Which A level would you drop?

[EachandEveryone]

If you were 17 and didnt have a clue what you wanted to do. Medicine is out because she knows it would be too stressful. She wants to earn money and has had part time jobs since she was 14 so she likes to spend😃. No interest in computing. She is quite argumentative and much more woke than me. Typical teen really. She is desparate to do a course which means she cannwork abroad for a year.

Todays halfway results Geography A Biology B Sociology A and Chemistry C (which she is gutted about) Apparently they dont have to drop one but it would make sense to.

drop sociology.
nobody takes it seriously, except for those who struggle to get an A-level at all.
more time to concentrate on the other solid subjects, get grades up.
good luck.

Chemistry is clearly not her best subject. I agree sociology is the least well regarded out of those but it’s her best grade so I’d keep it.

Despite the low Chemistry grade I think it's a subject that opens up a lot of possibilities

I'd drop sociology tbh

I wouldn’t drop one but I would work super hard over summer getting the AS Chemistry concepts nailed. Then resit the AS next year - can you still do that? I resit some AS exams in the A2 year and
The best result counts.

Well it depends what degree course she's wants to do - she doesn't have much time to decide so decide that, at least broadly (science, social science, creative for example) then work back.

@Tibtab

I wouldn’t drop one but I would work super hard over summer getting the AS Chemistry concepts nailed. Then resit the AS next year - can you still do that? I resit some AS exams in the A2 year and The best result counts.

No point resitting - AS doesn't count towards AL result any more.

My child with a similar dilemma went through loads of prospectuses and chose a whole load of courses they liked the look off, then did a big diagram showing which A-level they needed. Then discarded based on future opportunities.

A in sociology could be worth more than C in chemistry if the offer is e.g. AAB and not subject specific so be careful.

Depends a lot what sort of course she fancies doing, and which subjects she is enjoying most.

If she isn't really enjoying Chemistry drop Chemistry....

Sociology is the most interesting of the four and from the description of your dd I think she sounds like a sociology kind of girl
I'd drop the Chemistry. Or the Biology.

But also not having a second science could shut down science options. Is so hard for them to choose sometimes!

Going against the grain. She likes ‘debating’ and would love a Yr abroad. I’d say drop Chemistry, study something like International relations and do a Yr abroad or study Law, both do not require Chemistry.

If she continues with Chemistry but doesn’t fancy Medicine she will end up following the allied healthcare route. They rarely involve a year abroad her earning potential will be a lot less and there’s no arguing.

I’d drop Chemistry - she could look at courses like Development Studies, often have time abroad, uses geography and sociology and is making a difference

Going against grain, but I think she should drop chemistry.
Play to her strengths.

A job that pays well and involves arguing is a lawyer or politician/MP and any essay based critical thinking course is good towards degrees in both Law or Politics and similar. None of them have chemistry backgrounds!

I think ABA is much better than ABC for grades. She has biology to show she’s got a serious technical type course, she’s not interested in a STEM career so why push chemistry?

Theresa May has a degree in Geography. Jess Phillips in Sociology. Nicola Sturgeon in law.

Drop Chemistry. It's her weakest. The other 3 make quite a good threesome too.
But before doing that go onto relevant websites and see what courses require Chemistry A level and make sure she doesn't want to do them.

Drop the one she likes the least. She won't put as much work in.

She should keep the subjects she will get the best grades in. DD did biology, chemistry and geography, and found chemistry hard. She also did psychology in year 12, but dropped it after AS levels. She then had the time to bring her C grade in chemistry up to an A grade.

I'd drop sociology
or chemistry if she isn't enjoying.
But a Chemistry B at a level will look better than a Sociology A IMO.

Grades can be brought up with hard study.

@Frazzled2207

I'd drop sociology or chemistry if she isn't enjoying. But a Chemistry B at a level will look better than a Sociology A IMO.

Not if she wants to aim for unis that want AAA as an entry requirement.

Drop chemistry

@Frazzled2207

I'd drop sociology or chemistry if she isn't enjoying. But a Chemistry B at a level will look better than a Sociology A IMO.

A chemistry grade B will only look as good as the entry requirements needed for her chosen course.

People saying drop sociology are being ridiculous. It’s her highest grade!

Is she aiming to go to university? If so she really needs a bit of a clue what she wants to study. So first work that out, then find out entry requirements, then decide what to drop.

Interesting answers! I don't know how many posters on this thread are sixth form tutors or uni admissions staff but I'm thinking some certainly are not.

I am not either, btw. Here are my thoughts:
Drop her least favourite
Drop the one she doesn't need for her uni course
Drop the one with the worst grade

If there is correlation between these, all the better. Yes, sociology is not needed for any uni courses (not even sociology, as some sixth forms don't offer it), but the disparagement it is receiving here is shocking. It is her equal best grade so unless she hates it I would keep that. Research what degrees you need chemistry for - does she want to study biochemistry? If not, I would be inclined to drop that as it is her lowest grade. Tho if she loves it (and that is why a C is gutting) then it might be worth carrying on.

A B in chemistry is only ever better than an A in sociology if you are applying to a course where chemistry is essential. Otherwise, the A is better of course. What snobbery! DS2 (yr 13) did maths, biology and ... PE. He is the brightest in the PE class - not boasting as he is far from the brightest in maths. It's not an especially academic subject. But he needs AAB for his chosen course and frankly he is more likely to get A in PE than if he had done chemistry or physics. So on that basis, it was a much better choice.

To sum up, OP, we don't have enough info, but unless chemistry is a must in the future or she absolutely loves it, yes I would drop chemistry.

Btw geography counts as a science for uni admissions so if she wanted to study biology and two sciences were needed (they aren't everywhere) then she would be OK.

Agree with Shiny's posts.

Although...
Was she gutted by the C because she loves chemistry or because she worked really hard and expected up do better?

If she worked hard and still got the C then definitely drop it.

If she loves it, then maybe rethink.

I know someone who did biochemistry, then a masters in international relations, currently running a big overseas aid agency.

The international relations masters programme involved French, economics, and pol sci, as well as subjects that could be broadly categorised in the geography and sociology area.