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Further education

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

Original poster

Which of these four subjects at A level?

40 replies

ThinkingAgainAndAgain · 21/07/2024 20:14

DS has just finished y11, awaiting GCSE results. He’s always planned to do A levels, never contemplated a different path, hoping to stay in at his current school subject to getting the grade requirements (quite an academic independent).

He is not interested in sciences or creative subjects, likes the humanities.

He did English Lang, English Lit, Maths, Spanish, triple science, history, geography and classics at GCSE. On track to achieve results were History (9), English Language, Spanish, physics, maths, English literature (all 8s), chemistry, biology geography and classics (all 7s). Obviously nobody knows whether he will get these grades.

He is toying between Economics, Politics, history and geography. History is nailed in as he loves it. Unsure which two of Geography, politics and economics. He is interested in politics but I’ve said that doesn’t mean he has to study it for A level. Ditto economics. He loves Geography but it isn’t one of his strongest GCSE subjects. He reads, but not a huge amount outside of his subjects, which rules out English Lit. He isn’t confident enough in his ability do Spanish. His classics GCSE went badly and he now just wants to leave it behind (plus it’s not offered at his current school at A level).

Any thoughts?

OP posts:
Original poster
ThinkingAgainAndAgain · 21/07/2024 20:15

I should have said that he can’t start off doing four and choose after, say, a term (unless one of those was further maths). They have to choose three plus EPQ.

OP posts:
Roryno · 21/07/2024 20:16

I’d say history, politics and economics.

Welshcake15 · 21/07/2024 20:24

Does he know what subject he would want to study if he decides to go to University? Only that for some economics degrees (and related subjects) you need a Maths A Level, particularly in the higher ranked universities. It might be worth sitting down and having a bit of a research into this before making any firm choices.

Mumofteenandtween · 21/07/2024 20:28

Personally I would avoid doing both economics and politics as he has never studied either before. Always a risk that he ends up hating them both!

Original poster
ThinkingAgainAndAgain · 21/07/2024 20:32

Welshcake15 · 21/07/2024 20:24

Does he know what subject he would want to study if he decides to go to University? Only that for some economics degrees (and related subjects) you need a Maths A Level, particularly in the higher ranked universities. It might be worth sitting down and having a bit of a research into this before making any firm choices.

He is aware of this. He says he wouldn’t do a straight economics degree, so it wouldn’t matter that he doesn’t do maths a level (he really doesn’t want to do maths a level which I think is for the best). He might consider a joint honours degree so something with economics. He doesn’t know what he wants to do as a career.

OP posts:
Original poster
ThinkingAgainAndAgain · 21/07/2024 20:32

Roryno · 21/07/2024 20:16

I’d say history, politics and economics.

Thanks, what is your thinking behind this?

OP posts:
Original poster
ThinkingAgainAndAgain · 21/07/2024 20:34

Mumofteenandtween · 21/07/2024 20:28

Personally I would avoid doing both economics and politics as he has never studied either before. Always a risk that he ends up hating them both!

This is always a possibility! He does really like both subjects. He’s done some of the pre course reading and listens to podcasts on both. He also talks a good talk 😊

OP posts:
clary · 21/07/2024 21:05

Any of those are good tbh. Might a geog or related degree be a possibility? I guess the only caveat is he has two new subjects - will he enjoy them? Has he had taster lessons?

Penguinsa · 21/07/2024 21:06

I would go with Politics, Economics, History though any combination of those works. Sounds like those are his 3 favourites and Politics is quite similar to History in approach so should suit him. Though would have a look at degrees and their requirements and contents and see if anything inspires him. I did those A levels, politics was my favourite.

clary · 21/07/2024 21:06

Sorry I see you have answered my last point! Well then happy days

Penguinsa · 21/07/2024 21:09

You can generally also swap early on so if one doesn't appeal can change it. If he loves modern political history (Nazis, Russia etc) would be fairly confident he will love politics especially if he follows things like Brexit, elections, parliament. Economics and Geography would look at the syllabuses in more detail, both could be good.

Ellmau · 21/07/2024 21:13

History, English Lit and either politics or Econ. I'd suggest Spanish as it could be really useful if he goes on to do History at university, but you say he's not confident in doing it at A Level. I'd avoid Geography as he isn't as strong in it.

clary · 21/07/2024 21:19

Yeh I was thinking Eng lit. I don’t think the reading is such an issue … if he can analyse texts and read them. A level lit is much better than GCSE imo - themes so it’s more interesting. Worth considering but obvs not if he hates the idea!

Spirallingdownwards · 21/07/2024 21:26

My son did Economics, History and Geography. He has now just finished a History degree and found he liked the more political modules and wonders whether he may have preferred a politics degree!

I don't see it being an issue that he has done neither politics not Economics before and many students do this combination.

PeachPairPlum · 21/07/2024 21:30

I would say history, geography and economics.

I feel there's cross over with history and politics and it would be better to not do both.

Ciri · 21/07/2024 21:34

History snd English lit can be a really difficult combination since they both have NEAs which fall in the first term of year 13 under many syllabuses and it can be very stressful.

clary · 21/07/2024 21:37

Good point re the NEAs actually.

How about Eng lang - nothing like GCSE but I think it sounds really interesting. Not that there is anythign wrong with his choice - just trying to suggest options.

JumpinJellyfish · 21/07/2024 21:39

If he’s on track to get an 8 in Maths, is he definitely against doing it for A level?

I think it would be a really good balance with History and Economics - would mean he wasn’t doing 3 essay subjects, and he would have more options at university in case he ended up loving economics, plus a good level of maths will benefit him in whatever career he ends up in - I’m a lawyer and my maths is a huge benefit and quite unusual among my colleagues.

Not studying politics at A level wouldn’t prevent him from doing it at degree level if that’s what he wanted to do.

Original poster
ThinkingAgainAndAgain · 21/07/2024 22:46

Lots of feedback, thanks so much. To answer some questions:

maths - he is definitely against doing it at A level. He thinks he would be really lucky to get the 8. His school require an 8 or preferably a 9 to do maths at A level. And he finds it very difficult.

English language - his school only offers English Lit at A level. He is good at it, and did consider it. But doesn’t feel a big pull towards it. Maybe this is one to keep in mind on GCSE results day in case he ends up doing better in it than he thinks he will. He does like themes, and can see crossovers. I will talk to him about it

history - he lives modern history. The gcse syllabus he did covered Germany in the mid 1900s and he talks about it a lot. He’s really absorbed the content.

NEAs - there would be a coursework element in history, none in geography, politics or economics. NEA suits him, the indications are that he did well in the GCSE NEAs in history and English lit and English lang.

OP posts:
clary · 21/07/2024 22:59

Did he sit IGCSEs? There's no coursework in GCSE Eng language or lit. Shame his school doesn't offer Eng lang at A level. Certainly worth looking at Eng lit if he likes NEAs.

Dd had a coursework element to her geography A level but I guess it varies by board?

Original poster
ThinkingAgainAndAgain · 21/07/2024 23:05

clary · 21/07/2024 22:59

Did he sit IGCSEs? There's no coursework in GCSE Eng language or lit. Shame his school doesn't offer Eng lang at A level. Certainly worth looking at Eng lit if he likes NEAs.

Dd had a coursework element to her geography A level but I guess it varies by board?

I’ve just had to look it up in the school website as I didn’t know, but yes he did do iGCSEs in English language and English literature. 40% coursework in each.

OP posts:
dronesonandonandon · 21/07/2024 23:12

My dd did History, Geography, Economics and found they worked well together. Her A level human geography paper she said she wrote an answer nearly all based around economics and got an A star on that paper.

Ds did History, Geography, Maths (high 8 GCSE maths) and I would agree Maths isn't for those who won't be consistently working and enjoy the challenge. It is a more useful A level than Economics, but if he isn't interested he shouldn't choose it!

Both mine had NEAs for History and Geography and did well, but the coursework element does take a lot of time in Year 13.

Ds thought he liked modern History, but has enjoyed the Anglo-Saxon module the most, which his sister detested and enjoyed the more modern American Civil Rights. Economics was her favourite A level.

I would say a 7 is fine for Geography. Look at the specification and find out which modules his school chooses. Highlight what he is interested in. Would he enjoy the physical geography (which favours a light scientific approach) as well as the human?

Do the same with politics and economics.

A levels really favour you being interested enough to read around to get the highest grades, so pick what he is interested in as well as having some GCSE ability.

Ophie · 22/07/2024 16:34

Ciri · 21/07/2024 21:34

History snd English lit can be a really difficult combination since they both have NEAs which fall in the first term of year 13 under many syllabuses and it can be very stressful.

NEAs can be stressful, but what I will say is I feel like they did prepare me for uni more so than exams as the deadlines were similar and I feel like they were almost easier due to the amount or constructive criticism you get when the teachers review them - they are also strong respected subjects individually whereas economics you’re nearly always expected to do maths alongside.

The best choice would be to 1) look at uni courses if he is interested in university and have a look at entry requirements and 2) I would always say pick what he likes the best, it wouldn’t be unusual for a student to pick a subject they’ve never studied before at A-Level (such as politics). It’s a lot of work regardless of what A level you do, so he does need to be able to enjoy it. I really enjoyed doing history and literature alongside eachother as the themes coincide and a lot of literature is wider reading about the concepts of the time the books were written in and there’s a fair bit of freedom to pick a theme you enjoy to compare to with your NEA. It was a stressful A-level but the one I ended up enjoying the most (and I wanted to do biology instead of it when I signed up to the sixth form!)

Tulipvase · 22/07/2024 17:41

ThinkingAgainAndAgain · 21/07/2024 23:05

I’ve just had to look it up in the school website as I didn’t know, but yes he did do iGCSEs in English language and English literature. 40% coursework in each.

Show quote history

Wow 40% course work!

Has he not had to give an indication of what subjects he wants to do already? Or has he changed his mind?

Wendycoping · 22/07/2024 17:42

Would he consider Psychology? My dd did History, Economics and Psychology and really enjoyed all of them