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.

Chemistry, maths and history was my first thought without looking at your list.

There was a very amusing thread on here a few years back which was along the lines of 'what does your DC look like they should be doing v what do they actually do'. Although it's hard for our DCs to decide on careers, I think the upside is that employers seem much more accepting of people who have done lots of different things. In my day it was considered very much a negative if you'd flitted around a bit, whereas now that seems to be absolutely fine. IME at any rate (I have 3 twentysomethings).

I didn’t see that thread thingy but there was another recent one where posters said their degree and career. Very few were related.

Ok I’ve read the thread now and see he isn’t a fan of STEM.

history Spanish plus one he finds easy?

Two ways to make the decision.

One that picks subjects he is good at or enjoys. See where that leads. Law, business, marketing, psychology accessible from any combination.

0r work backwards from one of career ideas he likes.

@Rummikub
I’m not sure where this “isn’t a fan of STEM“ or dislikes Maths or Physics, has come from really.
Anyway, as mentioned before, if he picked today it would probably be History, Spanish and Maths.
There is a sixth form open evening in a couple of weeks and they can attend up to 5 short subject talks.
He, very briefly! Looked at the subjects list and selected the above 3 plus Business and Physics. Have still to get him to read each subject blurb in the prospectus though. That will be a task in itself!

DS also wanted to keep his options open at A Level and chose Maths, Economics, Physics and Politics. DT was going to be his fourth subject but he switched to Politics at the last minute. He hadn't studied Politics at GCSE and he planned to drop it at half term of first year of A Levels. However, he loved the A Level course so continued with it and it influenced his choice of degree subject. He applied for a mix of Economics and PPE degrees and found his A level Politics a very useful subject in his first year at university, alongside Maths and Economics.

For those considering Maths as an A Level ‘to keep options open’ who aren’t top students at GCSE, there is another thread running which is useful about the consequences if starting Maths A Level from less than top position at GCSE.
Well worth looking at to see the likely outcomes at A Level, as well as the possible learning experience for 2 years.

@WombatChocolate that thread is also by the OP of this one

Agree tho lots of useful experience and info

Haha! Hadn’t spotted that, but makes sense.

He has said he thinks (for him/his type) he is capable of getting better grades at non-STEM. He said there are plenty of what you might call nerdy/brainbox ones in Maths (top set), and some of the time he doesn't keep up.

@stubiff from one of your posts that he thinks he would do better in non stem subjects. Plus his preference if he picked now would be history and Spanish.

inwork with this age group and appreciate that there will be mind changes.

it’s great he is exploring now though. I would suggest applying for more than option and it gives chance to change mind later if required.

@Rummikub
Bit of a leap from what I said to not a fan or disliking, but anyway, let’s move on.
For clarity, DS doesn’t dislike any subject.
He does not have a preference for Eng Lang at A-level, nor FM. Anything else is probably under consideration.
He could quite easily choose Maths, Physics and CS, or Spanish, History and Business. Who knows!
As mentioned, today it would probably be Spanish, History and Maths.

I think whatever he chooses he’ll be fine!

One of my DC was undecided about their third A level and was looking at variously at Business, CS, Econ, Geog and Politics. They looked at past papers and online course spec to work out what appealed and that helped. For the subjects they had not taken at GCSE, I bought a couple of those CGP type course books to give DC a bit more of a flavour; that was money well spent I felt as it meant subjects were ruled out on a considered rather than superficial basis.

On a related note, it is also worth checking which subjects have an NEA component. History may well and so may CS. Two NEAs are obviously doable but does mean you need to be organised and it could make the running of an EPQ alongside more stretching, if that is something also being considered. Hope that helps.

My ds did politics, history, maths and epq.
He loved politics so easy choice to make. History he loves but less so tick boxy A level and it was history A level that took most of his time. Maths he did as thought would be useful but underperformed a bit I think due to efforts put into history.
Epq combined love of history and politics.

@PerpetualOptimist
Very good point re NEA.
He is doing the 3 major (NEA) ones at GCSE - PE, Drama and DT, and he does comment on it. He does the minimum, but does it well, and doesn't ask for outside help or use AI.

At A-level it's NEA 60% for Drama, 50% DT and 30% PE. Also, CS 20% and History 20%, and he could choose 1 or more of those.
Fortunately (I think!) for History, the one he's more likely to choose, it's (only) a 3-4k word essay.

They do an EPQ as well.

An update:

Mocks and parents evening done.
A-level choices (so they can plan option blocks and timetable) need to be in on Monday 19th.

Had a good chat last night about subjects.
Initially ruled some out and got down to Maths, History, Spanish, Drama.
Then, Maths is a given (to keep options open), and History next, a given.

So now deciding between Drama and Spanish. Policy changed so can't start with 4 and drop one. Straight 9-ers can take 4.
Still no thoughts on what to do after A-levels.

Spanish mock was a low 8 overall.
Drama mock (exam part) was a 6, but apparently not many got over 6. First part of coursework was 1-mark off a 9 (not externally moderated yet).

Doesn't fancy some bits of the Spanish A-level syllabus such as equal rights, racism, immigration, integration.

Here's a girl who really believes in keeping her options open!
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-berkshire-68282659

That sounds like quite a lot of 'doesn't likes' for the Spanish. Does he like the look of the Drama syllabus, though?

Can he pick three plus a reserve, in case of timetabling problems or unexpected exam results?

Why doesn't he like those topics ? Trying not to judge....

Has he looked at the texts for drama...

Yeh echoing @Piggywaspushed what is wrong with those topics? I think the second year topics for A level MFL are much more engaging than the first year ones. I don't know Spanish spec so well but in German and French it's integration, immigration, racism, so similar interesting and engaging topics. For German there is also things like the fall of the Berlin wall which obvs is a massive subject.

I love all this stuff! Surprised that someone who enjoys history is not engaged by these social issues. The first year topics of music, art, family life are much more dull IMHO. Anyway if he doesn't like these sorts of topics he probably won't enjoy the A level course. The whole of the language exam (which is half the marks in total) and a fair chunk of the speaking exam is based on the topics studied. That only leaves the research project for the speaking exam and then the book and the film.

I agree what are the texts for drama? That might be a better bet.

Before even reading your updated I wanted to suggest Maths, History and either Spanish or Classics thinking that this could be a language.
If not i would definitely suggest Spanish. Languages are not only a nice subject to study but it's also something very useful to know even beyond exams and A levels or university entry. Is a worth investment for life

@stubiff Sorry if I’ve missed this, but what are university aims? Any at the moment? It’s interesting on another thread that lots are waiting for offers from Bath uni. The one with an offer is taking International politics and a MFL. MFL departments are seeing fewer students so Spanish, if put in a degree, has lots of benefits. You might get an offer from a competitive uni!

Re number - can only put 3 on the form, but we're going to contact school to say that the 3rd is a coin toss, so please consider the 4th one for the option blocks. Then will have the gtee (hopefully) that either combo can actually be chosen post results day.

Re Spanish themes - he thinks some may be boring. He's more interested in learning the language not social aspects. It would be 4/12 sub-themes which have less interest, but there will be bits of every subject that have less interest. He likes Maths but not surds so much!

Re Drama - we have asked for the specific text for the exam part. Full list here OCR. And they are studying The Paper Birds theatre company.

Spanish syllabus is slightly different to GCSE whereas Drama seems to be more of the same.

Re Uni - no thoughts at all, aside from assuming he'll go.
It's only (the choice of) Maths that has any driver for later. 2nd and 3rd choices are looking at ones he enjoys (to some extent) and is likely to get the better grades at.

I think the social themes are important though. If the aim ever was to spend a year abroad or live amongst Spanish speaking people it is useful to know a bit about their culture , history and values and not just random vocabulary and about one book /film.

Students can also pick their own topic for self study and research for the speaking exam. My DS did something on Barcelona FC as I recall.

Yeh agree with @Piggywaspushed as so often – it’s not about learning the language at A level as much as learning about Spain and Spanish culture through the medium of the language IYSWIM. There’s a lot of language knowledge that will be taken as read for A level.

Also since you said “such as” I took it to mean he was not interested in social issues in general, perhaps others on top of the ones you mention (the role of the young? Monarchies and dictators?) – which is a big part of the syllabus. There are three main elements – the IRP which is your own work, the book + film and then the topic work. But the topic work is more than half the overall exam. Book + film is 20% of the marks, speaking is 30% but a good chunk of that is based on the topics – and he could be allocated two topics he isn’t interested in – and then the reading and listening exam is half the marks and that is totally based on the 12 topics. So not liking four or more of them would be a barrier IMHO. Studying racism or equal rights in 20th/21st century Spain should not be boring!

Yes, it is a lot different from GCSE. No more asking about your hobbies and where you are going on holiday. I love the A level topics tbh esp the A2 spec, but if he dislikes a third of them then maybe it’s not for him. Altho yy the IRP can be about anything relating to the language – a film, a book - I have seen Les Mis (for French), a French argot used by young people (fascinating), a footy team (for German), the continuing differences between East and West Berliners (! Still! This was someone who lived in Berlin tho) and French cuisine. Does not need to be heavy. Just something where questions can be asked and research done.