What are your all-rounders doing at A-Level

[Emalex]

DD has just finished her A-Levels, she is a true all rounder type of kid and loves everything. Her GCSES were English, Maths, Triple Science, German, Geography, History, Classics, Latin (done as an elective in lunch and after school) and French (DH is French, both our kids do French Saturday School, speak French at home etc. so this didn't take much in the way of studying, just soe time familiarising wit question style etc.)
She is predicted 7-9 across the board, sciences were all 7, German, Geography and History 8, 9 for Maths, English lit and lang, Classics, Latin and French. She also plays competitive tennis to high level and just did Grade 7 Piano. (This makes us sound very pushy but it all comes from DD, she us a twin and DS Did 11 GCSES, predicted 6/7/8, quit music at 13 and doesn't love sports so will just about play football with friends once a week - we are proud of them bot and don't force DD into being busy)

Now DD has no idea what she wants to do, she likes the idea of working in Law or Finance, but also loves classics and thinks maybe researcher or museum work, also has an interest in politics so thinks maybe politics and economics might be for her then thinktank/policy advisor role. We aren't putting pressure on picking anything but she does need to finalise her A-Levels.

Her original choice was English Lang+Lit, Maths, Classics, Economics, but since then shes wanted to swap in Politics, Latin, History and Further maths. English and Maths are set in stone, she really wants to do them

So what are your all-rounder kids studying at A-Level as DD is finding it very hard to pick!! Any advice on what she should pick??

Eldest DD did Maths, Further Maths, French and Spanish. Now reading law at Bristol.

Very much the all rounder. At one point she regretted doing two languages and wished she'd done Chemistry instead. But that was mainly around the logistics of exam schedules - it was an unusual combination so she had a lot of clashes so bunching up and time spent in solitary while awaiting her turn. She had 3 exams in one day and 2 the next at one point!

Your DD's GCSEs seem similar to mine and I did a weird combo of German, Biology and English language, which was harder I feel than sticking with all languages or all sciences/maths. I did a law degree for want of anything better to do - for that they preferred it if you hadn't done law A level. I am a solicitor now and the law degree was an excellent choice for me in the end so if that's what she wants to do then the A level subjects don't really matter. I'd say stick to one discipline though rather than mixing them up like I did

Are a-levels the only option. I think the IB is a good option for all rounders.

OP, it's worth thinking about what the student really loves the most as that will be the wind in their sails. But also what the school does best, which are the strongest depts. DD's school is very strong in Drama and Latin so I imagine dd will do those plus Eng lit - also a great dept. dd loves Holistoy but adores the three above more so I think she will probably choose those.

History 🤦‍♀️

My dd is predicted 6/7 in her gcse, which we are more than happy with. She horse rides to a competitive level, plays horseball, does musical theatre, dances and ballet at pointe level. She is going to hopefully do drama, history and art/photography. She wants to join the army!

I teach at an Oxbridge college and we’re after the academic subjects, and a mix of arts/language/maths is great too. In your DC’s shoes, a combination like English Lit (lit only, don’t bother with Lang or Lang+Lit), Latin, Maths and either History or Further Maths would be great.

Maths+Further maths is traditionally a bit less work than two different subjects (but FM is not that enjoyable for those who aren’t very into maths IME, and is only really especially useful if intending to go into STEM or economics - though if so, have at the further maths!)

History is an excellent choice if DC is interested in an arts or humanities subject at university, or in law.

To be honest, I’d be utterly delighted to see a candidate with English lit, Latin, Maths and History. Four A-levels is hard work, but not by any means impossible. Latin has a surprising amount of clout with admissions tutors: it’s a very respected and rigorous A-level and shows a lot of ability and sticking power. It’s excellent for university subjects like English, History, Law, Philosophy, political sciences, and, of course, Classics.

Same goes for the other subjects. For applying to Ox or Cam or a good Russell Group, it’s worth avoiding those A-levels perceived as slightly less rigorous and/or traditionally academic (eg. - but not limited to - psychology, theatre studies, Eng Lang, sociology, fine art, business studies, media studies, etc).

Happy to answer any questions about this, OP, if you @ me

My dd loves the army cadets especially the adventure training. I think she'd like to join the army but her df is against it. She also does ballet on pointe ( we've just had to buy another pair of pointe shoes). She is going to be doing IB but has no idea what she wants to do at university except she doesn't want to do medicine or engineering which her 3 siblings did/ are doing. I think she might end up taking a year out before university.

Dd1 and dd2 both went to Cambridge and dd2 was quite upset that they completely ignored her Design Technology A level in her offer (Engineering) as it was the most work!

If she doesn't mind the subject then STEM should provide a good career path. Like it or lump it it should be mix of practical, financial as well a general liking fir it. Money is not everything but paying bills and cist of loving are basic needs

Sadly you need to choose between Art and Science for A-level. There is so much overlap. It's hell doing maths without the sciences for example. I was planning to do Maths and English but there was a timetable clash and I wasn't hugely bothered. My friend did do it though and it was the hardest thing she ever did. English Language is a horrible A-level.

I'd probably choose English, History and Politics with possibly Latin or Economics.

Or English, History, Classics and Latin.

You could do Maths, FM, Economics, History, or Politics instead of FM.

Her best bet is to look at the syllabuses for the various subjects. I was totally put off History or Politics by what was going to be studied!

Dd1 and dd2 both went to Cambridge and dd2 was quite upset that they completely ignored her Design Technology A level in her offer (Engineering) as it was the most work!

@Manthide - Except their engineering offer pretty much always includes a stars in fm and physics, and at least an A in maths because these really are necessary prerequisites, so if they'd included the DT it would have been a 4 A level offer. It doesn't mean it didn't help her to get her offer!

@Oganesson118 Most people find nstive speakers on their MFL degree courses, never mind the A level. What screening?

I posted the info from Cambridge which lists maths in the humanities/arts section and they appreciate it doesn’t need a science with it. The reason no have it is to keep options open, it does.

That’s my question. I don’t think native speakers should be doing the A level or degree courses for an easy A* or First but how could exam boards know?

Classics if she loves it and Economics? Work well with the English and Maths

@Oganesson118 They don’t. The schools do think it’s perfectly ok. The dc of a maths professor doesn’t get barred from maths!

At MFL degree level it’s fairly common and I’ve seen it at close quarters. Two grads I know personally are half German. One dc had a German teacher mother. Dc read German at Oxford. All holidays spent in Germany and coached to get to Oxford as obviously a teacher knows what’s needed. Surname - not German so who knows? Ditto other dc. I would imagine Arabic degrees have a high number of native speakers with lots of culture available to them. Latin is a more level playing field!

if I were you I would encourage her to read widely this Summer and arrange some work shadowing in different fields. I would also strongly advise her to cash in her French as this is a facilitating subject and very well regarded by all Unis. When the results come out she can then have a convo with the head of sixth form. Don’t sweat this now. She needs headspace and time for ideas to ferment. Good luck!

The A Level courses and University entry requirements are quite different to how it was when we were at school. As has been said, the courses have more content, but I think the real challenge is the uni entry requirements, they are MUCH higher. I wouldn't have got a place on the course I studied if I were applying today, rather than 25 years ago. I really wouldn't recommend doing 4 unless she's very academically gifted, and she is expecting to easily get A/A*. Yes of course some will be capable of this, but they are the exceptional students. I would also recommend looking at some entry requirements for uni courses she fancies before deciding. For Biology and related courses for example, Biology and a second science or maths are often required. Sometimes that second science can be psychology, sometimes not. I imagine other courses will be similar, in that the actual course being studied is not the only one required at A Level.

@Hayliebells You would - grade inflation and no cap on places. Of course years before that it was perfectly possible to get to a polytechnic to do a degree with 2 A levels.

I think though, any subject where DD gets a 7, isn’t one she should do for A level and don’t do maths unless she’s very certain. However it does produce a lot of A snd Astar grades.

I know it is. I did MFL, there were loads of them. It’s different from simply having a parent who teaches the subject.

Mine got 11 8/9's at Gcse on course for 3A* in Eng Lit, Media and Sociology. Been offered Russell Group Uni to do Media.

DD was an all-rounder, finished gcses with all 8's and 9's and really struggled with A level choices. Ended up choosing Physics, Chemistry, Geography and German and predicted A,A,B,B (but is thinking will end up with A,B,C,C). DD has said if they had the choice again she would replace either Chemistry or Physics with English Language though. Most schools/colleges will allow a course change up to October half-term as well if choices are completely disastrous!!!

Worth keeping at least half an eye on degree choices - most science degrees require 2 science A levels (they include Geography, Maths, Comp Sci, Psychology and FM in that group) as part of the entry requirements. DD has a place to study Geology in September 🤞🤞🤞which combines the elements of Geography she enjoys with other sciences as didn't want to be tied down to a single subject.

Worth also thinking about how your DD would combine the extra workload with extra curricular stuff and having social time - even with high gcse grades the jump to A level is huge.

Good luck to them both - now that we're at the end of it all I'm just happy that she's healthy and well (had a torrid time with friendships during both 6th form years) and DD knows that whatever happens on results day there are options there 😊

I completely agree with this advice. My children aren't quite there yet (though my DD will have a similar difficulty choosing!) but based on my experience as a Cambridge classics graduate who is now a lawyer. Maths, English lit, Latin and either History/Classics (I'd probably say Classics because you said she loves it, but also I'm biased!) would be a great combination. And would give her lots of options both for university and future careers - definitely Law if she remains interested in it.

Just to add to the above, unless it's changed significantly since I did it, if she might want to do Classics at uni she's better off doing Latin rather than Classics A' level if it comes down to one or the other - much easier to catch up with the history side than the language!

Have you seen any increase in the number of state school students applying with Latin this year, since the introduction of it in some schools from 2021? Although tbh my knowledge of that is limited to news reports, I don't know how many actually took it up, it certainly isn't an option in the majority of state schools near us. Tbh my heart sank a bit when I read that you think it's so highly favoured, when so few state school students have the opportunity to study it.