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dd is really struggling with deciding which Alevel courses to take.

So far she's decided on Maths as she's done the gsce a yr early and so is currently working on first module of A level anyway.

She thinks she may want to eventually do something financial.

What a levels do you recommend.

She's a bright all rounder ,but finds maths easier than english.

choices are;
maths
advanced maths-not keen
french
spanish
music-very good at but not passionate about.
history
geography
biology -quite keen
chemistry-not keen
physics -not keen
business
psychology

I'd go for biology as she's keen on it. I don't know much about the secondary system yet but I'd guess good results in Maths would be enough for something financial in the future, so she can choose other subjects she likes.

thanks

trouble is she isn't keen on any subjects really,

is it important to go for subjects that have been getting consistently high results at the school?

ie. geography which gets the best results in the school,but she doesn't relish despite getting good grades in it.

My oldest 2 found A Levels a bit of a shock to the system - a giant step up from GCSEs that they were completely unprepared for. My DD in particular, having had outstanding GCSE results, really struggled (and is actually retaking her A2s in January). So my advice, FWIW, would be to go for the subjects that really interest your DD rather than the subjects the school gets good results in - it's very hard to maintain the momentum needed for A Levels if you don't really care about the subject.

good point hassled,she is interested in psychology but thinks it may be a pointless course and not regarded well by the universities.

Have you come across 'blocking' yet? Schools usually create 'sets' of subjects (for timetabling purposes) and tell you to pick one from Block A, one from Block B etc. This may force the issue e.g. my DD had to choose between Theology and Economics because they were in the same Block.

Alternately, look at her preferred career choices and work backwards from there: does the career require a certain degree and, in turn, does that degree require certain A Levels?

don't know about blocking yet,will find out soon though.
Yes,good idea about working backwards,have just started a thread asking solicitors this as dd mentioned this career.
thanks

If she knows she wants to do something mathematical, then maths & further maths. Other than that, she has a free reign. What subjects does she enjoy?

DS just sent his form in today - maths, further maths, physics, chemistry and critical thinking. He's doing French this year.

DS's school has five option blocks, and they select one from each. Some subjects appear in more than one block, so most choices should be accomodated.

Oh, she shouldn't do Biology unless she either loves it, or needs it for getting into University/ higher courses

It will be hard for her is she doesn't also do Chemistry, nit impossible but hard at the start because you do lots of biochemistry

Biology, imo, is the hardest of the sciences.

Physics is the easiest, and the new physics curriculum looks like great fun.

really,physics the easiest?

I think she's under the impressions that biology would be the easiest science.

None of them are easy per se. they are all hard in different ways. Physics is 'easiest' of you have a mathematical mind. There is the least to learn, but you have to be good at applying calculations etc.

Biology is easiest if you have an interest in language (almost like learning a new language with all the key words and concepts you have to get used to!) And Biology is good if you enjoy complexity and seeing conections between disparate topics.

people tend to either favour Physics or Biology. Biophysiscts are rare birds (by collage tutor was one! )

Lots of people do biology because they think it is a soft option. It isn't. Even more do Human Biology because they think that will be even easier. It really isn't

thanks mb,interesting that physics may be better suited to her as she's quite mathsy

You could work backwards from the degree (if that is in her plans). Choose subjects which maximize your choice at degree level (if no idea about a degree subject), or which are specific to the degree. Spanish, History, Music would reduce your chances of any BSc course, for example.

Is Economics available? It is one of the more accepted of the applied subjects and directly relevant to business/finance. If she did have this choice I would choose it over business. Otherwise, choose Maths plus French or Spanish or History or Geography or Biology as these are mainstream subjects that university admissions tutors prefer.

no economics

thanks for your sensible advice though

what about music,how is that viewed by universities?

I don't think music would be a good choice for A2 if your DD is thinking of doing a business/finance type degree, though she could take it as her 4th AS. I don't particularly rate psychology for A2 either but a friend's DD has just started at Durham (to read psychology) with psychology A2 so it can't be considered a completely useless choice. History and Geography are always good choices and so is physics though you do need decent teachers. My DS1 worked out his AS levels and A2s by process of elimination rather than positive choice, so your DD isn't the first!