Should DC drop maths to improve her chances of meeting her Cambridge uni offer for history

[nandio]

DC does history English economics and maths A level.

Cambridge offer for history is A star AA and excludes the maths.

DC is currently working at a B in economics and a C in maths based on mock results. Other 2 subjects are at A star.

Should DC give up the maths to concentrate on economics?

All advice very greatly received.

They all got minimum 4 A/As and did masses of other stuff*

Well everyone I know who went to Oxford or Cambridge only got 3 ALevels at A*/A because that's all the school allowed them to do. Depends who you know I suppose!

If her offer is AAA then she needs to obtain those grades - from the mock grades you’ve given us it would seem sensible to drop one A level - mine already had a A in maths but doing three A levels ( inc furfher maths ) this summer - sadly flunked her Cambridge interview but her next two unis have ‘ weirdly ‘ made her offers of AA only - I would expect that you can only be certain of a place if you meet the offer so on the basis of the grades you’ve quoted I would advise to drop an A level - but do talk to her teachers as i would expect many but not all kids to exceed their mock grades ( assuming teachers have marked them hard ! )

Cambridge will not mind at all if you optimze your chances. I recall them asking me for a D in an irrelevant subject a long time ago! Focus the revision where it matters. Your kid could always just sit the maths with a whatever attitude.

Slightly tangential, but can I just clarify about the maths being excluded? My son is choosing a levels at the moment and is trying to work out if history, economics and maths would be an acceptable combination for a history degree - if your daughter’s offer excluded maths from the offer satisfication conditions, it would suggest not.

Not sure you can infer that - the offer might have just been made on the three most relevant from the four being taken, rather than suggesting that maths itself is not desirable. Indeed, I was just on the web-site for King's Cambridge and it says.

"If you think that you would like to study an arts or social sciences course at university but you are not sure which one, then English Literature, History, languages and Mathematics are good keystone subjects: choosing one or more of these will provide a good foundation for your subject combination.

Other good choices....Economics...."

So the suggestion is that History and Maths is just fine.

I think History, Economics and Maths would be a suitable combination for a History degree though might be worth him considering Economics or PPE as well. Each college can have its own preferred combinations so its worth checking when time comes with that college. I read Economics - one college said you needed Maths and Further Maths, one said you didn't need Maths. I didn't have Maths so applied to one who said you didn't need it and apart from a compulsory maths exam in part 1, you could choose less mathematical options. Economic History and politics were options, actually history was compulsory.

Oh that is very encouraging - thank you for the comment s

I'm sure I heard that if you put down 4, you had to sit 4. Otherwise people would be saying, "I'm taking 10 A Levels" which would look very impressive and then they'd have no intention of taking any more than 3.

Cambridge told my DS to drop weak 4th AS and concentrate on subject he was applying for. (He didn't and went elsewhere ...)

Thanks again for all the comments. I appreciate you all taking the time to reply.

DD has written to Cambridge to ask if it's OK to drop the maths and she has discussed the idea with school who are being very supportive.

She is still attending maths lessons in the meantime but has been excused from homework.

I think the reason her offer excluded maths is because it is her worst subject. Maths is a perfectly fine A level along with economics and history for a history degree I'm sure.

I've taught sixth form before and agree that she ought to drop it. Best of luck to her.

Just to update the thread, DD has yet to hear back from Cambridge after writing to them on 8th March.

Which College has she applied to?

Excellent news! Cambridge have said that DD can drop maths as it does not affect her offer. She is delighted so I am too. Thanks once again for the great advice everyone.