A Level geography, maths and physics - suitable for law or Japanese?

At the moment, I'd like to go into either the diplomatic service or law in the future. My strong subjects at school are maths, physics, Japanese and geography, and I am predicted A* (or 8/9 in maths and English) for all my GCSEs. Japanese a level has been cancelled at my school, and no other state schools in the county offer it A level. At the moment we are talking to the school about whether we can run a JLPT (internationally recognised Japanese qualification) club instead to show language ability and ambition. I'd like to do either law or Japanese at university level - would maths, physics and geography be suitable?

At the moment, I'd like to go into either the diplomatic service or law in the future. My strong subjects at school are maths, physics, Japanese and geography, and I am predicted A* (or 8/9 in maths and English) for all my GCSEs. Japanese a level has been cancelled at my school, and no other state schools in the county offer it A level. At the moment we are talking to the school about whether we can run a JLPT (internationally recognised Japanese qualification) club instead to show language ability and ambition. I'd like to do either law or Japanese at university level - would maths, physics and geography be suitable?

I'd say doing humanity subjects, like English lit, history, politics or a language would be more suitable than Maths and Physics for a degree in Japanese or law, as they can help with essay writing, and languages are super helpful to have on your CV. Also, if you do choose to do Japanese, already having a language will help make learning Japanese easier.

I've just finished a degree in Chinese with Japanese and did French, German, Politics and Geography to A Level

(whispers congrats on your degree ahhh!!!)

It turns out that as long as you have one essay subject and the rest are vaguely traditional, nobody actually cares what you study for law I keep talking to lawyers who are like "oh yeah I did 2 sciences and maths at A Level plus history" and I die a little inside each time.

Ay yo, I'm sorry Japanese A Level has been cancelled you could try self-teaching it? That's what I'm doing.

If not, then working on the JLPT and passing say at least N4 (which is just a bit above GCSE level) should show a lot of interest, and keep you in the game for Japanese. For law, your subject combinations are fine - you've got a traditional essay subject in there and nothing else really matters! You might want to consider taking another language at A Level, though, since it would likely strengthen a Japanese application to show a general interest in languages? But it's in no way necessary if you're doing the JLPT.

Yeah, it is possible-a lad on my course did all sciences! It's just most people I know who do/did law at uni did traditional essay subjects to A Level, as they tend to help with the study mindset for law.

Surprisingly enough, I heard a lot of unis don't like law applicants taking law A Level

Hi thanks for your reply
Me and my friends talked to the school a lot before they made their final decision to not offer it A Level. We're proposing a JLPT club, so hopefully that will go through. Japanese is the only language I take GCSE which is a slight problem, so when it comes to uni applications Im going to explain the situation and why I have no language a level.

Sorry you've not had any responses about this. Are you sure you've posted in the right place? Here's a link to our subject forum which should help get you more responses if you post there.

You can also find the Exam Thread list for A-levels here and GCSE here.


Just quoting in Puddles the Monkey so she can move the thread if needed

Yeah, it is possible-a lad on my course did all sciences! It's just most people I know who do/did law at uni did traditional essay subjects to A Level, as they tend to help with the study mindset for law.

Surprisingly enough, I heard a lot of unis don't like law applicants taking law A Level

I'd asvise Maths, and a language for law/A-levels. Geography if you really love it but a traditional essay-based A-level would prbably be better (English Lit, History, etc.). No one will require Japanese but they will probably want some language to A-level.

So, if you could muster the enthusiasm for it, Maths, English Lit, and Geography keeps your options pretty open, or Maths, a foreign language, plus English Li.

That is true! I myself am doing all traditional essays/languages, and that's what the head of UCAS at my school agreed I should do (that might also be because I'm terrible at science lol).



It's no problem! I really do hope your JLPT club goes through - you could try and tackle, say, 2 grammar points every meeting and practice using them, and have vocab tests and stuff? That might be too scary and strict for a club, though >-< but still, 我慢すると絶対できると思います！
If it's the only language you were able to take, I'm sure universities will be sympathetic! Don't worry about it

As I'm looking to apply to the likes of Cambridge for law, I'm not sure I could really get away with doing geography as my only essay based subject... is geography even officially counted as an essay based subject?Another option I have considered is doing government and politics which is offered at a nearby grammar sixth form, but I quite like my school and taking a new subject is a bit of a risk...

English lit and history would be perfect for Cambridge. Politics and Geography aren't as respected at Cambride I don't think. If moving will help get into your preferred uni, move! Do not jeopardise your future for petty school preferences *

Hey I think you misunderstood my comment - government and politics is offered at the other school. I didn't know government and politics weren't respected a levels so thanks for that info. I don't think I'm going to be able to do law if I want to go to a good uni as I can't do history a level (not doing it GCSE) and if I did English lit I'm not confident I'll do well. Thanks for your comment though

Thanks for your reply My problem is I dropped history for GCSE (trust me I tried so hard in year 9 to do well, but geography just came so much more naturally and I got an A* in every assessment) so I can't do it a level. I thought very long and hard about doing history or geography GCSE but didn't want to risk it with history. I can't do a foreign language other than Japanese (which has been cancelled by my sixth form and no where else in the county does it) as it's the only language GCSE I take. I'm (hopefully) going to do a separate Japanese qualification as a super curricular activity though, so maybe that would work? I love English lit, but at the moment I'm predicted a 8/9, so I'm not sure I could cope with it at a level if I'm unsure to get top grades GCSE.