A-level subjects - Maths and what? Advice needed...

[sixthformsubjects]

Maths is a definite subject my DS is going to do for A-levels, but not sure what to do for the other two.

Going through a list of A-level subjects, he has shown interest in Music, Biology, Computing, Psychology, PE and Physics but he's not doing PE/Physics for GCSEs so he may not be allowed to pick Psychology, PE and Physics... I like to avoid saying the reason why he didn't do Physics and PE for GCSEs but it's not because of his academic performance. He is very academic - mostly 8/9 expected for GCSEs.

He doesn't know what he likes to study for a degree yet so it's so hard to narrow down his choices... Could I borrow your knowledgable brains here...? Is there any good combination that would keep his choice of a degree more open and wide...?? I didn't get educated in this country so no clue.... Any advice would be very much appreciated.

You would need to ask the sixth form, but I do know people who recently have taken A level Biology (or Chemistry) without GCSE Physics. Providing you have good GCSE grades, this shouldn't be an issue.

I think the advantage of something like economics at a level is that it gives a taste of the subject - going in blind to a degree without having studied anything previously connected is a bit of a risk.

My DD really wanted to do a psych degree, but having done the A level (which she enjoyed) she realised that she really didn't want to take it any further by the end of Y12 and was able to choose a different area for her uni applications.

Lots of helpful advice here, @sixthformsubjects. Some additional points to add to the mix...choosing subjects that 'close the least doors' can be a good strategy but needs to be balanced with 'love of subject'. The step up from GCSE to A-level can be demanding, particularly in relation to Maths and the physical sciences. Getting a B in a worthy 'door opener' could actually limit options to a greater extent than say, Maths, Biology and a third subject like CS or Economics, if your DC was likely to achieve an A or higher because they really engaged with that subject. Something to think about.

On a slight tangent, I just wanted to comment on a point @waltzingparrot says was made by Sixth Form Heads that 'chemistry on its own is useless'. It is important to understand that Chemistry and other science uni departments typically see Mathematics as a 'second science' in any offer that might be Chemistry A level plus one other science. Indeed, Further Maths is often (though not always) seen as a 'third science' in any offer. This is why @Lottsbiffandsmudge's A level combination opened the door to a Chemistry degree and Lotts will be pleased to hear still opens that door. Some DC also like to take Chemistry as one of their 'filler' A levels simply because they are good at it and enjoy the rigour and structure, even if they have no intention to take it further at degree level. As ever, check out a sample of uni websites for A level requirements - it is all there!

@PerpetualOptimist so not going mad then!!!
I totally agree that the third subject must be something they love.... and that's why I guess 'new' subjects are riskier than ones he has studied before... unless of course he does not love any of those!!!
BTW music is an essay subject and so ticks that box with maths, fm and bio.

Brilliant at languages => he could do a term or year abroad as part of his Uni degree in country with one of those languages.

If he is thinking about a biological sciences degree the chemistry is required for many courses. It was an essential requirement for all courses the biological sciences department at my uni, even biology wasn't essential and could be covered by some extra reading being set in the summer break before starting the first year.

Has he considered philosophy? It's a well regarded academic subject and the emphasis on reasoned argument goes well with mathematics. DS did both maths and philosophy and chose to do a philosophy degree. He found the grounding in maths very helpful in his degree, found the Logic modules a breeze while his classmates who didn't do maths struggled quite a bit with them.

He also did Spanish A level and hated it! Loved it at GCSE but didn't like the emphasis on literature in the A level. That would apply for all modern languages I believe.

I took A levels in biology, chemistry and maths without having done physics O level and didn't find the lack of physics a problem. Ended up doing a biological sciences degree. This was some time ago though, hence the O level rather than GCSE!

I am a big fan of picking things that don't close doors, but my much younger brother did a comp sci a level, and while it wasn't needed to go on and do a comp sci degree, what it did give him was enough knowledge and experience in programming to Know that that was what he wanted to do at university.

So I wouldn't rule things out on the basis that they aren't absolutely required if it's something like that where you tend to either really love it or feel quite agnostic about it.

This was recent enough for these pupils to have taken 9-1 GCSEs.

My dd has just done Psychology A Level and she didn't do Physics GCSE - like your son, she just did Chemistry and Biology. She didn't struggle with the subject and the only science that really seemed at all relevant was Biology.

Thank you for all the advice! So now Language is definitely out. He would love to do Maths, Fm, Biology, and maybe CS. But is also considering Music instead of CS. Suppose we should look at the requirements of the degree courses that he might be interested in.