A level choices after gcse results

[gluenotsoup]

Hi all
Dd had gcse results today, mostly good. She’s done really well mostly!
Drama - distinction
History - 8
Eng lit - 7
Eng lang - 7
Religion studies - 7
Science - 7/6
German- 4
Maths -4
So, she’s enrolled at college to do English language and History but needs to sort her third one as they won’t let her do biology or psychology with less than a 5 in maths so she’s gutted when she should be thrilled.
Has anyone got any advice on possible 3rd choice with this in mind? She was only 3 marks off a 5 so we areasking for a remark too.
Thanks in advance 🙂

RS? Or a new subject like sociology or gov/pol? Or how about drama? Or a BTEC like performing arts or H&S?

Well done to her btw, great results

Religious studies would be a good third one

Politics? Although it adds another essay based subject, it would aligns well to history. Classic civilisation?
Well done to her!

Sociology Law Politics Philosophy Business Studies

Does she have any idea about future direction after A Levels? That might suggest a particular direction.

Drama, English Lit or Religious Studies would be good choices based on the GCSEs that she's done. Or she could consider a new subject such as Media, Business, Sociology?

drama and theatre A level surely? It’s a great a level with practical elements as well as text analysis. She can still do history or whatever at uni.

Classical civilisations.

It's history under another name.
Plus some literature that you read in English although it wasn't written in English.

Business will require some maths, so unless the 4 is a blip she might want to steer clear. My DD did politics and loved it so that might be an option. Drama would work very well with English lit.

She’s doing Eng Lang? Drama would be best. Adds in some literature and she seems to like it. No GCSE available in Drama? My DDs both did GCSE. Before she chooses anything, check our results. Is the teaching any good? Otherwise Politics, Sociology or Film? RE if offered.

She's done well in RE would she do that? Or sociology/politics maybe?

Thanks for all the suggestions everyone, you are all mostly putting the same ideas forward as me. The college doesn’t offer classics, just history.
She’s definitely doing English language and history. The other possibles are business (not keen) and philosophy, ethics and religion, drama and theatre studies, English literature, sociology, politics, or law, all at A level rather than the equivalent.
The drama distinction was a BTec , gcse not offered at school.
She also does a lot of dance as a hobby and a bit of piano.
Maths was a bit of a blip because she stressed over it hugely but also not really as it’s not a natural strength and has become a nemesis as she’s been moved from set to set.
I think now the dust has settled a bit it’s easy to see where her strengths are and she needs to focus on that type of direction rather than pushing the science route. I’m not entirely sure where the combination of history, psychology and biology would have taken her anyway without chemistry in the mix. It was fixed in her head though, so maybe this will be a good way of creating direction. I think she was just trying to keep as many options open as possible, but surely 3 strong a level results will be better than 3 mediocre with a lot of stress regardless of what they are in?
I’m more worried that she’s disappointed with such a good set of results just because of the maths. Such a shame when a
i just want her to be happy.
She’s out with close friends now so hopefully she’ll get some perspective now x

My suggestion would be Drama and Theatre Studies, assuming that she actually enjoys Drama, rather than 'just' being good at it?

Looking forward, would she be interested in something like Speech and Language Therapy?

@gluenotsoup I would not suggest English Lit if she’s doing Language. Both are English! Drama adds in the study of plays as well as acting so isn’t quite the same. I’d make sure the results are good though and dc don’t mess about. Ditto with the other subjects. I wouldn’t do politics unless she’s interested in how the political landscape works. Checks and balances, electoral system etc.

Will they get details of the syllabus before they choose? A sample lesson?

She does enjoy drama, and along with her dance background has done quite a few performances here and there, but we weren’t sure if it wouldn’t be seen as valuable or hold her back. She has considered sp and lang therapy, I think it would be a good fit for her but she just doesn’t know at the minute.
I also though another English would be too much, I don’t think she’s sold on it either.
Politics might not be her thing, I can imagine her glazing over. 😆

Literature is like the gcse, studying of texts. Language is more akin to Linguistics at uni - they are totally different creatures!! Both awesome but as different as history and politics or geography

Lots of people take drama and theatre A level and go on to do history, English, law etc as well as into the entertainment industry

I don’t know anything about A level English language as it’s not offered at schools near me; they but assume it’s similarly eas say based as English literature? Given she’s looking at History, she already has two essay based subjects, plus history has an NEA (4000 word assignment). Will the college definitely not allow psychology given her combined science results? A 6/7 is pretty good! And bodes well for a decent grade in psychology. They may make an exception if she has a chat with them; especially if she is truly keen. Another option that is less essay based but gives her some maths content (purely to keep doors open) is business studies. If she loves drama then that could be an option but it’s heavily essayed so maybe too much. Three essay subjects is a LOT but if that’s her skill set and passion then…

Unfortunately I think all unis require a science for speech and language theroay. It’s a very psychology/ medical science heavy degree and also would usually include a statics module. Some unis might accept sociology or geography as a ‘science’ a level though.

I still would not choose 2 English degrees. Both are respected but it’s unusual to do both. Lit is more commonly offered.

@gluenotsoup As she’s got two academic A levels, she’s got a bit of leeway with the third. Drama and expressing yourself is never a bad thing. Unless she’s Oxbridge bound, Drama won’t be an issue. If she’s glazing over at the idea of politics, is English Language her thing? My DDs would have run a mile from that.

Why is she more interested in English Lang than English Lit?
If she is interested in psychol at A level definitely ask again.
If she’s interested in any degree like speech & language that requires some maths then a mathsy A level (but not massively mathsy) could help offset that 4 - A levels such as psychol, business, geography.
Maybe take a look at what she may need for degree options. But with 2 solid essay subjects I’d do a different 3rd & something she’ll definitely love.

Plenty of people get into Oxford with a drama A level. They don’t offer drama as a course but it’s ideal if you want to study English. Lots of plays in their Eng lit course. Shakespeare anyone?!

Not all universities require a science for Speech and Language therapy - BCU for example. The 4 in Maths may be a sticking point for the GCSE requirements at some places, though.

I bet lots do not!Some probably do, but it’s not a particularly popular subject. Oxford suggest helpful subjects are History and a MFL for English for example. it’s irrelevant anyway because neither accept English Language - now I’ve looked! (For their English degrees).

I think if she wants to go into SaLT then sociology would be a good option or possibly drama would be fine too.

She probably needs a higher maths gcse so would she be up for a resit?

Lots resit in November - especially if quite close.

But before you commit to that I'd be researching what unis want for SaLT degree this year.