History or Business alongside French and Politics for A levels?

[ElatedTurtle]

Hi all,
DD is currently choosing her A levels and is in a bit of a dilemma! She knows she wants to do French and Politics definitely but does not know whether to do History or Business.
History complements politics, teacher is good, would prepare DD well for uni/law but apparently its so hard with the volume of content, NEA (which she doesn't know if she wants to do), and essays are v difficult, also doesn't know if its too much of essays with the other options.
However, Business is much easier apparently (doing a new syllabus in 2026- its changed to just 6 and 9 markers and theres now more time in exams in new syllabus), so would give a bit of a break from french and politics. However, DD is more interested in History than Business content!
Any advice would be much appreciated.

History. Given DDs interest, also could be a lifetime interest as it is for many people.

I’d go for History but for anyone who thinks Business is ‘easier’ I have a bridge to sell you.
It drives me mad when I hear that one subject is ‘easier’ than another.

I would say history too.

Yeh agree, history for the win. Big mistake imho to devote a third of your sixth form to something you don’t enjoy on the basis that it’s easier. All A levels are challenging. Has she done business GCSE? Did she like that? Who told her business a level was easier! It’s all relative. Biology A level would have been hard for me but French was all good.

ETA NEA is an advantage surely; and French not at all essay heavy. The essay element is similar to one Eng lit GCSE paper in volume.

Definitely history. Keeps more doors open.

History. DS loved it and is studying history and politics at uni.

My son is just finishing Business, french and psychology. Business isn't easy at all although he loves it and is off to study business and french at uni. But she should do what she enjoys most. Either course is huge and difficult.

I studied French and Politics at university. I had History, French and English Literature A-levels and Business AS level, funnily enough.

History is definitely a lot more relevant to her degree choice imo. It may depend on where she wants to study though. I went to Bath if that helps.

My DS is just sitting his A Levels in Ethics, History and Business. He would have done Politics instead of History but they couldn't timetable that combination. He's really enjoyed all of them and he says he's glad he chose Business because that's been the 'easy' option for him and he feels he wouldn't have done as well as he's predicted to do in all 3 without it. He says the course content for History (as well as Ethics) is very heavy.

@ElatedTurtle For Law at a competitive university, History. Look into LNAT as well. Essay subjects are way better prep for law. Business isn’t really the same in terms of content that makes it good prep for a law degree. Also, with Law, aim high! Jobs are scarce.

having had twins who finished a levels last year - choose which one she wants to do. My son got a 9 in history for gcse and likes history but he was encouraged to do english literature instead as was told history too much content. He hated english literature (previously got an 8 in GCSE) and ended up with a B.

He also studied business A level as wanted to do business at uni. Its not that easy ... the exam board they had did this weird essay writing structure I found tricky (I did a business degree). But definately less content then history.

I will disagree with anyone who says some subjects are not more easy then others - for example business known to be easier than economics. I do think some kids are affected by poor choice of A levels and end up with lower grades then if they had of chosen other A level subjects.

also look at how hard / how many kids get As in a subject. If I had of known the stats on how many As are usually handed out for english literature I would have told my son to ignore career counsellors advice and NOT chosen english literature

Business is fine for business, for law, History is the better choice.

Do what she wants to do, A levels are a slog and need subject interest to get through. This history graduate says history is always the answer

I think anyone wanting Law at a very good university where it’s competitive, (eg Durham, Bristol, Nottingham etc) would do well to read the A level choices advice from Cambridge. I know not everyone is aiming that high - but it’s great advice for highly competive law courses. They list best subject combinations and wish to see 2 of them for a competive application: they are English lit, history, maths and MFLs. Therefore dc here has one: French . Adding history greatly strengthens any application for law at the high tariff competitive universities. Cambridge also lists less helpful subjects and they include Business. Honestly - do history!

History will be thought of as the better subject and if he is interested in it should go for it. That said though business will teach him lots of things too but he can learn them later