A Level choices too limiting? Economics, Business Studies and Accounting

[Choices2024ALevel]

Ds has a couple of weeks left to make his A Level decision. I'm very much leaving the decision to him but want to provide some gentle guidance and thinking points and I'm a bit concerned about his choices.

He's decided he wants to be an Accountant and has selected Business Studies, Economics and Accounting.

I've already had the discussion with him that some Unis will require Maths for an Accounting/Finance degree so this may limit him - but he's adamant he doesn't want to do Maths (despite it being one of his best subjects, he's just got his early GCSE results and had A). Also spoken about keeping his options open - but in typical teen style he's supremely confident that his future career is mapped out as an Accountant and of course there's no chance he'll ever change his mind 🙄

How are these for choices do you think? Is there far too much overlap which will massively impact his future options? Is Accounting A Level going to put Unis off? Or will these be fine despite the overlap and many Unis won't mind as long as he gets the required grades?

It was a very long time ago, but I did Economics and Business Studies as two of my A levels and there was a lot of overlap. I choose them for this reason as I did all 3 A levels in a year from scratch. Not something I would advise anyone in normal circumstances, particularly if he is aiming for a top university.

Maths would make most sense, but if he is adamant try and persuade him to do something different - Politics and Psychology are very popular at my son’s school if he wants to try something different.

No, far too limiting, economics, maths plus another completely different subject (maybe history as it's good from a report writing perspective) is far better. It may have changed but accounting was frowned upon as an a level by universities when I studied for mine. I'm an accountant and I did economics, politics and sociology.

Choices are way too narrow. Business Studies AND Economics overlap - he should do Economics (Business can be considered a "lighter" choice.

Accountancy - would not bother.

So he needs 2 alternatives....

What other subjects does he enjoy?

Accounting firms are recruiting globally - most countries don't even offer subjects like accounting, business or economics as A level (or equivalent) subjects. Companies are looking for well rounded, creative people (who ideally speak foreign languages) with a rigorous academic background.

I would personally choose subjects like Maths, a Science/Computer Science and any other academic subject he enjoys.

Hey @Choices2024ALevel I actually agree with everyone else!

Everyone always comes on threads about A levels and says "you should take maths" even when there is no clear benefit but in this case, I really do think maths would be a good idea.

YY maths is more important than economics for economics degree (he may want to do this after all) and in fact as I understand it, maths is more or less required for econ. FM is also useful for the top unis tbh.

Accounting not needed for accountancy degree as noted here.

Yes of course his A level choices close doors - any A level choices will. Maths physics and chemistry will close the door on a degree in English lit. But these choices really have the demerit of not leaving any doors open - that are not open with any A level combo. And as others say, I believe some of the very top unis like LSE frown on business and economics as a combo. This may not be where he is aiming for but it's good to know.

If he chose instead (for example) maths, economics and history, or maths, business and biology, or maths, accounting and geography (obv don't know what GCSEs he is doing) then he would still be able to take accounting or business at uni, but also (depending on combo!) geography, economics, history, biology, other sciency choices... does that make sense?

Why is he not keen on maths A level? has he had a look at what is involved? It may spark his interest to do so. Also a lifetime of maths (ie accounting) with not enough interest in the subject to take it for A level seems surprising.

It would be good for him to look at a few Unis that he is interested in and read the entry criteria for Accounting and Finance. I personally think Business Studies is a softer subject and there could be overlap with an Accounting A level so I wouldn't recommend it. He wouldn't go wrong with Economics, Maths and a strong academic subject like Chemistry or Physics for example. (He wont' need account A level to do accounting and he may find overlap of material if he does).

He's decided he wants to be an Accountant

I'm surprised that he knows this at age 16/17. Personally I would advise him to keep his options open - especially with the prospect of AI possibly making jobs redundant?

I would say that he definitely needs at least *one" subject to be different as they are all a bit too similar and he could change his mind about accountancy in the future.
Am also a bit unsure about taking Maths early and it being a grade A rather than the number grades. Assume that means that either it's iGCSE or that you are not in England.
So depending on his other strengths the 3rd subject could either be Maths or a Science or an essay subject such as History or Geography to broaden his options.

Actually if he took maths early (agree, are you in Wales or why is it a letter grade?) he needs to make sure he keeps going with the subject between now and September is he does choose to take it for A level.

Thanks all, it's good to read additional perspectives. It seems I was right to be a little concerned about the mix/overlap.

To answer some questions, yes we're in Wales so still on letter grades. Re the maths - he's actually got two GCSE's so far, A's in both Mathematics and in Mathematics-Numeracy which he sat in November. They're now doing a 'Level 2 Certificate in Additional Mathematics' until the end of the year so he'll get an additional qualification on top of GCSE.

Maths has always been his thing but he seems very opposed to taking it at A Level for no obvious reason which is frustrating. But I'm trying to hold myself back a bit and avoid trying to 'convince' him.

He doesn't have to finalise his choices until the end of Feb so I'm hoping he reconsiders.

He has done the Russell Group Choices quiz thing - and annoyingly, when you select the option for either Finance or Accounting degrees, the four A Level options it throws out are Economics, Business, Accounting and Maths 🤦‍♀️ so it's only cemented his view that doing 3 out of those 4, which he'd already independently selected, is the best choice.

I don't think a college would allow that? I wasn't allowed to do Business Studies and economics together 20+ years ago. Would definitely recommend maths if he can. You will hear people say it's not essential for accountancy but a grounding definitely helps.

In terms of his other subjects...in addition to Maths/English he's currently doing Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Computer Science, Business Studies, Food Tech and Welsh Bacc. He's predicted all A*-A except English which is predicted B.

So far more on the techy side rather than humanities. Although he didn't do it for GCSE I'm wondering if Geography might be a good option for him in place of either Accounting or Business Studies? Economics is his number 1 choice which I think is a great choice for him.

I highly doubt you could pick up geography at A level without the GCSE. History yes I have known of this, but I think geog needs too much prior knowledge. DD took geog A level and she thinks it would be incredibly difficult without GCSE.

I don't think a college would allow that? I wasn't allowed to do Business Studies and economics together 20+ years ago

I hadn't even considered the college potentially knocking his choices back tbh, until this thread. I'm hoping that may be the case as the more I read and Google it does seem that only one or the other would be best.

I was just basing it on the College prospectus @clary, it says GCSE Geog not required. So technically he could but no doubt it would be more challenging than for someone who'd done it at GCSE.

Most Finance, Accounting and Economics degrees at Russel Group unis ask for A Level Maths.

Would say Business & Economics overlap and uni may reject this combination.

Accounts A Level might be useful for early career apprenticeship/trainee position if not going to uni.

Degree Apprenticeships for accounting also require A Level maths.

Your son needs to look what his next steps are after A Levels and see what unis/employers are asking for. Tell him not to rush his decisions.

To be clear, degree-level (L7) apprenticeships in accountancy and tax pathways do not require Maths A level. Such programmes typically require 104 or 112 UCAS points in your top three A levels (as well as very strong performance in recruitment tests and assessment centres). Obviously, many successful candidates achieve higher grades than the minimum threshold and a proportion will have Maths A level but that is not the same thing as there being a requirement to have taken A level Maths.

I used to recruit for accountants in the Big 4. Probably only 10-15% of the intake would have studied accountancy at uni.

STEM subjects, languages and history seemed to be the most common.

My DC did physics, history and economics a levels and economics at Uni. After graduating went to work for one of the big 4.

I would echo that your Ds should consider doing just economics out of the three subjects listed and do two different subjects (maths would be ok).

Swansea Accounting and Finance BSc will take students without maths, economics, business or accountancy. C at GCSE maths is needed so pretty basic really. They have obviously read the Russell Group Quiz and decided it’s a load of rubbish! So stay in Wales and he will be fine!

Drop accounting. It will be minimal benefit longer term. Most schools do not even offer it. Better to take a core subject instead.

Thanks again for all the posts, it's still really helpful reading other perspectives.

We've had a few discussions in the past few weeks. He's still adamantly against Maths A Level and it turns out that this is because of the additional post-GCSE qualification they're currently studying for. He is most definitely not enjoying it. It's supposed to be a bridging level between GCSE and A Level but I think it's somewhat smacked him in the face with how much more difficult than GCSE it is and he has no intention of signing up for another two years of it.

He's taken on board the overlap between Economics and Business Studies though and is now considering Psychology, which he says is the only other subject he'd considered.

So it's now possibly Economics/Psychology/Accounting rather than Economics/Business Studies/Accounting which I suppose is marginally better?

Still very very set on Accounting A Level.

Accounting A level is pretty pointless. As is an Accounting degree. Most Accountants don't do A level or undergrad Accounting as it just isn't required. (I'm ex-Big Four)

@Choices2024ALevel None of this matters if he’s not aiming for a top class university though. By not doing maths, he’s got fewer options. So look at what options he might have. I saw Swansea - would this be good enough. Clearly he’s not LSE bound so where might he actually go? Then work back and see who needs maths and who doesn’t! Cut out top 30% RG and Bath and a few others ranked for these subjects and start looking.

Ditch Accounting and Business Studies
Do Maths + another subject + Economics