A-Level choices: how to make the right choice?

Thursday December 14th, 2017

Congratulations, we have arrived at the end of the Autumn term.

Interesting beginning of the week in the UK with most of the country covered in snow, schools closed, transport coming to a halt. But we enjoyed this very rare opportunity to stay put and to build a snowman!

Christmas seems to have crept upon us so quickly. Wherever you are celebrating this Christmas and New Year, we wish you a lovely holiday.

For some of your children it soon will be another very important stage in their education – deciding what A-Level subjects to choose for the last two years of school. In this newsletter we will talk about how to approach making that choice.

A-Level choices: how to make the right choice?

In a month’s time year 11 students (15-16 year old) at schools in the UK will be expected to make their choices of A-Level, IB or Pre-U subjects.

It doesn’t really matter whether they decide to study IB, A-Levels or Cambridge Pre-U. They would still need to choose at least three main subjects that will ultimately determine the success of their university applications, if they are planning to go to university.

When choosing your A-levels or other advanced level qualifications, the advice usually is to choose subjects that you enjoy and which interest you. It is also important to think ahead and to consider what you might want to do in the future.

If you are considering continuing your education in one of the Russell Group universities, it is a good idea to think what subjects might be required by them.

Here is some advice on how to make your choice of the A-Level subjects in accordance with the Russell Group guidelines.

It is really important that you do not make things harder for yourself by choosing subjects which won’t equip you for your chosen university course or show your talent for a particular subject.

In addition to A-Levels, you can also choose to take up Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) which is equivalent in size to half an A-level and is available as a standalone qualification. It is a single piece of work of a student’s choosing that requires evidence of planning, preparation, research and independent learning.

If you don’t yet know what you’ll want to study at university, there are some subjects which will keep your degree options open until you decide which course to take.

Russell Group universities published the list of facilitating subjects, or subjects that might be required when applying to universities. These are most often required by the selective universities:

• Mathematics and Further Mathematics
• English Literature
• Physics
• Biology
• Chemistry
• Geography
• History
• Languages (Classical or Modern)

The best way to help you make the choice is by going to the UCAS portal and checking the course requirements at the universities you would like to apply for.

For instance, if you look at Medicine, or Veterinary Science you will find that you must have  for Advanced Level Qualifications in Chemistry, Biology and one from Mathematics or Physics and that these will keep all the medical schools open to you. If you do Chemistry and Biology you will keep open the vast majority.

If you do Chemistry and one from Mathematics and Physics you will limit your range of choices much more. Useful A Level are also Further Mathematics or a contrasting (non-science) subject, Computing/ Computer Science.

For Electronics, Maths and usually Physics are required plus one other from Further Mathematics, ICT, Design Technology, Computing/ Computer Science.

For Economics it is usually Mathematics. Also useful are Economics, Computing/Computer Science, History, Business Studies.

For History of Art no specific subjects are required but good to have one or several of Art, English Literature, History, Theology/Religious Studies, History of Art, French, German, Spanish, Italian.

For Psychology a few courses ask for one from Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics. Also useful are Biology, Mathematics, Psychology, Sociology, Computing/ Computer Science.

It is NOT a pre-condition that one or several of these subjects will indeed be required for the application to certain courses and some courses don’t require a specific subject at A-Level, so these are only a guidance. I would not advise to take an A-Level subject that student really detests. If the student takes on a subject that they are not particularly good at and don’t enjoy, the result might be quite the opposite from the desired.

You will find more information on the Russell Group advice on A-Level choices here:

https://russellgroup.ac.uk/media/5457/informed-choices-2016.pdf