How do you pick A levels when you don't enjoy any of the subjects

[UglyJumper]

I am trying to support Y11 DD to select A Levels. French is a given, not because she enjoys it, but because she's good at it and her predicted grade is a 9. She doesn't like anything else, including creative subjects (which are in short supply in her school anyway), but particularly hates maths and sciences. She's got a low predicted grade in English Lit and she hates it, so won't do that either. I am trying to encourage her to just pick the 2 she hates the least because she has to pick something. She has no idea what she wants to do when she's older. She's under the impression that she's the only one in her whole year who's struggling like this and that everyone's got it sorted.

I think it is easy to think of a BTEC a bit like 3 times 1 A level. But if you look, some of them can be quite varied in their modules. The way they are assessed is different for someone who doesn't seem to be enjoying the ''school' experience. e.g The Business or Event management BTECs may be relatively varied.

What concerns me about doing A levels when you don't enjoy the subject, is where is the incentive to do the extra work required to succeed in the end? Whereas with a BTEC each assignment can push an able student to try to reach Distinction standard. The work & reward are more tangible.

There isn't necessarily harm in starting A levels (maybe in a different environment to school?) and then if necessary restarting y12 a year later doing something else if A levels don't work out.

What does she do in her free time? What is on her Christmas list for example?

I agree with the idea of looking at subjects she hasn't studied before.

Also, bear in mind some subjects can be very different at A level compared to GCSE. DS who got an 8 for GCSE History has really struggled at A level because it is so different GCSE - much more analysis and comparing and analysing historians etc So worth doing some research.

Well you can be meh, but still have ongoing/aver arching interests. Like my lad (19) was always interested in reading growing up, and it has evolved into reading mostly Manga and an interest in Japanese culture etc
He's always been interested in how things work and he's always liked animals, science, fishing, swimming and cycling. They wax and wane, but that's what his general interests are.

So there were plenty of scope based on interests, e.g. Bio-Chemistry and any science related training... Swimming instructor...dog walker... Vet... Bike fixer... studying literature...

He did a Science B-TEC and is now on a Degree Apprenticeship program in Bio-Chemistry

Honestly OP I think some people just need a bit more time. I left school even younger than your daughter, spent a few years having amazing fun in manual/warehouse/retail jobs and then decided to go back to college (and then uni) at 21. I think it would be a mistake to push her into making a career choice so young!

Ideally schools and colleges should provide lots of extracurriculars that contribute to developing interests and maturity outside lesson time and therefore make sixth form as a whole a positive experience even if lessons are only tolerable. The reality is different which unfortunately adds to the pressure of choosing wisely.

If she doesn't enjoy the subjects she is studying, she'll have little to no motivation to do the study she needs to outside of lessons, and won't achieve her potential.

I agree that going along to a local college open day might be a good idea if only to see what is on offer. Many colleges offer a range of subjects which schools just can't manage e.g our local college offers things like environmental science, geology, criminology, etc which school sixth forms just can't (those are just examples, I know you said she isn't keen on STEM). They also offer more extracurricular options at post 16, which might help her gain an enthusiasm for something.

It may also be an option to do a more vocational course plus one A-level, in some colleges, if this is what appeals.

It might be that she goes along and nothing takes her fancy, but there will hopefully be something that she at least finds a little bit interesting at a large college- which is a starting point.

Does she have any hobbies?

Is she just applying to her current school for Sixth form or looking around?
Does her school offer an induction or taster sessions? Our does - so students get to try what the subject may be like - or find out, for example, what Sociology/politics/criminology is about.

Has she accepted she needs to do something?

All my children went to college for 6th form doing Btec or nvq and then went on to uni. They have good, established careers.

Why does she need to do A levels? Lots of other options.