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Further education

You'll find discussions about A Levels and universities on our Further Education forum.

Original poster

A level choices

53 replies

mrsnjw · 27/07/2023 11:09

Son is waiting GCSE results. He is on target to get 8/9 in business and geography. Not keen on maths or science. He has no idea what he wants to study long term. He is leaning towards A level geography and business studies. He wants to do psychology ( he has not studied it at GCSE but likes the sound of it and was impressed with the department at the sixth form open evening). He is also now pondering economics. What are peoples thoughts? Thank you.

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SiouxsieSiouxStiletto · 27/07/2023 11:11

I think Economics is quite maths based. Maths is DS's "thing" and the Economics Teacher really put in the pressure for him to study it.

Is he thinking of Uni or maybe an apprenticeship? Has he looked at what those A'Level choices could lead to?

BadGranny · 27/07/2023 11:20

If he’s not keen on maths, economics will be challenging. How about politics?

Original poster
mrsnjw · 27/07/2023 11:33

Oh that's interesting to know about the maths in economics. I wonder if it might overlap too much with business. So hard to know what to advise them to do (part from what you enjoy) without it closing doors to degrees or apprenticeships.

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Serena73 · 27/07/2023 11:42

To keep doors open I would make sure it’s another facilitating subject.

Original poster
mrsnjw · 27/07/2023 12:03

@Serena73 what's a facilitating subject? Thank you

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SiouxsieSiouxStiletto · 27/07/2023 12:03

Yes definitely look up facilitating subjects.

I think Business is a bit mathsy too? DS did it at GCSC and I seem to remember he liked the fact that there was a fair bit of Maths.

clary · 27/07/2023 12:44

Agree if he is not keen on maths at all the economics is a curious choice. I believe there is also a lot of maths in psych too - not to the extent of it requiring maths A level but perhaps not good for someone who dislikes maths?

Facilitating subjects have been dropped by unis and really don't exist as such. The idea was that they were subjects which kept open more degree courses - bc they are actually required. For example, economics A level is not needed for an econ degree (tho it might be of interest) but maths is; politics A level not needed for any degree, but you can't do a degree in Eng lit without Eng lit A level. Etc.

Thing is tho, students should take subjects they are interested in. Far far better to take business, DT and sociology (to pick at random three subjects not on the fabled fac subj list) if those are where the interest lies and where a student will gain AAA, than picking maths, biology and history, hating sixth form and finishing with CCC. IYSWIM.

@mrsnjw geography, business and psych are fine and there are lots of places to go with those post A level. Check the maths content of psych tho.

mommacots · 27/07/2023 12:47

Facilitating subjects was dropped years ago now.

However, If you do look up the informed choices website (run by The Russell group) you can put in your proposed A levels and it will tell you what degrees you can do.

Just remember that it is Russell Group, so the degree subjects is narrower than if you were looking at some other unis.

noblegiraffe · 27/07/2023 12:50

If he is considering social sciences then he should look at whether his college/sixth form offer Core Maths which is roughly half an A-level designed to be studied alongside three science/social science A-levels and to support the maths content in them, for students who don't want to study maths A-level.

It requires roughly a grade 4/5 at maths GCSE, and is very different to maths A-level, in that it's more financial, 'real world' and statistical maths and contains very little in the way of algebra.

Original poster
mrsnjw · 27/07/2023 13:27

Oh @noblegiraffe yes core maths is an option as an additional as is finance. He thought finance would be better with business but will look more closely at the core maths option. Thank you.

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Original poster
mrsnjw · 27/07/2023 13:29

There's epq, financial literacy or core maths.

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Piggywaspushed · 28/07/2023 13:07

Not sure either economics or psychology are good choices if he doesn't like science or maths!

DS did economics A level, that said, and there was hardly any proper maths. Not all unis like a business/ economics combo, by the way.

What else does he like at GCSE? Geography and sociology are happy bedfellows if he is OK with essays. Politics also a good suggestion.

Original poster
mrsnjw · 28/07/2023 13:50

@OriginalUsername2 that's really useful thank you

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Original poster
mrsnjw · 28/07/2023 13:54

He absolutely doesn't want to take maths or science. He's actually on to gets 7s and 8s in the subjects. He just doesn't enjoy them. Geography and business are forecast 9s. I do wish he was a bit more proactive. He doesn't want to discuss his options. Maybe worried he won't get what he needs.

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lifeturnsonadime · 28/07/2023 13:58

My honest advice is get him to choose what he's interested in.

The best A Level results come from students who are really interested in their subjects.

My DS is doing A Level psychology. There is a maths element to that & it is also very fact/ study heavy. A lot of people have found it difficult because they thought it would be a lighter subject but it really isn't.

redskytwonight · 28/07/2023 14:04

If he's waiting for gcse results has he not already submitted his choices? If he's waiting to decide post results he won't be able to guarantee getting to do exactly what he wants as places will be allocated already.

Comefromaway · 28/07/2023 14:20

A facilitating subject is a subject that is useful for someone who doesn't know what they want to do at uni. So for example English is a facilitating subject but if you have English A level or Maths A level you can apply to a wider variety of degree courses than if you have art for example. It closes off less options (but you can still have 3 facilitating subjects for example English Lit, History & French but still not be able to do certain degrees such as maths/science based ones so it isn't relevant for many people)

NancyJoan · 28/07/2023 14:22

What is his language GCSE?

Original poster
mrsnjw · 28/07/2023 14:23

French. He didn't want to take a language but we gently encouraged him to as the school encouraged all year 10 to take a language. He didn't like French either 🤨

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Original poster
mrsnjw · 28/07/2023 14:25

He loves sport and the school offer BTEC sport but it counts as two a levels so quite restricting. He is much better at sitting exams than organising himself to do coursework.

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CrackedHeels2 · 28/07/2023 14:27

As someone else has said facilitating subjects are not a thing anymore.

I am a psychology teacher - it is just as academic as any other A level subject. There is some maths but nothing beyond GCSE level - any student with a 6, probably a 5 will be fine. It is all applied to a scenario and is more about being confident with maths than being super good at it.

Core maths sounds a good option given his potential other subjects.

Original poster
mrsnjw · 28/07/2023 14:29

@CrackedHeels2 yes I think many unis regard it as a science so he could still do a sport related degree with psychology. I love psychology and wish I'd have followed that path instead of teaching 🤨

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CrackedHeels2 · 28/07/2023 14:35

@mrsnjw yes, many universities regard it as a science, and it would link well with sport at university. Good luck to him on results day and in the future!

NotDonna · 28/07/2023 16:25

DD1 did maths, chemistry and economics A levels and LOVED economics - most likely due to the mathsy content. She applied to universities to read economics and I do recall her seeing that some would say they would not accept both Business and Economics, so I do think your DS needs to choose one or the other. Or if he knows what he wants to study to double check Uni websites.
DD2 also chose Economics but alongside psychology and history. She hasn’t enjoyed economics at all. The maths wasn’t tricky (got 8 at gcse) but for whatever reason just hasn’t enjoyed it. School don’t offer business GCSE or A level but DD2 would have most definitely have chosen business over economics. She’s definitely enjoyed psychology but found the forensic / biology aspects tricky. Had no problems with the maths elements - it’s research stats (where you would use chi square, spearman’s coefficient etc and reading graphs, understanding research as opposed to equations etc). Albeit she’s waiting results! Do I may have spoken too soon! She also took Core Maths in yr12, which she found straightforward and a lateral extension of gcse rather than a climb. It’s actually been really useful maths! Helpfully both Bath & York universities lowered their offers by one grade due to her core maths (as they do with an EPQ) - not something that’d happen with your DSs finance option. Having said that DD1 did finance (CISI) in yr12 and loved it but she was already doing A level maths so core not an option.