Would you let your child choose “easier” A-levels to get better grades?

[ainawatson]

My child is about to start sixth form and we're having a bit of a disagreement about subject choices.
They're considering subjects they genuinely enjoy and feel confident they can get good grades in, but I'm wondering whether they should choose more traditionally academic or “useful” subjects instead to keep more university and career options open.
Would you prioritise enjoyment and the chance of higher grades, or choose subjects based more on future career prospects?
Interested to hear what other parents and students would do!

I don’t really think it’s any of your business, this is their future and their choice. Why force them to do subjects they don’t enjoy, YABVU

Enjoyment of the subject for me, and I wouldn't try to pressure them or influence their choices.

They'll do far better if they are happy with their subjects.

Keep out of it unless they ask for your input.

I would prioritize what my child wants to study. Happy student = better grades.

At this stage, it is their choice. Their A level choices will have an impact (to a lesser or greater degree) on the rest of their lives. If you get involved they could blame you eg grades too low for next step

your DC should take the subjects that they want to study. Do they have a sense of what they would like to do after school? Hopefully their chosen A level align with their career aspirations.

My ds was clear that he wanted to do harder STEM a'levels because they were relevant to his degree choice/career. He made his own choices with the advice of the school. My input would not have been relevant.

It's up to your dd, not you. It's her life.

As an A level teacher I would advise your DC to pick the subjects they enjoy the most and I would advise you to offer no opinion whatsoever to them.

A levels are hard work and a big step up from GCSE; there aren't really 'easier' subjects, to be honest. Let your DC pick the things they like. A levels in subjects the student doesn't enjoy or has little interest in are an absolute ball ache and they won't do well.

Fair point. I’m not trying to force them into anything — I’m more wondering how much parents should advise when subject choices can affect future options. Ultimately, it would be their decision.

It depends, doesn’t it? Mostly on their abilities and aspirations for the future.
Low grades in ‘academic’ might keep more subjects ‘open’ but not at good unis - I’m not seeing how doing subjects they don’t like and may not do well at is more likely to lead to either short or long term happiness and success.

Ideally a mixture of interest and most likely to get a higher grade. So a child who is good at STEM might pick maths etc

If your dd knows that she’d probably do an essay subject at uni then it’s fine not to pick say Chemistry which is a subject that keeps a lot of science options open.

I think it’s fine for the child to pick as they are at an age where they need to start making choices about their life.

That’s fair, and I can see why you feel that way. I’d never want to pressure them into subjects they dislike.

That seems to be the general consensus so far. Makes sense though — if they enjoy the subjects, they’re probably more likely to put the work in and do well.

Broadly my view is interest and ability will lead to a career they enjoy.
But then I come from a STEM background.

I might have different views if a child wanted to study something that has very poor future job prospects.

Well, if they have some idea of what they want to do in the future, you can sanity-check whether their A level choices are congruent with their aims or not.

I think you need to review the workload of 3 A Levels with them and remember that these are tactical choices and are really all about UCAS points. We went for 2 x BTEC and an A Level. This means continuous assessment and hard work for two years, no final exam, and one heavy exam-based A Level. It worked for us, but if you want Russell Group unis, they are sometimes not so keen on 2 BTECS (despite it being exactly the way they mark HE coursework)

In the 1960s my DF was railroaded by DGF into doing economics A-level because it would be useful. DF got an E. Luckily he also got a history scholarship to Cambridge followed by a brilliant 1st. And became an Oxbridge academic. He had views about the disaster it was for a child to take an A-level they didn’t wish to because it was useful.

Their choice but I’d discourage “soft” subjects like psychology/ sociology and so on unless they are going into a field where there is a direct use.

It's important that DC studies subjects he enjoys. I was 'surprised' when mine chose Theatre Studies, English Language and Psychology as a mix. Couldn't quite see where that was heading! Then applied for Oxbridge - above subjects were apparently not suitable at all for those heights according to the advice of the Head of Sixth Form. (Was therefore refused a place on the annual Cambridge visit as was not a serious candidate.) Got accepted though, so Oxbridge thought differently. Now a barrister. I didn't see that coming either.

Just let him do his thing!

To a degree I agree with the 'do what you enjoy' sentiment, but it does have to have a dose of reality. If their career ambitions require a science degree, there's no point them doing humanities A levels. Stretching a point to make a point, but you know what I mean. I think there's a balance to be made in letting them do what they want (their life, their choice) and providing some adult guidance and perspective.

If their career ambition involves studying subjects they don’t like and/or aren’t very good at even at A level, then they probably need to think again about whether they are likely to thrive and ultimately be happy and successful in that career.

I absolutely encouraged mine to pick one A level that would be easy as they were doing hard subjects (maths and chemistry for example).

One did art and one did sociology. It pretty much guaranteed them good grades, took some pressure off and they enjoyed the subjects.

I dont think there are easier A levels really, or not massive differences between them. Languages seem a massive step up I guess.

Its best to combine what you enjoy with what keeps as many doors open as possible in terms of next steps.

I’m a sixth form tutor. Best for your child to do what they enjoy so long as they are well informed as to the implications for university choices. If their heart is set on going to a Russell Group uni to read Economics they must have Maths as one of their choices. Medicine will require Chemistry etc. They can find out what the universities require by looking on the UCAS website if university is their preferred option.

Try to get them to focus on what they could do at uni and afterwards . If they have a goal or career in mind, it will help when potentially the course gets tough.

So many young people in this country just do courses they love. That may be why so many are unemployable.

What do you consider easier subjects? Someone mentioned art. Art A levels are notoriously time consuming. Maybe not academically challenging, although essays are now part of the coursework, the hours of work needed to get a good grade should not be underestimated. It really needs to be a passion. Humanities are not easy subjects either and something like Media is very difficult to get an A grade in. There is a current trend towards STEM but we will soon be crying out for the deep thinkers.