Geography or Chemistry A Level

[hattylou]

Hi.
My DS was down to do Chemistry, physics. maths and further maths A levels.
Thinking Engineering for degree.
He is now considering swapping chemistry for geography.
He hit 100% in his mock GCSE geography so thinks he has a higher chance of A* with it.

Any advice on if this is ok or just a bad idea.
Also is it a massive jump up from GCSES like most subjects?

Individual aptitude and interest determines whether a subject is easy or hard. So do not rely on the 100% mock result as your indicator of future relative success. Is he really taken by geography or is he simply attracted by the idea, in his mind, of an 'easy win'?

Chemistry requires persistent dedication as you are learning increasingly complex topics and, ideally, need to nail these as you go along. Chemistry more easily keeps doors open to medicine and allied degrees, and ChemEng, but that is about it.

Geography, depending on exam board, often has an NEA worth 20% of the total. Students can either thrive or flounder with this element. Top grades are secured by demonstrating sophisticated analysis of issues and being able to draw in wide ranging examples (not just those spoon fed in class). Geog would open doors to some degrees looking for at least one humanity A level but, be warned, not all unis see it as an 'essay subject'.

I have DC who have done Geog alongside either Physics or Chemistry and they liked the contrast of the more qualitative analysis in Geog to their other STEM A levels. They felt it gave a more rounded experience. They achieved very good grades in Geog because they kept up with issues beyond the narrow curriculum, not because it is intrinsically easier in some way.

Apart from the obvious that if he might want to do chemical engineering he'll need chemistry, he's got the three essential ones (physics, maths, further maths).

When my dd was considering her 4th subject for electrical and electronic engineering, she emailed a few admissions tutors, they generally didn't think it really mattered. However, some subjects may be more or less helpful with specific branches of engineering than others. She did comp sci, which I think she found helpful in hitting the ground running with some of the programming aspects. However, she actually ended up doing general engineering at Cambridge, and in retrospect said that chemistry would have been useful for some topics (not sure which... maybe some of the materials and thermodynamics content), and that quite a lot of the cohort had done it.

Does he know which type of engineering he's most likely to want to do?

Chemistry more easily keeps doors open to medicine and allied degrees, and ChemEng, but that is about it.

Er, and chemistry.
I'm a chemist - a lot of people do seem to find it harder than some other subjects. It's maybe got a mix of conceptual ideas, maths and stuff that has to be learned than some of the other subjects do at A level.

Otoh, geography with physics and maths is what my DN did, and then studied that (with an emphasis on physical geography), also at Cambridge. So that keeps different doors open.

Thank you.
He doesn't really know yet exactly what he wants to do. He just likes engineering. He is good at science and maths.
I am very worried that chemistry keeps more doors open.
I also agree with what some have said Geography will be much harder than the GCSE so he may get a shock.
I do fear he thinks it will be easy. I think he also rather fancies some of the ( very expensive) field trips they do on the course.

I guess we just give him time to think and see what he gets in GCSES?
He has looked up engineering at Cambridge I know for a fact. The report from the careers person at school listed this as his ultimate aim. ( was news to us as the boy is almost non verbal, apart from requesting food at home).
Both DH and I did chemistry A level. I found it really hard, DH found it to be his easiest subject. No idea how most people find it.

I would also research career paths. Geology will lead to more environmental engineering. Companies such as Arup, WSP, Arcadis. Big companies, global and UK divisions & more of a pathway for graduates to do fieldwork rather than office environments (at a guess). Depends on Dc preferences of where they might want to be further down the line.

Haha, yes @ErrolTheDragon, I had taken it as read that dropping chemistry probably meant farewell to a chemistry degree but should have made that clear and, yes, my DC doing chemistry said it was a sometimes quite challenging mix of concepts, maths and content but I guess that is the appeal to you chemists!

He has looked up engineering at Cambridge I know for a fact.

If that's his aim, then the required grades are, afaik, always A stars in the physics and further maths, and then variable mixes of As and Astars in the other one or two.

If he likes engineering and is already eyeing up cambridge, then I'm not sure you need to worry he'll be closing any doors he particularly wants to stay open whichever 4th subject he chooses. Does he do any engineering type of things by way of hobbies and clubs?

Yes he has just done an engineering GCSE and been in various competitions. Very capable in the subject.
He is bright.
I just don't want him picking the wrong subjects.
Obviously maths physics and further maths are essential.

My DH did exactly those A levels (albeit last century!) and did Mech Eng at Imperial (also had an offer from Cambridge). He really enjoyed Geography at GCSE, especially the coursework, and felt it was a better option as he thought he’d be likely to do well in it. Got an A in it and loved his degree, so it worked out well!

Geography is easier than chemistry.

That doesn't necessarily mean it's easier to get an A* in. More higher grades are awarded in the subjects generally deemed harder. I'm not sure what the relative numbers are nowadays.

Errol's point is the key one; OP's DS is potentially eyeing up Geog as a way of bagging an easy Astar. My DC said the overall workload of Geog was less than for Chem or Physics, giving more time for other things. However, an Astar in Geog means getting good marks in the NEA and being comfortable with arguing nuanced positions, backed by relevant examples, particularly in the extended answers. That will suit some DC but not others.

Look at the courses he is interested and they will say which are the essential or desirable ALevels. On stem/engineering courses I would say Chemistry is often an essential. Geography is considered a social science and not a hard science subject

Has he looked at the style of questions on the exam boards his school/ college uses for both subjects? We used that to help decide between two different subjects (obviously not the only criteria). My dc decided they preferred more short answer questions than longer essay questions. Obviously he won't know the content or the marking criteria but he might know which style of exams he prefers. Based on his other subjects he might prefer Chemistry but there are benefits to keeping the skill of essay writing which geography might offer more. The Geography NEA is a substantial project, dc has been recommended three days data collection plus time to analyse, write up etc. Not compensated by fewer exams but at least each one counts for fewer of the overall marks.

Depends on the individual. For a scientifically minded DC, they may well find Chemistry easier.

Geography has an NEA - researching and writing are not necessarily skill sets that will come easily to everyone, and they aren't needed in OP's DC's other A Level choices.

I think it's easier for good science students to get high grades in science, than it is for good humanities students to get good grades in humanities (more subjective; more likely for exam questions not to suit). If you look at university entry criteria, they are always higher for science subjects.

https://www.undergraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/courses/engineering-ba-hons-meng

62% of the cohort for the given years had done chemistry. It's not essential, afaik not having it doesn't necessarily make the application weaker vs another subject but DDs experience suggests that the teaching of some modules rather assumed people had A level chemistry so those that didn't had to play catch-up. If a student is worried about how hard A levels are... not as hard as that degree!

Thank you.
I don't think he is worried about it being hard.
More he like the idea of field trips and he was literally always top of year in the subject. I think a little bit of people saying he should take it has been happening. He has a Spanish friend who is taking Spanish A level to get an easy A apparently so I think that idea may have been behind the idea of taking his easiest subject.
I don't think any deep thought process has really gone on.
He is also very good at science and maths.
I am slightly frustrated as I do think he should do chemistry as it opens more doors and he enjoys science.
This may be a case of a very lazy boy!

Also Chemistry, maths and physics ALevels have lots of cross over topics so actually less work and essay writing than geography