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.

Apologies for my repetitive and disjointed writing above. Trying to do this whilst being shuttlec round an airport was a mistake

DS3 has just started 6th form. He's taking Chemistry, Psychology and a language and wants to do Medicinal Chemistry at university. Psychology is classed as a second science for this.

Re a science without Maths, from the school:

Physics - "While an A Level in Mathematics is not required for the study of Physics at this level, an ability to deal with numbers and manipulate formulae is essential. The course has a substantial workload and requires a significant amount of private study."
GCSE grade 7 or above in Physics and Maths, as well as a good level of English.

Chemistry - GCSE 7 or above in Chemistry and Maths.

No other reqs, so both are possible, without Maths.
Whether it's best to go down that route is another matter/dilemma!
Or maybe lean towards CS/Psychology, if not taking Maths.

OP, your DS might want to root around
some degree programmes to see what the requirements are. Just pick two or three unis he fancies and search on a number of appealing usubjects st each. Usually he will find a drop down menu and one will be Admissions Requirements. One of the entries will give the standard A level offer. ^What DS cares about now isn’t grades but subject requirements. *

I am a STEM academic and former Russell Group Admissions tutor. Honestly, almost no one does Physics without Maths and you are at disadvantage because you are losing the reinforcement the subjects provide each other. The other Physics candidates will have that.

Maths, History and Chemistry.

Just a warning, though, that maths A-level is a massive step up from GCSE. Both my kids got nine in maths at GCSE but one really struggled at A Level. He got an A in the end but it was with a lot of blood, sweat and tears, and a tutor.

Agree with the PP about A level maths being a massive step up from gcse - my sons school require at least a grade 7 and a strong interest in maths. All the other subjects only require a gcse at grade 5.

My DS was predicted/ got a grade 7 in maths and even than his teacher said he didn't want to see him signing up for maths a level because he wasn't interested enough in the subject or dedicated!

A CS degree at any good uni is going to be impossible without Maths, but of course, nothing stopping him from taking it at A Level.

The grade boundaries for GCSE are low in that you only need ~50-55% in raw marks to get a 7, i.e. you could lack a lot in fundamental knowledge and/or skills and still attain that grade, which is not, imo, a strong foundation for A Levels, which build on that.

To be clear, I mean for Maths GCSE

I think if he is trying to maximise his future degree options he should do maths, chemistry (or physics if he prefers) and history. If he doesn't read much for pleasure, he probably won't want to do English lit or Classics at uni. And he doesn't need A Levels in Psychology or Economics to get onto those degree programmes (though he may need the maths).

But actually I think he should do whichever subjects he is most enjoying and/or best at by February.

A number of people (here and other threads) have mentioned about Maths for CS.

Before all this I trawled through 14 Uni websites (think Top 30 ones) for 7 subjects, looking at general entry reqs and subject entry reqs, to try to get a flavour for subjects.

Agreed, a lot of the top level CS degrees require Maths, and some are very Maths focussed. And having a good understanding of Maths will help.

Some Unis are leaning more towards, or at least recognising more, CS though.
Lancaster - no subject required, considered for lower offer if have CS or Maths. And "We are committed to encouraging the adoption of the A level Computing curriculum and recognising desirable subjects.".
Leeds - Maths or CS required.
Newcastle - no subject required. And "We are committed to encouraging the adoption of A level Computing. Students applying with an A level in Computing will receive favourable consideration."
Nottingham - no subject required. And "(grade lower offer) if you have an A in computer science/computing".
UEA - one of Mathematics, Computing Science, Digital Technology, Chemistry, Physics, Electronics or Economics, required.

I think it might help if your DS did a few careers questionnaires and then based on those looked at some potential degree courses at various universities. This would then tell him which A levels he might need to apply.
https://www.ucas.com/careers-quiz
https://careerquiz.org/
https://nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/skills-assessment
https://www.prospects.ac.uk/planner

He could even look at other career options such as the armed forces or drama/music/arts institutes if he’s not really academically minded.

He needs to be thinking of possible careers and working backwards because A levels are just a stepping stone.

@MoxieFox
Agreed, will be getting him to do some career quizzes in due course.

Not sure I implied he's not academically minded. What he is unsure/undecided on is the future! His mum def wouldn't let him go into the forces! (nor would he want to).

To do as well as he can in his A levels he needs to be canny with what he picks. This will truly keep the most options open.

Maths is only worth doing if he’s happy with a B at A level tbh. This is what he’d likely get if he’s working at an 8. If he wants As at A level, which opens up a wider range of unis then avoid it. No Maths A Level only rules out certain degrees, by no means the majority.

Computer Science is one of the most competitive degrees out there and you’ll be needing A* at A level in the main.

Psychology is also hugely popular but available at a huge range of unis. The top unis again you’ll be looking at A* at A level. It sounds like he’s interested in Psych tho so would def pick as an A level. Many unis count it as a science.

So from your list I’d pick
Economics
Psychology
DT or PE

I just didn’t want to assume either way as you said he had no idea what he wanted to do and had no passion or special interest.

OP, your DS can create a free account at The Complete University Guide (also known ad the Uni Guide) and then use their A Level Explorer. He can input various combinations and see what degree options are available.

@stubiff Cambridge Trinity College still has a useful document about choosing A levels. I know he might not be Cambridge bound, but it’s good advice nonetheless. It helps put the A levels into an academic perspective and then you look at a third A level which is more of a subject steer or one that’s a bit self indulgent (in a nice way). I will now be flamed for suggesting you look at their suggestions because “no one else is interested” but you asked about keeping options open, and this document explains how. There’s more info subject by subject, but this is the general advice.

Overall some subjects are seen as keeping options wider and others more subject specific. Getting the best results you can is also important of course. Don’t be pushed into stem if it’s really not for him. MN mostly talks about stem. There’s a whole load of other subjects out there to enjoy and succeed in.

Goodness, your rules are complicated!

I mean, if it were me, all my options would come from group 2, so that's no help.

@Piggywaspushed
You’re a bright person so think you can work them out!
Anyway, as rules are there to be broken as mentioned, what’s your combo and the rationale behind it? Because it could help.
Thanks.

Well, thanks ... I think.

Having read your descriptions of your DS and noting he doesn't like reading, I'd say economics, politics or history, Spanish (or RS possibly instead of the politics)

In order not to break the rules I might go maths, economics, Spanish or history as some economics degrees require maths. (not all, though - it's the very top flight ones that tend to) or psychology, economics and AN other : always up for a language for variety and challenge.

I actively disliked physics and chemistry though and would never have liked computing so my views are entirely non objective!

Top flight (elite) Economics degrees like FM and A /Astar Maths. Dc isn’t guaranteed to get this. So let’s keep it real.

No harm in doing the maths.

There aren't actually all that many that require FM.

DS's friend is at Warwick doing economics with maths, economics and history A levels.

Not everyone wants 'top flight' for all sorts of reasons.

Choosing subjects you enjoy, which are often but not always the ones you're good at, is almost always the best option.

Kids shouldn't have to specialise so young.

We were told that Chemistry has one of the biggest jumps between GCSE and A Level. I would recommend def doing Maths, and if not then perhaps Economics.

My cousin did what I thought at the time to be a weird combo for her A levels - Maths, Physics and English Lit. Got A* in all of them. Went to Cambridge and read English Lit.