Which combination works best?

[ShrekandDonkey]

DD cannot decide which A levels to choose next year. She has on her list;

English Lit and Lang
Biology
Psychology
Sociology

Currently hitting targets of 6/7 in all subjects apart from English which is an 8. Also isn't 100% set on what to study at University level but is thinking possibly Psychology.

I'm more worried about the content of these subjects, don't want her to be snowed under!

English sounds like a good idea given her grades - Lit is generally the more respected. Psychology at university doesn't actually need Psych A level, but maths can be helpful, but perhaps not a great idea if she's only getting a 6 in it at GCSE. Biology could be a good choice.

Maybe English, biology, psych?

Biology a big step up from GCSE to A Level. If she's not of a scientific bent I wonder why choose a science? Better to take subjects that support each other but broaden her knowledge if she's heading towards a humanities/ arts based subject at universtiy and beyond.

Your dd could do English Lit and English Lang as 2 separate A level subjects rather than the combined option.
Psychology is an interesting mix of essays and some Science content.
It is often considered as a Science for university courses rather than a Humanity.

Your dd could do English Lit and English Lang as 2 separate A level subjects

Only if the school / college actually offers the two, though and the OP's DD is currently considering Lit and Lang. I think at least most round here offering Lit and Lang offer Literature as the alternative. I can't remember seeing all three as options in the same place. Most of our secondary schools have sixth forms, though, so the colleges aren't massive.

Do eng lit not Lang or lit and Lang, lit as a standalone is most respected and fwiw most interesting according to dd.

Yy don't need psych a level for psych at uni, might be good tho to see if she likes it.

Is maths not an option, psychology at university doesn't require an a level in it (I think they prefer biology but here I know they like maths. If possible I would suggest English, biology and maths as excellent choices and maths is quite different, dd found it easy

Maths is not easy unless you are very good at maths!

DS got 9 at GCSE but really struggled at A level, ended up with a D.

If your DD is thinking about Psychology at uni have a look at entry requirements. Most require a science - some count psychology as the science, others require a separate science. I don't think any actually require psyc A level. Biology goes well with psychology, but equally English would be useful with essay writing etc

Dd wants to do Psychology at uni (she's year 12) and we checked all the top unis' entry requirements (well, to be fair I don't think we checked the London ones). Only Cambridge require 2 sciences - dd is doing History, Psychology, RS. So don't feel the need to add Biology unless she particularly wants to study it.

For what it's worth, dd's school don't offer Sociology, but I've looked at the course for ds (year 10) and it sounds really interesting. I know my dd would have loved it and it looks like it would complement Psychology well (as does RS to be fair, which is similar in some ways).

Obviously it does depend on what options are available, but of the English subjects English Lit on its own is considered the most academic option.

Any combination but keep the Biology if possible. Huge numbers of Psychology students don’t have maths A level or need it. Psychology is often not required but no university is against it. Sociology or English Lit would be fine. Lit is better if possible. If she doesn’t have Sociology or Psychology GCSEs, is she happy tackling two new subjects?

Even if your dd did Eng Lit and Eng Lang as two separate courses universities will only count one. Best to only do one English or the combination course. There is overlap in Psychology and Sociology A level in both have a research methods module. Most kids do 4 and then drop back to 3 after first year.

Even if your dd did Eng Lit and Eng Lang as two separate courses universities will only count one.
And your evidence for this is where exactly...?
It wouldn't be a problem for an English degree for example.
Check the results for the separate subjects and the combined course. At the sixth forms we considered the results for the combined course were much lower than the separate courses.

If she’s thinking possibly psychology then I’d go with biology and then whichever 2 of the others she’ll get highest grades in/ is most interested in.

Having the science might keep a few more options of where to study open for those unis that don’t include psych as a science. If she doesn’t do biology she’ll need to do psych but other than that the exact combination is probably less important than the grades.

I'm surprised that more posters don't see a value in trying Psychology out for a couple of years to see if it's what you think it is, before committing to an expensive three year course in it? No university requires it, but that's because many schools don't offer it. I think there's a big advantage in having a basic schooling in something before starting a degree in it; confidence for one thing!

Biology is supposed to be one of the hardest A-levels and my DD struggled (despite an 8 at GCSE) as she was one of few in her class taking it as a stand-alone science. Almost everyone else was doing it alongside Chemistry which she felt put her at a disadvantage. But it will no doubt be useful for a psychology degree application and there is some crossover in the course content.

Some kind of English or another essay subject would be useful for literacy training and the coherent construction of written arguments.

@caringcarer - your pronouncement that Most kids do 4 and then drop back to 3 after first year - do you mean A-levels? This is absolutely NOT true in most state schools any more, not since A-levels were made linear two or three years ago. I can only think of one, super-selective grammar in my area which does this as a matter of course.

Bath are one of the top unis for Psychology. They ask for a mix of subjects, at least one 'statistical/scientific' subject (which can include Psychology) and at least one essay subject. They also have a list of preferred subjects which includes all four on your daughter's list.

My daughter felt the same as TickTockClock. She wanted a taste of Psychology before committing to it uni.

PS I haven't come across a uni that doesn't include Psychology as a science. The only reason Cambridge is ruled out is that they want two sciences.

My nephew at a normal state school did 4 in Year 12 ( did AS levels in every subject) then dropped back to 3 in Year 13. Ending up with 3 A Level and 1 AS. He lives in Devon. I live in West Midlands and schools around me do the same.

@caringcarer most schools don't do AS levels anymore as they don't count towards the final A level. Since the change very few start with 4 A levels because they don't have anything to show for the dropped subject at the end of Y12.

Round me only a few schools allow the very academic to do 4, and usually that involves maths/further maths as the fourth.

My nephew did do Maths and Further Maths but some of his friends who also did 4 did other subjects. Everyone at his school sits AS instead of internal exams specifically so they do have something to show for them but also to help them decide which subject to drop.

How long ago did your nephew do his A levels?

Found out today that DD will get to have a taster session of the subjects she is interested in so hopefully that will help her decide what is right for her.

I have told her biology will be difficult so then she told me her school offer a Btech in human biology (which is the side of it she enjoys) and is the equivalent to an A level. And she could do this alongside 2 other A levels. Not sure what the benefits/disadvantages of this are though.

She says she would like to do Psychology with Criminology at Uni but fully aware teens can change their mind at the drop of a hat!