with those A-levels he will end up doing a degree in business studies like a bazillion other kids and then end up working in a call centre. I'd avoid a degree in business studies if at all possible tbh. I know too many people that have ended up in call centres after a business studies degree.

I also agree with others that he's probably only interested in business and psychology because he hasn't done them before and they're an alternative to doing things he already knows he hates.

I think it's very difficult when you don't have a direction you want to go in but I really think he needs to start giving it some serious thought. This goes triple if he wants a degree apprenticeship because he will need to be doing relevant moocs and online courses, relevant EPQ, relevant volunteering, extra curriculars at school or outside - relevant or demonstrating soft skills, part time work etc. He will need an impressive CV and a variety of experiences to talk about at interview so if he wants to go down that route he really needs to give it some thought and start planning now.

He might be interested in something like the police perhaps? I think they have degree apprenticeships but know nothing about them. Or if geography is his favourite subject maybe going down an environmental route. Psychology is a slog to get anywhere with I think, years and years of study and difficult to get anywhere.

I'd get him looking at and thinking about what he might want to after A-levels before he makes any definite decisions.

It's not an A level, it's a bit like an A/S level I think. The exams are taken in May/June of yr12. At DD's school the vast majority do EPQ, but core maths can be taken instead of EPQ if they want to continue with maths but don't want to do A level maths.

I did a geography degree - though I never used it and later went back to Uni to train as a Nurse.

I’ve seen plenty of young people who drop out when parents have chosen their subjects. Consider what leads to success overall.

Your DH is wrong - it’s 2 years studying a small number of subjects- you have to like them and want to do it. Ultimately its your sons choice anyway.