[Paigeb31]

I'm starting my A-Levels (AS) in September as I have just finished my GCSE's.
I'm definitely doing English Literature, Applied ICT and Technology. However I am predicted to get enough grades for my school to allow me to study a fourth subject.
I had originally hoped to study French as my fourth one, however due to the way the timetable for September was put together, I had to chose between french and technology, and I chose technology because I had wanted to do it as an A-Level from year 8 (I am now going into year 13). Because of this, I have been left with the option to do-
Art, Applied Business Studies, Biology, Religion and Maths.

For GCSE I done - English lang, Maths, Religion, LLW, Physics, ICT, Art, Technology and French.

Doing Art as my fourth subject is out of the question, because it requires too much time, and there was a huge mess up at GCSE for my year group because of a teacher who taught us the wrong specification, so I've been put off the idea now!
I can't do applied business studies, because my school doesn't allow us to do two applied subjects, and I didn't study biology at GCSE. So that leaves me with Maths and Religion.

So I'm here to ask what I should do. I've been trying to decide which one to do for about two months now, and I just cannot make up my mind. Obviously I'm not going to just take one of them on because someone else said to, I'm just asking for some recommendations or thoughts on which one you prefer, or if you've already done them? I haven't got my GCSE results yet, but I'm predicted an A in religion (A already achieved in 1st 1/2 of course) and at least a B if not an A in Maths (we did modular, and I've already got an A and a B, and an A was possible, but it was a lot to ask for the third exam?).

If it helps, my school studies the AQA specification and sits their exams for both (at GCSE anyway, if not it's CCEA!)

Thanks

Edit: In University I will be studying Interactive Multimedia Design (BBC no specified subjects) or else Journalism (BBC at least).

[nju]

I would say maths as it is well respected course. Both applied ICT and technology may be seen as an 'easy' course so I think you need a solid subject to go with them

[SteveDawson]

(Original post by nju)
I would say maths as it is well respected course. Both applied ICT and technology may be seen as an 'easy' course so I think you need a solid subject to go with them

ICT is not an easy subject. Have you seen the amount of coursework involved

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[Paigeb31]

(Original post by SteveDawson)
ICT is not an easy subject. Have you seen the amount of coursework involved

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Yes, Applied ICT is all coursework and no exam, which to some will seem hard, and Technology is half coursework and half exam, which is 2 sets of coursework and 2 exams... I am also taking English Literature which has a lot of coursework too, which is why I'm picking between maths and religion and not just leaving it at three.

Although I'm looking do Website Design as a career if this helps? Although according to my teachers, if I do another subject it'll just be about gaining more UCAS points, and I have the option to drop one subject after completing the AS.

[SteveDawson]

(Original post by paigeboyd1)
Yes, Applied ICT is all coursework and no exam, which to some will seem hard, and Technology is half coursework and half exam, which is 2 sets of coursework and 2 exams... I am also taking English Literature which has a lot of coursework too, which is why I'm picking between maths and religion and not just leaving it at three.

Although I'm looking do Website Design as a career if this helps? Although according to my teachers, if I do another subject it'll just be about gaining more UCAS points, and I have the option to drop one subject after completing the AS.

I took applied ICT and just finished my second year. Would yours be with OCR

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[Paigeb31]

(Original post by SteveDawson)
I took applied ICT and just finished my second year. Would yours be with OCR

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As far as I'm aware my school doesn't do OCR anymore, it'll be with either CCEA or AQA. For GCSE ICT was with CCEA

[Long Time Coming]

Depends on whether you like essays or numbers really. Maths is more respected, that's true.

[Paigeb31]

(Original post by SteveDawson)
I took applied ICT and just finished my second year. Would yours be with OCR

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Although, if you had any advice it'd be greatly appreciated, because from what I've seen, most exam boards are the same, just slightly different topics used!

[SteveDawson]

(Original post by paigeboyd1)
As far as I'm aware my school doesn't do OCR anymore, it'll be with either CCEA or AQA. For GCSE ICT was with CCEA

Ok cool OCR are quite strict with their marking for ICT and you have to do an exam paper as well. I wish you luck for your GCSE results and with your A levels

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[Paigeb31]

(Original post by SteveDawson)
Ok cool OCR are quite strict with their marking for ICT and you have to do an exam paper as well. I wish you luck for your GCSE results and with your A levels

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Thank you very much!

[SteveDawson]

(Original post by paigeboyd1)
Although, if you had any advice it'd be greatly appreciated, because from what I've seen, most exam boards are the same, just slightly different topics used!

The main advice I can give you is to make sure that you keep up with the amount of coursework for each unit otherwise you will not be able to get any feedback and therefore you will not be able to make improvements, and always look at example coursework pieces from other candidates from previous years so you get an idea of how to reach the higher mark bands. And finally always make sure that your keeping evidence of everything you do using screenshots.

Out of a class of 27 only 4 people including me got onto A2. But from looking at what you said for your predicted grades I think you will be fine if you decide to take it as an A level.

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[TimmonaPortella]

(Original post by SteveDawson)
ICT is not an easy subject. Have you seen the amount of coursework involved

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Not easy, but "soft" -- that is, whilst possibly requiring a lot of work, not requiring as much or as deep thought as other subjects, and thus not constituting good evidence that the candidate can perform well on an academic course. (When the poster to whom you replied said "seen as...", he most likely meant "seen by university admissions tutors as...")

OP, what do you want to do with your A levels? Do you want to go to uni? If so, do you have any idea what you want to study?

Unless you want to take some form of theology course at uni, I'd go with the others and suggest that you take maths. This would give you one traditional academic non essay subject to complement english lit, demonstrating a greater range of abilities than if you took religion.

[SteveDawson]

(Original post by TimmonaPortella)
Not easy, but "soft" -- that is, whilst possibly requiring a lot of work, not requiring as much or as deep thought as other subjects, and thus not constituting good evidence that the candidate can perform well on an academic course. (When the poster to whom you replied said "seen as...", he most likely meant "seen by university admissions tutors as...")

OP, what do you want to do with your A levels? Do you want to go to uni? If so, do you have any idea what you want to study?

Unless you want to take some form of theology course at uni, I'd go with the others and suggest that you take maths. This would give you one traditional academic non essay subject to complement english lit, demonstrating a greater range of abilities than if you took religion.

Again it depends on the uni. For oxbridge, Cambridge etc then yes for most other good universities then no. Just take A level subjects that you enjoy and not subjects that these particular universities expect you to take. So long as you have one subject that shows your academic ability e.g. English then I would recommend ICT if you are going to enjoy it.

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[TimmonaPortella]

(Original post by SteveDawson)
Again it depends on the uni. For oxbridge, Cambridge etc then yes for most other good universities then no. Just take A level subjects that you enjoy and not subjects that these particular universities expect you to take. So long as you have one subject that shows your academic ability e.g. English then I would recommend ICT if you are going to enjoy it.

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What do you mean by "most other good unis", and where are you getting your information? For an academic course at any competitive uni someone who has taken traditional academic subjects will have an advantage over someone who has taken applied/practical subjects. I'd be interested to know why it is that you think that only admissions tutors at top unis are wise to the fact that, to use the relevant example, an A in maths is a better demonstration of academic ability than an A in ICT.

[Norton1]

(Original post by TimmonaPortella)
X

Watch out, TimmonaPortella, he's doing A-level law. I reckon he'll run intellectual rings round you.

[rakibm]

(Original post by paigeboyd1)
Yes, Applied ICT is all coursework and no exam, which to some will seem hard, and Technology is half coursework and half exam, which is 2 sets of coursework and 2 exams... I am also taking English Literature which has a lot of coursework too, which is why I'm picking between maths and religion and not just leaving it at three.

Although I'm looking do Website Design as a career if this helps? Although according to my teachers, if I do another subject it'll just be about gaining more UCAS points, and I have the option to drop one subject after completing the AS.

English Literature coursework and exam content differs between different exam boards I think. For example, my sixth form were using WJEC board and that was 40% coursework (1 Original writing/commentary - 20% and 1 prose study - 20%) and 60% exam (1 Poetry question and 1 question on a Play).

All in all, if you love reading, being creative, and have a good essay writing style, you'll like literature a lot I think

[nju]

(Original post by SteveDawson)
ICT is not an easy subject. Have you seen the amount of coursework involved

This was posted from The Student Room's Android App on my GT-I9100

sorry I should have explained better. I meant that since it contains a lot of coursework, most of the top universities will see it as a 'soft' or 'easy' subject and this may put you at a disadvantage, especially if rest of your subjects are not solid subjects such as maths

[Paigeb31]

(Original post by SteveDawson)
The main advice I can give you is to make sure that you keep up with the amount of coursework for each unit otherwise you will not be able to get any feedback and therefore you will not be able to make improvements, and always look at example coursework pieces from other candidates from previous years so you get an idea of how to reach the higher mark bands. And finally always make sure that your keeping evidence of everything you do using screenshots.

Out of a class of 27 only 4 people including me got onto A2. But from looking at what you said for your predicted grades I think you will be fine if you decide to take it as an A level.

This was posted from The Student Room's Android App on my GT-I9100

From what you've said about your class it sounds tougher than what my teachers have said! But I'm sure I'm not the first person to have teachers try to persuade us to take their subjects! I'll be honest in saying I don't really know what I'm doing next year for my subjects except for Technology, but your advice will be of great use, thank you!

[Paigeb31]

(Original post by TimmonaPortella)
Not easy, but "soft" -- that is, whilst possibly requiring a lot of work, not requiring as much or as deep thought as other subjects, and thus not constituting good evidence that the candidate can perform well on an academic course. (When the poster to whom you replied said "seen as...", he most likely meant "seen by university admissions tutors as...")

OP, what do you want to do with your A levels? Do you want to go to uni? If so, do you have any idea what you want to study?

Unless you want to take some form of theology course at uni, I'd go with the others and suggest that you take maths. This would give you one traditional academic non essay subject to complement english lit, demonstrating a greater range of abilities than if you took religion.

I'm planning on going to University. I'm not sure what one yet - it'll definitely be in Northern Ireland - and at the minute I'm thinking of taking a course in Interactive Multimedia Design (which is at UUJ) but that might change. I'm interested in design or journalism, and I want to have some sort of an ICT background. If it doesn't work out and I need general ICT, I will go back to college and do it, but for the time being I want to do Applied, and it's pretty much settled in that because I've secured a place in my class which is lucky because of how popular it is!

I really appreciate your point on taking maths to complement english lit, that's definitely not something I considered before-hand. If I did take maths, and found it too difficult (I don't know if I will, it's just in case) would a university still consider the fact that I took maths for one year and achieved an AS in it, or would they just look at it the way some of them look at Applied subjects as almost 'half courses' because they're not worth as many UCAS points?

[SteveDawson]

(Original post by TimmonaPortella)
What do you mean by "most other good unis", and where are you getting your information? For an academic course at any competitive uni someone who has taken traditional academic subjects will have an advantage over someone who has taken applied/practical subjects. I'd be interested to know why it is that you think that only admissions tutors at top unis are wise to the fact that, to use the relevant example, an A in maths is a better demonstration of academic ability than an A in ICT.

Well I received a conditional offer from Bath to study Business as Im predicted 2 A's and 1 B and got a B in History at AS. and I took business Studies, ICT and English literature and an AS in History. As well as a conditional from Queen Mary, Robert Gordon uni and Nottingham which are good uni's End of the day a degree is a degree regardless of the uni and I never said it was better academically its just that the main top uni's will be more strict over A level subjects compared to the majority of other good universities. Otherwise why would they offer subjects like Law or ICT if good universities would not except them. And by competitive uni's these are Cambridge, UCL, etc. But I do agree that particular subjects would be harder to get into with ICT but not all.

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