Struggling to choose A Levels

[HerderofDragons]

DS (16) is struggling with A level choices. The advice from everyone is do a subject you enjoy but he only really enjoys History. He would like to go on to study History and is currently aiming very high in terms of Uni (Durham, Exeter, Bristol type of thing).

His best subject other than history is maths (currently on target for an 8 with some hope of a 9) but he really doesn't enjoy it and can't stand the thought of taking it for A level.

At the moment his applications have History, Psychology and Maths/Economics. He's worried he will hate Psychology and is not sure at all about Economics as an alternative to Maths. I am trying to get him to focus on his GCSE's and not fret too much about it now figuring that a subject might rise to the surface when he gets his marks (assuming we can switch that late in the day but has big sixth forms down so quite likely) but he is really getting stressed about it. Only other subject he likes a bit is Chemistry but he is currently only on target for a 6 and, having done A level chemistry myself I think he would struggle with this.

He used to be strong at English but has had a dire teacher for the last couple of years and his grades have tanked (currently OT for a 6).

I'm trying to talk him through it but he's just getting into a bit of a negative spiral and convinced he is going to hate whatever he chooses! Anyone else been through something similar?

My dd1 is considering History Maths and Sociology or Politics. The only one she is sure of is History! She would probably choose all 3 Humanties to avoid Maths, despite aiming for a 9 in it. I have suggested Maths would be better to balance up the amount of essay writing, but not sure if there are other options. Don't think she is interested in Economics, Business Studies, Pyschology, RE or Philosophy and definitely doesn't want to do English, Science or MFL. So what else is there really?

She's not doing Geography GCSE so that is out too. Maybe Law would be a possibility?

history, politics and economics all go together, esp for modern history.
his ease with maths will def help him get a grasp on economics.
thing is, he needs a batting order; first up is the matter in hand. concentrate on that.
can firm up choices later.
good luck to him.

I would swerve Chemistry - my dd (who did A levels last summer) found it a slog and far harder then her other 2 (Biology and Psychology which she found straightforward) - she got a 9 at GCSE but had to work v hard to get an A at level.

Both my children did Psychology

one did it with Politics and Geography and is studying Philosophy and Politics at Manchester

the other did it with Biology and Chemistry and is studying sociology at Durham - it was really useful as Durham considered it an essay subject which they wanted for sociology.

Both found it v straightforward if a little dull at times.

I know loads of people say do maths but if he doesn’t like it I wouldn’t - A levels maths is hard and even more so if you don’t enjoy it.

History is a great A level.

History, economics and politics (despite not comprising 2 facilitating subjects) might be the safest option if his prospective universities are happy with those subjects.

One of my children did chemistry and regretted it. One son did politics AS in the days when people dd 4 AS levels in lower sixth and 3 A level in upper but dropped it at that point as it was not an interest as he thought for some reason (or he found it difficult) - however there is nothing inherently wrong with it - it just did not suit him.

Former Russell Group admissions tutor here.

You have a lot of good advice, OP. Although I am in STEM and usually recommend Maths as a facilitating subject, I see no point in any pupil taking subjects they dislike at A Level. The able ones, particularly, are very likely to procrastinate past the point where they can get the grades needed for the type of universities you mention.

I agree that A Level Economics has a qualitative perspective (from what I understand) which may be helpful and that pupils split over the reality of the Psychology content (which I don’t know much about). Politics seems a good possibility as do Sociology and RE if DS is eligible. These are definitely respectable subjects!

@titchy ’s (I think) advice to look into the details of the syllabi is excellent. Finally, please do what you can to get DS to finalise his decisions early in Y12. I think being even half a term late sounds difficult properly to catch up from - doable if you need a B, but not if you need the deep knowledge for a minimum AAA offer.

Good luck to DS.

DS is hoping to do history, psychology, and business

That sounds a fine mix for someone who isn’t focussed on qualitative approaches, @gingercat02

I have no idea what that means and if its good or bad!

Sorry. I meant that I think Business will have quantitative aspects. There may be some writing but there will be a lot of cost-benefit analysis, use of numbers, interpreting graphs, etc.

Similarly my limited understanding of A Level Psychology is that you study experiments and some basic principles. You need some numeracy skills - quantitative skills. Again there will be some writing but nothing like the qualitatively-based History essays.

Neither good nor bad, just a question of taste. English and probably Politics would be more qualitatively based. So is A level Economics, in contrast to university study.

We’re a family of historians -I and my four siblings all did some sort of history at uni, as did my mum and my husband. History was both my kids’ favourite subject at GCSE too.

My kids did History, Psychology and RS (got A star, A, A) and Sociology, Criminology and Business (didn’t choose History because of the coursework but his subjects use similar skills). Me and my siblings did Geography, Sociology, English, Classics, RS, Politics between us and all were complementary and we ended up at good unis.

Psychology has a bit of everything really - definitely essay writing (or at least DD's board have 25 mark essay questions), statistics equivalent to and maybe a bit beyond GCSE, a bit of biology but nothing too scary, analysis and evaluation a bit like you would a historical source, memorising studies that you can use as evidence to back up your argument. It's not unlike history in some ways, but obviously the content is completely different.

If he is interested in philosophy, then Religious Studies would be great. It is mainly philosophy and you don’t need to have done it at GCSE. I say this as a Head of RE

If your DS doesn’t fancy maths and chooses 3 qual subjects then he could take core maths to give a bit of quants. Just incase he decides against a history degree later and the course wants a qual/quant balance. Some universities (Eg York, Bath, Sheffield) reduce a grade too.
DD2 needed that balance to study Business at her preferred uni so chose History, Psychology, economics & core maths. Her uni considered both psychology & economics as qual/quant subjects. She only needed one.

My DS did History at Durham. He did History, Economics and Sociology at Alevel. The Economics and Sociology seemed to be quite useful and supporting for a degree in History.

DD had done Psychology Alevel and it was mainly about remembering facts about studies to regurgitate. Sociology did seem more interesting than Psychology at Alevel!

Some good advice on complimentary subjects; however, you may want to get your child thinking about what he/she will do with a history degree (if that's the plan after A-Levels). Beyond teaching there are not many (any?) careers where a history degree is necessary or particularly desirable. N.B., I've got three history degrees, and I'm a history teacher.

@McKerrowHistory

I hope you don't advise young people in any capacity about careers! You have obviously no idea of what jobs can be done with a history degree. It has transferable skills and as long as the history grad has a cv with some work experience on it, there's lots of jobs a historic grad can do. Lots of grad jobs are open from law to management to journalism and even banking. I would get a bit more clued up.

DS was good at maths - got a grade 8- but didn't really like it so he picked economics as one of his a levels in the hope that his 'maths brain' would be helpful. He's enjoying it much more than maths and doing v well so far. He likes how they can apply the course content to real life and how the world works.

He's also really enjoying a level politics which has been suggested loads already. It's mostly long answer/ essay based exam questions which your son will be good at if he's doing history!

I also thought of Politics, but can see it's been discussed. He might find he enjoys English Lit at A level if he has a different teacher / environment. Philosophy another possible? Agree with not doing maths if he hates it. Is there any opportunity to do 'taster' lessons for subjects like psychology and economics before making final decisions? Hope his GCSEs go well.

Sorry, @gingercat02 I meant to say for someone who isn’t focussed on quantitative approaches. All the difference in the world

Oh golly. Is everyone this caustic on Mumsnet? I think I know a bit about the usefulness of history degrees. I have a BA (hons), MA and PhD.

Again, beyond being a history teacher (or prof), there are very few jobs where one needs a history degree. That's not to say there are not transferable skills or a degree won't get you in the door with some big company. But that's true of many degrees in the humanities.

"there's lots of jobs a historic grad can do." I think you mean "history grad."

History, English, Politics (is what I did)
History, Sociology, Politics or History, Politics, Economics would be good combinations, too,

My DS had offers from Durham and Exeter for history - ended up choosing elsewhere, with same offer as Durham (1 or 2 A star- can’t remember + A). Important to choose subjects that he thinks he can achieve highest grades in - I don’t think it matters too much what they are. My DS did history, maths + FM and economics - he tried psychology for half a term but hated it and switched to economics which he found a relatively easy A star but boring (but I think that was the syllabus they followed). Not sure how much maths helped with the economics. I would avoid chemistry as it’s tough and he’ll need to get at least an A for Durham. grades will be lower for Exeter and they are quite flexible if you don’t quite achieve them. Both my children’s schools were very flexible about switching subjects in first term of A levels, so he probably doesn’t need to stress too much now - wait and see what his results are and take it from there? Good luck to your son, I hope he finds the right mix.

I’d advise against Maths unless comfortably working at a 9. Those universities will probably want an A, which is unlikely following an 8 grade at GCSE. I know kids who’ve done Geography A Level without GCSE and done extremely well, so that’s an option. Chemistry is difficult, and I wouldn’t do it as a stand alone science.