A level choices: Further Maths vs Chemistry / Music vs Language

[CharlesAnton]

DS likes to do maths for sure, then probably music, then...chemistry or further maths. So maths/chemistry/music or maths/further maths/music, which combination would you say better or recommended? I know it all depends on what he would like to do after a levels but he isn't sure yet so currently he's just looking at the subjects he is good at and would enjoy.

He's also strong at language so he could do it instead of music. However, currently he thinks he would enjoy music more.

Any advice please?

He's doing Further Maths AS now

How does that work nowadays? DD was in the last year with 2-part A levels as standard, so starting 4 and stopping one of them with an AS was possible - and would probably have been perfect for the OPs DS. Is that still an option for FM or is 'AS FM' a distinct course?

Having read all the advice, I think we should let him follow his heart and do the subjects he likes and thinks he would enjoy - he can't be 100% sure about it until the course starts though. I hear so many people telling me a-level was a lot harder than they prepared.

So that'll be maths, chemistry and music and FM can also be added if he can pick the 4th a-level. I hear chemistry and maths are really hard at a-level (though I know all the subjects would be). So I don't know if he can cope with 4 yet.

Thank you for posting about music a-level, Malbecfan. I vaguely knew the content but didn't know such details so it was really interesting and useful to read. I might be being too naive but I am not too worried about music a-level at the moment. First and foremost, it's the subject he's really keen and enjoys, but also he's receiving rounded musical training which covers composition to aural to analysing to listening since he was fairly young age, so I assume he is on the right track. Writing essays might be the most tricky bit for him (you can see from his choices!). But he's been doing this a lot also, so hopefully he'll be fine by the time he takes a-level.

At DS2's school it is possible to do an AS in year 13 (they still take AS there anyway, though). It also offers Music Technology (Edexcel) AS and A level, but I'm not sure how common that is, either. For that, you need to be a performing musician, but also good at the IT side.