The Student Room Group

'Variation' in A level choices

Okay so I'm in year 11 and I've been asked to choose my A levels. I can change my decision if needed...

Basically, I want to go into investment banking (probably) (like I like money,) so LSE is the place I'm aiming for (gotta have those high aims.) Problem is I've noticed people saying that 'variation' is important in your A level choices. I'm thinking:

- Maths
- Further Maths
- Economics
- Music

Now here's the question, music is variation.. right...? Like.. its not gonna be discarded as a useless A level.. right??
(I find music a bit of a joke but its an easy A* for me.... literally..)

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Reply 1
Original post by mark252623
Okay so I'm in year 11 and I've been asked to choose my A levels. I can change my decision if needed...

Basically, I want to go into investment banking (probably) (like I like money,) so LSE is the place I'm aiming for (gotta have those high aims.) Problem is I've noticed people saying that 'variation' is important in your A level choices. I'm thinking:

- Maths
- Further Maths
- Economics
- Music

Now here's the question, music is variation.. right...? Like.. its not gonna be discarded as a useless A level.. right??
(I find music a bit of a joke but its an easy A* for me.... literally..)


Looks good to me.

By the way Maths & Music is a nice joint honours degree course. (Although not at LSE.)
Reply 2
Original post by jneill
Looks good to me.

By the way Maths & Music is a nice joint honours degree course. (Although not at LSE.)


I'm sick to death of music, I'll take the A level and then finally move on with my life lol.
Thanks (: - Sometimes its hard to tell if everyone sees music as useless as I see it or if my brain has just adjusted to see the worst in music qualifications
Reply 3
Original post by mark252623
I'm sick to death of music, I'll take the A level and then finally move on with my life lol.
Thanks (: - Sometimes its hard to tell if everyone sees music as useless as I see it or if my brain has just adjusted to see the worst in music qualifications


It's a perfectly acceptable A-level :smile:
Reply 4
I'm sorry to say but the 'Variation beats Depth' myth is a lie.

Cambridge, for one, have an overwhelming preference for depth. Most other top uni's are the same, they only really care about A-levels related to your chosen field.

However, you do have Maths and Further Maths which are obviously as related as can be and Economics which goes well with maths at A-level.

If you really wanted to maximise your A-level potential then I'd say replace Music with a science.

Also, economics is not a requirement or even favourable for a economics degree. If you REALLY want to maximise your CV in terms of A-levels for uni, take another science.

A top, top A-level selection is Math, Further Maths, Physics and Chemistry for example.

Your subjects at the moment though are good anyway so I personally wouldn't worry too much unless you are looking at a top, top course.
(edited 7 years ago)
Universities care that you love your subject and want to study it as in depth as possible, variation for the sake of variation is pointless. If you can specialise now, do it. It will help.
I do History, Politics, English Lit and Philosophy. All essay based, all humanities. It doesn't matter because the course I want to do is History and Politics and the A levels are perfect for that course - they show my interest and I don't want to do anything else. For economics, maths is the only requirements (some unis wanting FM) and economics being desirable. It may strengthen your application to have a science or humanity but really, if you wanted to do politics it wouldn't matter because it's closely linked. Rather that than a random A level in Psychology which has so relevance. If you want to do music, I would go ahead and do it. Doing something you're good at or that relates to your course is more important than variation.
Reply 6
Original post by Zephrom
I'm sorry to say but the 'Variation beats Depth' myth is a lie.

Cambridge, for one, have an overwhelming preference for depth. Most other top uni's are the same, they only really care about A-levels related to your chosen field.

However, you do have Maths and Further Maths which are obviously as related as can be and Economics which goes well with maths at A-level.

If you really wanted to maximise your A-level potential then I'd say replace Music with a science.

Also, economics is not a requirement or even favourable for a economics degree. If you REALLY want to maximise your CV in terms of A-levels for uni, take another science.

A top, top A-level selection is Math, Further Maths, Physics and Chemistry for example.

Your subjects at the moment though are good anyway so I personally wouldn't worry too much unless you are looking at a top, top course.


Cambridge have given, for example, Engineering offers to applicants with Maths, FM, Physics and Art. And Maths offers to Maths, FM, Art and German.

So long as 2 or 3 "main" A-levels are on point the 4th is not that important.

For economics Music is fine, especially if it's a nailed on A*. (Even according to Trinity, a particularly fussy Cambridge college).
Reply 7
Original post by Zephrom
I'm sorry to say but the 'Variation beats Depth' myth is a lie.

Cambridge, for one, have an overwhelming preference for depth. Most other top uni's are the same, they only really care about A-levels related to your chosen field.

However, you do have Maths and Further Maths which are obviously as related as can be and Economics which goes well with maths at A-level.

If you really wanted to maximise your A-level potential then I'd say replace Music with a science.

Also, economics is not a requirement or even favourable for a economics degree. If you REALLY want to maximise your CV in terms of A-levels for uni, take another science.

A top, top A-level selection is Math, Further Maths, Physics and Chemistry for example.

Your subjects at the moment though are good anyway so I personally wouldn't worry too much unless you are looking at a top, top course.


Would economics at Cambridge be one of the top courses that would heavily suggest me moving away from music? My chances of an A* are about 5x higher with music.. thanks for your reply

Original post by rosie.mn
Universities care that you love your subject and want to study it as in depth as possible, variation for the sake of variation is pointless. If you can specialise now, do it. It will help.
I do History, Politics, English Lit and Philosophy. All essay based, all humanities. It doesn't matter because the course I want to do is History and Politics and the A levels are perfect for that course - they show my interest and I don't want to do anything else. For economics, maths is the only requirements (some unis wanting FM) and economics being desirable. It may strengthen your application to have a science or humanity but really, if you wanted to do politics it wouldn't matter because it's closely linked. Rather that than a random A level in Psychology which has so relevance. If you want to do music, I would go ahead and do it. Doing something you're good at or that relates to your course is more important than variation.


'Doing something I'm good at or relates to my course is more important than variation' you say... Okay but I'm good at music, but it really doesn't relate to a course I want to do whatsoever.. thoughts? Thanks for the reply!
Reply 8
Original post by jneill
Cambridge have given, for example, Engineering offers to applicants with Maths, FM, Physics and Art. And Maths offers to Maths, FM, Art and German.

So long as 2 or 3 "main" A-levels are on point the 4th is not that important.

For economics Music is fine, especially if it's a nailed on A*. (Even according to Trinity, a particularly fussy Cambridge college).


Right, that's really good to know! Haha Trinity have some biased seeing as the second biggest music exam board in the UK is Trinity.. nonetheless your point is still valid and very helpfull..
Reply 9
Original post by mark252623
Right, that's really good to know! Haha Trinity have some biased seeing as the second biggest music exam board in the UK is Trinity.. nonetheless your point is still valid and very helpfull..


That's not Trinity College, Cambridge. It's a completely different Trinity :wink:

Original post by mark252623
Would economics at Cambridge be one of the top courses that would heavily suggest me moving away from music? My chances of an A* are about 5x higher with music..


Cambridge will like that you have Maths & FM. Economics is not required but is useful. They won't really consider your 4th A-level that much (although they do say it is "suitable" - https://www.trin.cam.ac.uk/undergraduate/applying/a-level-subject-combinations/ ), and any offer *might* specifiy A*s in, say, Maths and Economics. The typical offer is A*A*A for Economics at Cambridge.
(edited 7 years ago)
Original post by jneill
That's not Trinity College, Cambridge. It's a completely different Trinity :wink:


*Pretend I knew that and pass it off like I was making a joke*
Reply 11
Original post by mark252623
*Pretend I knew that and pass it off like I was making a joke*


Done. :smile:

And see my edit...
Original post by mark252623
Would economics at Cambridge be one of the top courses that would heavily suggest me moving away from music? My chances of an A* are about 5x higher with music.. thanks for your reply



'Doing something I'm good at or relates to my course is more important than variation' you say... Okay but I'm good at music, but it really doesn't relate to a course I want to do whatsoever.. thoughts? Thanks for the reply!


Honestly at least 3 strong A-levels are good enough for just about any course. Obviously having 2 maths and 2 sciences are the best but if you KNOW you can get an A*/A in music and you don't really have anything else you can comfortably do, then just stick with music. It won't hurt you and having another A* on your CV with make it look better even if it isn't in an important/related field.

If I'm honest then I'll say that you should consider dropping either economics or music for a science based A-level. Key point I'm making here is that it is totally fine to keep an extra unrelated A-level for fun/grades but that you should try to keep at least 3 as facilitating subjects.

Cambridge would rather have you doing a science than economics even for a economics degree which is a sad truth.

Making your A-level choices is a damn hard experience I remember, I changed my subjects at least 3 times and was tearing my hair out for the first 2 weeks about it.

I started with Maths,Physics, History and Economics but eventually changed to Further Maths, Maths, Physics and Chemistry. I don't regret a thing so yeah, don't be afraid to make changes.

Don't stress about it too much, if in doubt tend towards what your comfortable with. If you're willing to work hard then you can succeed at any A-level.

Good luck deciding!
(edited 7 years ago)
Original post by jneill
Done. :smile:

And see my edit...


Hmm.. that's slightly annoying because having my music count toward one of those A*s would be useful.. either way I'm gonna work hard so yeah it's chill. Thanks for your point of view, it's more useful than all my teachers who are too promusic because I have to pretend that's what I wanna do in life (music school haha) anyway, enough of my rant.
If music is what you're good at and you know you can get an A* in it that is equally as acceptable as taking something that relates to your course. I'm basically saying that variation for the sake of variation is pointless and that you should never take something because it 'looks good' if it's completely random, for example Music may be random but you are good at it. But taking for example a science just for variation when you have no passion or interest in it is really quite silly.
Original post by Zephrom
Honestly at least 3 strong A-levels are good enough for just about any course. Obviously having 2 maths and 2 sciences are the best but if you KNOW you can get an A*/A in music and you don't really have anything else you can comfortably do, then just stick with music. It won't hurt you and having another A* on your CV with make it look better even if it isn't in an important/related field.

If I'm honest then I'll say that you should consider dropping either economics or music for a science based A-level. Key point I'm making here is that it is totally fine to keep an extra unrelated A-level for fun/grades but that you should try to keep at least 3 as facilitating subjects.

Cambridge would rather have you doing a science than economics even for a economics degree which is a sad truth.

Making your A-level choices is a damn hard experience I remember, I changed my subjects at least 3 times and was tearing my hair out for the first 2 weeks about it.

I started with Maths,Physics, History and Economics but eventually changed to Further Maths, Maths, Physics and Chemistry. I don't regret a thing so yeah, don't be afraid to make changes.

Don't stress about it too much, if in doubt tend towards what your comfortable with. If you're willing to work hard then you can succeed at any A-level.

Good luck deciding!


Okay. I won't throw the sciences out of the window then, I'll look through the syllabuses in the morning.. I guess I just lost interest in them last year, but I'll take a look nonetheless
I noticed however you want to go to LSE. I was talking more broadly about Russell Groups. Here we go:
' Programme requirement: A level Mathematics is required. Further Mathematics at A or AS level is a valuable indicator of potential for our highly quantitative degrees. However in Economics at LSE we expect it as a fourth subject only, and also welcome applicants with an essay-based A level such as History'.
If you're good at essay based subjects, it might be useful to have one under your belt.
You just need to check the entry requirements for every uni you want to go to in order to cover all bases. But don't pick something you don't enjoy because that will make things 10x harder.
Original post by rosie.mn
I noticed however you want to go to LSE. I was talking more broadly about Russell Groups. Here we go:
' Programme requirement: A level Mathematics is required. Further Mathematics at A or AS level is a valuable indicator of potential for our highly quantitative degrees. However in Economics at LSE we expect it as a fourth subject only, and also welcome applicants with an essay-based A level such as History'.
If you're good at essay based subjects, it might be useful to have one under your belt.
You just need to check the entry requirements for every uni you want to go to in order to cover all bases. But don't pick something you don't enjoy because that will make things 10x harder.


Whoa-...
Believe it not music is actually mostly an essay writing subject at A level anyway.. I get if it's not expected as one though lol
Thanks (:.. Ijust realized if LSE don't accept maths and further maths as two but only one then economics will be my third to them and that's not acceptable to them... I Need to do some research right now
Reply 18
Original post by mark252623
Whoa-...
Believe it not music is actually mostly an essay writing subject at A level anyway.. I get if it's not expected as one though lol
Thanks (:.. Ijust realized if LSE don't accept maths and further maths as two but only one then economics will be my third to them and that's not acceptable to them... I Need to do some research right now


Ask LSE direct about Maths, FM, Econ, Music.

Posted from TSR Mobile
If it's definitely maths you want to be doing, I'd recommend switching music for physics (best choice as it's got the most maths) or chemistry (also quite a bit of maths). But you also need to think about what you'll enjoy most, if you hate the subject you won't do as well in it

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