Two A Levels with coursework/NEA component?

[Whathappenedtothelego]

Does/ has anyone’s DC done more than one A level with coursework component?

DC is considering doing both History and English Language for A levels (third A level will be Spanish).

I’m sure this will be quite a popular combination, but just wondering about the workload. How manageable have others found it? DC definitely prefers exams to coursework, but maybe this is unusual. Two big thousands-of-words assignments seems daunting (to me). Worried DC might leave them both to the last minute, then have loads to do in run up to exams (I’m basing this on what I would have done!)

Plan post A level is a history degree, or possibly joint honours history and Spanish, so history definitely needed, but not necessarily English.

On the other hand, hard to think of an alternative really. French is possible, but DC is less strong in it (predicted a 7 for GCSE on a good day, but it might be a 6. Predictions for other A level choices are 8).
Only other option for A level that DC is keen on is classical civilisation instead of Eng lang, which just has exams. But would have to move schools for that, and commute would be quite significant.

DD is doing 3 A levels with NEA components. And an EPQ.

Two of her subjects are also English Language and History; the other is English Lit. English Lang has 2 NEAs in her board. So that's 4 NEAs and a 5000 word EPQ. DD likes writing :)

I think it's worth looking how they are timetabled out.

DD submitted her EPQ before Easter in Year 12 about the same time that NEA 1 for English Lang work started. She'd then submitted the English Lang NEA1 at the time that English Lang NEA work started. She's planning on working on English Lit and History NEAs over the summer. Autumn term of Year 13 will be a bit horrendous with 3 NEAs at once (which is why she wants to get ahead over the summer). But then she has lots of marks banked ahead of exams, so takes the pressure off. Also bear in mind that when they are working on NEAs, that's taking the place of usual classwork/homework - it's not entirely on top!

It suits DD who is a perfectionist and likes to take her time, and also good at course work as she'd rather this than more exam. But, yes, it is quite stressful. I figure it is good practice for university.

(I will not tell you that my older DS decided he disliked his Geography NEA the day before it was due in and spent 16 hours straight, including being up all night, re-writing it. Fortunately he didn't tell me that until much later either, or I would have probably have had a major panic).

There is an independent research project requirement in MFL as well which makes up the majority of their final mark for speaking.

I teach an NEA subject. Most of my students do at least two NEA subjects. It is rarely an issue.

Yes this is a significant element of their speaking exam - though tbf it is not the project as such that is marked but rather how well they speak about it. If a candidate hasn't done much research tho (I am an MFL speaking examiner) you can always tell. And not in a good way.

I did two foreign language A levels myself back in the day, and I had forgotten the oral!

Maybe I am worrying about nothing then, it’s a good point about school likely timetabling it out, and it being part of class work - though when I did A levels I feel we didn’t do it in class. Distinctly remember sitting in the library on my own.

Most of my friends seem to have dc doing a mix of science and humanities (or all science). I don’t know anyone else whose dc is just doing traditional humanities subjects, so it’s nice to know they are out there getting stuck into all the coursework. Very impressed by 3 NEAs and an EPQ though! Shivering just thinking about it.

@Whathappenedtothelego surprised to see that re 3x humanities A levels. Dd took Eng lit, geog and French; plenty of her peers did three from Eng lit, Eng lang, history, Phil and ethics, sociology, geog, gov/pol. Sciency ppl tended to stick to sciences, maths, psych, PE.

@clary funny how different it is! Everyone we know seems to be doing/ have done either biology or maths, or both.

I think dc is the only one planning for Spanish A level who isn’t also doing maths.

Yep just asked dd and she agrees. The only exception she can think of is Env science which some peers did with English.

Only MFL students were her and a girl who did French with her, who took Eng lit and Phil and ethics.