A Level Options Dilemma

[sandysurf8]

DD1 is in Y11 and has to pick A level choices when she applies to Sixth Forms. She isn’t sure if she will stay where she is or move yet.

DD is predicted 6-9s in everything, but we will have more precise predictions after her mocks. The subjects she is likely to be aiming for those 8s and 9s in are Geography, History, French (if she applies herself, which I am not sure that she will) and English Literature/Language.

DD is thinking of studying History, Geography, English Lit, Economics, Politics, Sociology at A Level, and needs to narrow this list down to three.

University wise, DD thinks she wants to study Politics and IR, Geography or History. Essentially something along those lines.

She is slightly worried that Geography and History at A Level, would prove too challenging together, and would therefore pick one of them, instead of both. Except she does enjoy them both.

Any advice?

If she's not decided between History and Geography and might want either at university, then she should do both for A level. That keeps her options open, and also don't underestimate how it's important for wider wellbeing to study subjects you want to take.

I think Economics might be the most useful and complementary third A level for the things she wants to do next.

My DD2 is also trying to whittle down a long list of possibilities to just 3. She is also interested in International Relations. Have you looked at the degree requirements? Quite a few want a candidate to show both analytical and discursive subjects. I’ve not phrased that properly and will find a link. A level economics and geography are each seen as covering both. So one of those is good to put with a more essay writing subject. I think 3 that are all essay types may be limiting. So not history, English, politics, sociology combi.
Given she fancies history, politics, geography & IR degrees the only one there that needs an A level in the same subject is geography, isn’t it? So maybe she needs geography in the mix. That also ticks the ‘broad’ a level that IR like. She doesn’t need history or politics at A level to study those at degree level but one of those would be useful for all degrees in her list.
I’m not sure that history & geography would be any harder than another combo if she enjoys those subjects.

History and Geography both have coursework elements I believe? Certainly History does as my dd is doing that. That could be a positive or negative depending on your daughter’s strengths/feelings toward exams etc.

History is very content heavy. I’ve heard that Politics is a similar A Level in terms of how it’s examined, subject matter, skills etc but with less content and no coursework.

Anecdotally, I did History and Geography for A Level as they were my favourite subjects and I still couldn’t decide between them so did a combined arts degree- History, Geography and American Studies. The first year convinced me I much preferred history so I switched to a single honours history degree!

My DH did history, geography and English lit and did history at university.

History, geography and economics could be a good combination. DS is loving politics, but I think geography opens more doors. His history course doesn't have coursework, I think it depends which board and era you choose.

English lit is never going to be a bad choice either!

Coursework in history A level? I had no idea. I thought all coursework has been removed - other than practical projects for DT etc.

Given her interest in either geography or history a uni she really needs to do both at A level.

English or French would go well with history.

Economics or sociology might be a slightly easier third option.

Yep. Coursework for History and Eng Lit. Huge workload if you are doing EPQ too.

DD1 did History, English Lit, Biology and EPQ. Coursework in the first two and yes, it's a huge workload. However, she's currently finding the Uni workload much more manageable as a result.

DD2 is also doing History; her coursework is related to the factors contributing to the start of WW1. She's learning how to identify and evaluate academic sources and that's going to be massively useful to her at Uni no matter what she's studying.