A-level choices to keep options open

[stubiff]

My DS (literally) has no idea want he’d like to do for A-levels or beyond. Only given is not English Language.
He doesn’t really have a favourite subject(s) or passion.
He is probably around the GCSE 7 (poss some 8’s) mark, ability-wise, fairly consistent across the subjects.

So, he’ll probably be looking at choices to keep his future options as open as possible.

Please could you recommend some combos using the following groups:

1. Maths, Physics, Chemistry, Psychology, Computer Science
2. Business Studies, Economics, English Lit, History, Politics, Religious Studies, Spanish, Classics
3. Drama, Design & Technology, Physical Education

Some rules:
Please could you provide some rationale for the combo(s), especially if you break the rules (which I’m sure some will!).
Min 1, max 2 from group 1.
Min 1, max 2 from group 2.
Min 0, max 1 from group 3.
If you suggest a Maths combo, please could you also suggest a non-Maths one.
English Lang will not be chosen.
Biology, Geography and any subject not mentioned will not be chosen, either because it is not available or wasn’t chosen at GCSE.

Appreciate it is a wide/varied ask, but thank you very much, in anticipation.

Those three groups are obviously all very different.

It's possible to keep his options open by pretty much any combination of the second two groups but if he wants to do a science-based degree then he'd probably need to choose solely from that group, especially if it's likely to be a competitive course.

What year is he in now?

PE, RE, Physics?

The most important one to do is Maths because is it by far the most useful subject and enables lots of other choices at a later stage

either history or politics or RE because it is good to have one subject which involves writing essays and thinking. whichever of those 3 he enjoys more and talks about more.

then I'd add chemistry as the 3rd choice because again it is foundational to all sorts of things and enables different options. but psychology could also be a good one to do.

you and your DS should look up the https://www.informedchoices.ac.uk/ to see what A levels enable what degree subjects and chose things that keep the options wide open.

I think maths, one science and one humanities gives a really good balance. That would give him loads of options if he’s not set on a particular career path.

What grade is he expecting for maths?

How strong is he at writing essays? Does he like reading enough for history and or English literature?

Why not English Language? Are his reasons against that enough to impact subjects like English Lit or History?

Does he actually want to do A levels or is it that his school tends to just expect it?

If he's just starting y11 he doesn't have to choose now. He can see how he enjoys his subjects this year, what he gets in his mocks and the real exams, whether he prefers coursework or exams (as some assessment is pure exam and some with coursework)....

My DS had no clue at the start of y11 and was averaging 7s in most subjects. By the time he got to taking his GCSEs he'd really gone off computer science (they did a lot of coding at the end which he found boring), English lit (he was done reading the same texts over!) and anything that requires a lot of coursework as he does better in exams. He'd developed a real interest in human geography and the world.

They can even change their a level choices after results day.

Keeping options open is good, but also bear in mind that for many DC A level years are a welcome chance to specialise.

Also have you looked at other schools/colleges? Do any of them offer the International Baccalaureate for example where you don't have to specialise so much.

Maths
Chemistry or Physics
Essay subject

would be the broadest choice as he could do those subjects or any social science really.

Not sure you can study degree physics or chemistry without A-level so he will be cutting one possibility out.

I would narrow down the list with subjects that you can start fresh at uni. For example you don't need A-level economics or psychology to do degree level. Psychology like business has a little maths but it's an essay subject so you can group it in your second group too.

To keep options as open as possible I'd do maths, chemistry and an essay subject - hist/pol/eng lit. That would give him a chance to get on most degrees I can think of, except for MFL. Doing only one from group one would make doing a science or engineering option post-18 tricky.

Leaving out maths I might do chem, Spanish and an essay subject as that keeps the MFL door open with the broadest range of options, although as above I think a science degree would be tricky with that combo.

It's very hard to keep every option open at this stage.

What are his interests outside of school?

Does he prefer coursework or is he happy with exams?

Is he ok with group work?

What are his options for 6th form - do some offer different subjects and/or A level alternatives?

Does he want to go to uni, or is it something to fill a gap in the absence of anything better?

A levels are a big step up from GCSEs and students really do need to be interested in their subjects and motivated to do self-study.

Maths

A second one from that group - has he had a look at the content for the others? Does Psychology appeal?

Economics or Politics - again he needs to look at the content - is he vaguely interested in how politics works? They're both good subjects from the pov of expanding awareness of current affairs, why cost of living crisis is happening etc.

Maths physics DT - could lead to architecture, planning, accountancy, product design and many many other careers I suspect.

I agree with maths and chemistry plus an essay subject

Maths and chemistry mean many STEM subjects will be open to him
An essay based subject will be good for humanities

If not maths, then STEM options become a bit harder - physics instead might patch that (as it's essentially applied maths). Again chemistry (if e wants to keep STEM open).

If leaning more towards humanities by the time choices come around, then MFL plus history.

To keep the most options open, I would probably say maths, physics and either English literature or history as this would make many maths, physics or engineering type degrees possible (not all as some require further maths), computer science and most social sciences and humanities.
It's impossible to keep all options open though as eg no biology is ruling out biology and a lot of healthcare type degrees.
For the no maths option, maybe chemistry, Spanish and either economics or English literature but most combinations from group 2 or 3 would be fine.

Thanks for the replies so far. Will digest more.
I appreciate the following:
As he's starting Y11, that he doesn't have to choose now (was trying to get ahead of the game). The first mock is in 3 months and they choose A-levels in Feb.
That the mock results should hopefully give a better steer.
That he can change choice later, even after he starts Y12.
That we're not trying to keep every option open, just some of them.

Some more context/to answer some Q's:
Maths - I think on a good day he is capable of an 8. He talks of possibly 9s in some subjects (not STEM) but I think that may be a push.
He's ok at writing essays.
He doesn't read much.
He doesn't mind coursework and is fairly good at it.
He will study.
He is good in groups, has done well in the Drama group.
He would prefer to stay at the current school (which means A-levels as that's all they offer). I have two recent examples of boys going to other schools for Y12 and it not working out and coming back. However, I will look into IB. I don't think he'd want to move just for a certain subject, that isn't already mentioned above, or to do a BTEC.

Oh, and outside school he does sport. Or mainly Xbox!

It is not recommended to do Physics without Maths. The school may not even allow this and because the Maths reinforces the Physics the DS would be handicapping himself.

Maths is the single most facilitating subject, so without a firm direction it is important.

Physics is more useful than Chemistry for Engineering but otherwise I agree that Chemistry is likely more useful. That’s how i would choose between them, if leaning at all to STEM or totally open.

So:

Maths for sure

Physics if Engineering is a possibility - otherwise a number of Engineering programmes become unavailable.

OR

Chemistry if other STEM is a possibility or as a good 2nd facilitating subject if STEM is a possibility

AND

one essay subject from Gp 2 and possibly a 3rd subject of choice.if STEM is not likelyi

You can see I believe DS needs to start thinking, because he will need Maths and Physics to have the best choice of Engin programmes. If he instinctively recoils from that, he’s begun choosing!

Mine did maths, compsci and history and found a nice balance of work across the 2 years. He's doing the first 2 at uni.

Maths, psychology, history would be a nice mix.

@Yarnysaurus has teminded ne to say that Computer Science has recently brcome very competitive. CS A Levelbus a fine choice if it appeals. But it is only averagelyfacilitating and in fact it isn’t even required for CS. Maths is.

Absolutely, mine chose the A Levels that most interested him, but doing compsci has certainly made the first year doing it at uni a lot easier!

Drama at A level will involve a lot of reading. It's like English Lit in many aspects just you study all plays & theatre practitioners.

Re IB. Nearest school that does it is 40 miles away (coincidently, next door neighbour has just gone, for sixth form), so that's out.

Physics if not doing maths usually means the school suggest core maths which is half way between GCSE and A level and will massively help with the maths element of physics.

Maths, if he gets a 7 at GCSE then the A level grade is most likely a C or a D due to lacking foundational knowledge to build on. If he came in on a 9 then just under 50% of grade 9s will get an A star. Worth talking to the sixth form about what grades students come in on and what they leave with.

Drama, check there is no group project because the commitment or lack of from others can bring his grade down so I would rule out anything that has a group element to it.

Business studies is less well regarded and absolutely overlaps with Economics so should not be taken together.

Best advice is do subjects he enjoys and hopefully excels in. Also that the higher grades he gets for GCSEs usually project a higher grade at A level and more options are available university wise in terms of choice. So nail down exam technique and revise little and often.