Choosing The Right Courses

I am considering Accounting as an A level and i need some advice on whether it is a hard or soft subject. I wasn't very good at maths in High School. I am predicted a grade 5 in Maths which is the top of a grade C. I'm not entirely sure what career path I'm going to take, or what other courses i should choose.

I think Sociology, Psychology, Business Studies, Biology and possibly Economics sound interesting.

If you're not sure what career path you might take, what gave you the idea of taking Accounting? If I was in your position, I would only stick to facilitating subjects (e.g. sciences, maths, English) and try to avoid at least taking all 'soft' subjects, like Accounting. I'm not an expert on Accounting A Level, but to be honest as long as you have facilitating subjects (maths especially), then you can go on a lot more uni courses than if you just had soft subjects.

Truthfully my Dad gave me the idea of Accounting and i thought it sounded really interesting, and when you say try to "stick to facilitating subjects", i think its great advice considering i don't know what career path to take however I'm predicted only a Grade 5 (Grade C) in both English and Maths. Also which Maths would be best for me as there is Further Mathematics, Mathematics (Pure and Applied) and Mathematics (Pure and Statistics). Not to mention Entry Requirements for Choosing an A level Maths is Minimum GCSE Grade B in Maths??

If you're not sure what career path you might take, what gave you the idea of taking Accounting? If I was in your position, I would only stick to mainly facilitating subjects (e.g. sciences, maths, English) and try to avoid at least taking all 'soft' subjects, like Accounting. I'm not an expert on Accounting A Level, but to be honest as long as you have facilitating subjects (maths especially), then you can go on a lot more uni courses than if you just had soft subjects.

I swear you're only in year 13

I don't think choosing further maths A level is a good idea unless you got a top grade in GCSE. If you want to work in accountancy, it would make sense to take applied or decision mathematics. That said, when I was doing work experience at an accounting firm, I didn't see any maths being used that was beyond what a GCSE student with a pass could do. You should talk to your careers adviser about the accounting course to see if it suits you. If you think you'll enjoy it, and it's possibly something you want to do in the future, then go for it.

Don't let me put you off taking a subject that you enjoy. It's absolutely fine to take soft subjects, especially if you enjoy them, but I would just say not to do all soft subjects, especially if you don't really know what you want to do yet.

As for maths, I would imagine Pure and Statistics would be slightly harder to Pure and Applied, although someone correct me if I'm wrong. Try not to worry too much about your maths grade - GCSE boundaries will be low this year, most likely. Also, further maths is quite a bit harder than maths, so you can only really do these together.

Do what you enjoy Even if it's not what a family member recommended. After all, why do a subject if you won't enjoy it?

Thank You for you're advice, i think i am going to talk to a Careers adviser, probably at my soon to be College. Also another question regarding your experience with accounting, do you feel it isn't as maths based as people make it out to be, because although i think it sounds interesting, I feel i may be way in over my head. I do like the Business and organisation side to it though.

Again Thank You.

You're very welcome. I can't speak for all accounting firms because the one I did work experience with specialised in insolvency. A lot of the work is automated and done using the computer but having a sharp mind is important as problems do arise that needs a bit of thinking to solve. For example, a value may be there that really shouldn't and maths is useful in this case in determining where the error may have arose. If you're comfortable with percentages, fractions and basic arithmetic, that would do just fine for the work as a lot is learned on the job. However, one of the IPs also advised that although maths is not used much in practice, the tests you take to become a chartered accountant do involve a lot of maths and they are really, really hard.

The best way would be to do a week or two of work experience at an accounting firm and see for yourself.