A level vs vocational

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Hi all my dd has just started her a levels, she picked psychology, sociology and chemistry, she wasn't to keen on chemistry and psychology but picked them as she didn't like anything else. Now a few weeks in she hates chemistry and would like to change it but as she doesn't like any other Alevels in that block so she is talking about taking a level 3 Cambridge technical in business instead of chemistry, any thoughts??? I kind of think she is better off sticking to 3 a levels. what would uni/employers think about a mix of qualifications? Thanks.

Chemistry is a really hard A level to do if you aren't very keen on the subject imo.
Swapping while she still can (without having to repeat a year) may be a good idea.
The Cambridge Technical is a level 3 qualification that unis and employers would see as equivalent to A levels. Probably better to have a high grade for the level 3 Business than a very low one in Chemistry.

What does she hope to do longer term? She may find uni courses ask for one of a specific list of subjects, worth looking at a few and working back to keep options open. Relatively few schools offer psychology and sociology so that even related degrees don't require them but may prefer , say, maths.

Change. If she's not into chemistry now, and its odd to have it as the only pure science, she'll fail it. L3 Business better than U Chemistry.

Thanks all. I agree with both your points. Problem is she doesn't have a clue what she wants to do or if she wants to go to uni, personally I would like to see her take subjects that will keep all doors open, I feel that psychology and sociology are not so good for keeping all options open. Her school decided to remove a lot of a levels and she had only applied to one other school which after attending the induction day decided she didn't like it. When I try to talk to her I get accused of being interfering! Part of me says let her learn the hard way the part of me says tell her what she needs to study, lol. Trouble is she is a bright kid and I don't want her to end up in a dead end job. Xx

Chemistry A Level is really hard, so I'd go for an alternative.

OP the trouble is that Chemistry without either another Science e.g. Biology or Maths keeps very few options open.
I am a former Chemistry teacher BTW and dcs in your dds situation now often end up having to retake Y12 if they try to keep going with Chemistry if they aren't really interested in it.

Don't get me wrong I'm happy for her to drop chemistry just want her to do another subject that will Keep doors open just unsure if 2 Alevels and a vocational are the way to go. Xx

My son didn’t want to do A’levels ( couldn’t decide on 3 he wanted ‘hard’ enough).
He left his 6th form went to a engineering UTC and took a BTec extended level 3 diploma.
It was hard for him at first as his friends ( at 6th form) said he was wasting his time not doing A’levels.
He finished his course in June. Results day saw him with a DDD - which is equivalent to 3x A Alevels (in UCAS points) .
Uni wise - Russel group won’t accept BTec only and want at least one A level alongside.
Lots of Uni Courses were open to him.
He didn’t want to get the student debt of Uni so is now on a Higher Level Apprenticeship. Many of his peers from the UTC are now at Uni ( with ‘only’ the BTec)

His Employer liked his qualification as they felt it was more ‘ relevant’ to the industry than Maths , Physics & another A’level.
His results gave him more than enough UCAS points to qualify for the Degree Course his company are now funding him to take alongside his apprenticeship.

As a parent I was dubious about his original choices and felt by not taking A levels it may limit his choices post 18.
He has proven me wrong .
He was left with lots of choices.

As someone else said I think a strong pass in a Btec ( etc) is far more choice giving than a low pass at A’level.

Hope your Dd finds something that makes her happy.

D D D* result - showed wrong in my previous post just now.

Distinction at BTEC / CTEC is the same number of UCAS points as an A at A level.

Obviously you would need to look at requirements if she wants to do something specific at uni, but in general a high grade vocational qualification is much better than a low A level grade.

Doing Business would keep options open as she would cover accounting, marketing etc etc.

Doing one vocational qualification alongside A levels can be a really good mix. If you do all vocational, you are constantly trying to meet coursework deadlines, but it means you have less exams to revise for at the end.