What do you think would be the best choices? A Levels

[needmorespace]

My dtr did extremely well in her GCSEs (four A* / four A / two B grades).
Unfortunately one of her B grades was in a subject she wanted to study at A level and now cannot do that (A grade was required). As it was Chemistry, this means that applying for medicine is now out of the question - at this stage at least.

We have therefore spent a lot of time this week trying to get our heads around how we juggle her A level choices.

She was originally going to take:
Maths, Chemistry, Biology and RS (but got Bs in Maths/Chemistry despite being predicted A*s). The maths has been regraded to an A grade so this is now not a problem.

When the results originally came through, she changed her options to:
Spanish, Biology, Physics and RE.

Now that her maths has been regraded we don't know whether to change the Physics to Maths or perhaps the Spanish to Maths - or to leave things as they are.

Does anyone have any advice? Even though medicine is out of the question she would still like to have a career in a health related field - perhaps nursing or midwifery.

Any ideas on what way to go forward.

MFL A levels are still the standard entry requirement for MFL degrees and most people do fine at university with A level preparation. However the majority come from independent schools and they often offer an extended curriculum. Many come from comprehensive schools too and they also achieve highly. If she likes Spanish, it is well taught and she will be in a group of like minded students, then why not take it? Often an MFL gets a student onto a joint honours degree course because many universities like students who opt for x subject and an MFL or even do a year abroad. The MFL does keep options open - just different ones.

I have a feeling Keele University encourage all students to do a language alongside their other subject - maybe worth checking if they do a medical subject area as well.

Have you discussed the science options with her teachers, if she was predicted an A* in chemistry and given her circumstances at the time would they not still let her take it at A level, also how does she feel about doing A level chemistry, physics and maths?

From what you said about how she feels about maths does she even want to do it at A level. As an aside my DH has a physics degree and he thought the AQA GCSE syllabus (DD has just sat it) is very undemanding and the step up to A level is huge, friend of ours DD A* maths and physics went on to get an E at AS in Physics - what I'm trying to say make sure she is doing what she enjoys and don't be too swayed by her actual results.

She has Biology and RE at A*. She wants to do a medical type thing. What about heading towards Psychology?
AS Levels = Biology, Maths, RE plus one other?

I would be looking for a college that would allow her to take chemistry and her original choices.

I agree with 321teachus and then perhaps getting a tutor for chemistry. If she was predicted an A* she obviously has the ability and something went wrong in the exams. And with her illness she has obviously had a lot of difficulties which she has done well to overcome. Will school not reconsider because of her circumstances?
Also, she could still go down the medicine route without chemistry by applying for a foundation year medicine course if she gets good A levels.
Regarding maths - is her algebra good? If so, then AS maths would be a good choice. My DD 'only' got an A at Gcse maths but has just finished her A levels and got an A in maths. It has been her favourite subject but she has worked very hard.

Does she really want to go into nursing or midwifery if she can't do medicine? I'm only asking as it's such a difference and she may well get frustrated. Has she looked thoroughly at all other vaguely medical related careers? Pharmacy, biochemistry, radiography?

Physics and biology lead well into radiography and optometry.

Nursing has lots of career paths now and you can branch into specialist nursing with independent prescribing, etc. It's far removed from the traditional view of nursing.

I did a Physics degree and I'd agree with catslife that the maths in physics lags behind that needed in the equivalent maths qualification. You don't need A2 level maths to do A2 level physics, AS level is enough (or even a good maths GCSE at a push if she's good at algebra) You couldn't consider a degree in physics without A2 level maths, but that's probably not the direction your DD's heading anyway.

I'd recommend thinking about AS level maths if she wants to do physics, obviously biology and either RE or Spanish. For a vocational career in health or social services, RE is a good choice, IMO.

I have a Chemistry degree but also studied Physics and Maths in the first year at uni. Have also taught A level Chemistry so if you want to pm me please do so.
Many sixth forms do accept students with Bs at GCSE. The trouble about basing choices just on exam results is that grade boundaries aren't the same for all 3 subjects so Physics is usually lowest grade boundary then Chemistry and then Biology. What marks did she obtain in the different modules, if only the final (unit 3) is the lowest mark (or even if unit 1 is lowest) and she still would like to try A level Chemistry.
For unit 1 there are a lot of "application of Science to real life questions where very bright students sometimes lose marks simply because they don't believe the easiest answer could be right!
Much of the unit 3 content will be done again (in more detail though) at AS level.
Hope this helps

Two of my DC have recently completed an A2 physics without doing maths. It's less work if you do maths as well, but that doesn't make it especially hard for those who don't.

They didn't do AS either - post wasn't clear.