A-level subject choices and combinations that give preference

[winterrabbit]

DS1 is currently deciding which A-levels to study next year. I've read that schools/colleges give preference to certain subject combinations and that you're more likely to get accepted if you pick one of the preferred combinations. Does anyone know if this is right and, if so, what the subject combinations usually are? DS will probably do French, Economics and one other.

If he might do well at A level and might do economics at university then the better economics courses require maths. If that might not be an aim or his grades may not be up to the level for the better economics courses at university ( a very competitive subject) then I would go for A levels where he will get high grades. My sons' school said if you are good at maths there are lots of A stars but that too many people were pushed into doing maths by parents and got very low grades ie it is very high or fairly low grades subjects whereas other subjects might have more people in the middle.

The Spanish and Geography (with RE) of the friend is two hard "facilitating subjects" and the fact one might be a bit easier - RE does not matter. Eg my law sons did History and geography - two traditional harder A levels and one did economics A level with it (and music AS in lower sixth) and the other classical civilisation (and economics AS in lower sixth).

Some schools need people in similar subject groups to be able to allow various options eg arts v sciences as they often timetable things like maths and English lit against each other so people have traditionally done one or the other - my doctor sibling did maths, biology, chemistry, maths and further maths at A level. I did English lit, history and German.

You should definitely work back from future degree subject however as some will want a particular A level subject.

Thanks Xenia, very helpful. What are your thoughts on Sociology? DS is showing an interest but has never studied it before so I am wary as at the moment his worst results are in 2 GCSE option subjects he hadn't studied before year 10. Also, re the daughter of a friend at Oxford, I've heard from multiple sources including my nephew that Geography is an easy A-level. He got a B with doing very little work whilst had to slog it out in Maths to get a B. In the case of my friend's daughter, she also had native Spanish so that was an easy option for her too. One other thought - DS is interested in History but didn't do it at GCSE which was a mistake. Is that a good idea? Again, wary of starting afresh. I did History A-level (alongside English Lit and French) and absolutely loved it.

yes indeed that's a very valid point! It's a shame that it has to be so but of course more and more unis are having to offer German ab initio as fewer and fewer schools offer the A level.

I would imagine most unis want to see a language A level tho - so French A level leading to French degree with German ab initito.

I was typing quickly a list of subjects you can't take at uni without the A level and should have been more careful, lol.

Btw @winterrabbit yes Oxford accepts most subjects for its degrees; the only subjects excluded are things like general studies, which I believe is no longer offered by schools anyway.

I think maths A level with a 6 is a no; with a 7 it is going to be a challenge tho most schools will accept a 7. But the fact that lots of students take maths will not make him any less likely to get the grade he deserves; it really doesn't work like that. Yes grade boundaries vary, but there is consistency. Last year an A-star in eng lit AQA required 83%; in maths AQA 82%; in French AQA 89%; in biology, which is often quited here as being a tough one to do well in bc so many bright would-be medics take it, only 70%. If you do well in the maths papers, you will get a good grade, never mind how many others also do well.

I think talk of "hard" facilitating subjects is misleading. There are no easy A levels unless you have a particular ability. Oxford would honestly be as happy to see top grades in RE, sociology and psychology if appropriate for the chosen course.