Help with A level choices?
I am a year 11 student and in a few months we have to choose our a level subjects. I am currently thinking of doing Geography, Economics and Spanish - is this a good combination that universities will like? I am thinking of doing a geography degree, specialising in human geography.
I am also not sure whether to do history or psychology AS (my school requires 3AL and 1AS). I know that I can do well in history AS whereas taking psychology is more risky, and I know history is more highly valued. But I much prefer the course offered for psychology, it seems a lot more interesting, and the teacher is better too. But I’m also worried about doing too many new subjects (we don’t do GCSE psychology or economics).
I’m also planning on doing the EPQ.
What do you think? Do universities even care that much about AS levels? Are the a levels I’m thinking of suitable for human geography?
Thank you so much for helping!
I am also not sure whether to do history or psychology AS (my school requires 3AL and 1AS). I know that I can do well in history AS whereas taking psychology is more risky, and I know history is more highly valued. But I much prefer the course offered for psychology, it seems a lot more interesting, and the teacher is better too. But I’m also worried about doing too many new subjects (we don’t do GCSE psychology or economics).
I’m also planning on doing the EPQ.
What do you think? Do universities even care that much about AS levels? Are the a levels I’m thinking of suitable for human geography?
Thank you so much for helping!
I can’t help on a lot of those factors but I started out taking both History and Psychology this year. I chose to drop Psychology after a week because I struggled with two new subjects. A Levels are fast paced - learning the basics of a subject needs to be done by yourself :/
I can guarantee you that universities do not care about AS Levels well it depends how high that university is ranked for your subjects and Russell groups in general.
I did Government and Politics, Sociology and Psychology. Psychology is a lot of content but it’s too hard but the grade boundaries are high so basically no one got an A this year in my school.
If you want to do human geography you’ll be better on doing Biology, Geography and Economics. I’m pretty sure Psychology would be easier as an AS than history though.
A-Levels are basically all you if you study and stay on top of everything you’ll be good unlike me who started studying 2 months before the exam still ended up with ABB though - sociology was my A if you want something a bit easier in terms of applying content to various topics however still A Lot or content. Do Sociology.
But first look at human geography courses at uni and see what they ask for 🤷🏽*♀️
I did Government and Politics, Sociology and Psychology. Psychology is a lot of content but it’s too hard but the grade boundaries are high so basically no one got an A this year in my school.
If you want to do human geography you’ll be better on doing Biology, Geography and Economics. I’m pretty sure Psychology would be easier as an AS than history though.
A-Levels are basically all you if you study and stay on top of everything you’ll be good unlike me who started studying 2 months before the exam still ended up with ABB though - sociology was my A if you want something a bit easier in terms of applying content to various topics however still A Lot or content. Do Sociology.
But first look at human geography courses at uni and see what they ask for 🤷🏽*♀️
Original post by Conniestitution
I can’t help on a lot of those factors but I started out taking both History and Psychology this year. I chose to drop Psychology after a week because I struggled with two new subjects. A Levels are fast paced - learning the basics of a subject needs to be done by yourself :/
Ok thanks! I agree I’m worried about psychology being a bit of a risk.
Original post by graceelle
I can guarantee you that universities do not care about AS Levels well it depends how high that university is ranked for your subjects and Russell groups in general.
I did Government and Politics, Sociology and Psychology. Psychology is a lot of content but it’s too hard but the grade boundaries are high so basically no one got an A this year in my school.
If you want to do human geography you’ll be better on doing Biology, Geography and Economics. I’m pretty sure Psychology would be easier as an AS than history though.
A-Levels are basically all you if you study and stay on top of everything you’ll be good unlike me who started studying 2 months before the exam still ended up with ABB though - sociology was my A if you want something a bit easier in terms of applying content to various topics however still A Lot or content. Do Sociology.
But first look at human geography courses at uni and see what they ask for 🤷🏽*♀️
I did Government and Politics, Sociology and Psychology. Psychology is a lot of content but it’s too hard but the grade boundaries are high so basically no one got an A this year in my school.
If you want to do human geography you’ll be better on doing Biology, Geography and Economics. I’m pretty sure Psychology would be easier as an AS than history though.
A-Levels are basically all you if you study and stay on top of everything you’ll be good unlike me who started studying 2 months before the exam still ended up with ABB though - sociology was my A if you want something a bit easier in terms of applying content to various topics however still A Lot or content. Do Sociology.
But first look at human geography courses at uni and see what they ask for 🤷🏽*♀️
Thank you for the advice! I’m hoping to go to Durham, which is pretty competitive I think, or if not then maybe Exeter, Sheffield, Nottingham or Lancaster.
Sociology has always sounded interesting but sadly my school doesn’t offer it.
Just wondering, what did you find hard about psychology? And why do you think it’s an easier AS than history?
Yeah look what requirements Durham has and follow those.
Psychology is not THAT hard it’s just that you have about 5 topics in one year and they all have about up to 12 pages if you’re AQA and you have to know all of it. The exam itself is a simple format, you can get up to 3 16 marks in one exam (we did for this year which was a shock) and you have to have memories all the essays for each topic so that’s about 24 essays for 3 essays you’ll actually do then the rest are 8,6,12 and 4,2 marks. History on the other hand I know not too much about as at my school we have no AS’s anymore they’re all ALevels. History is quite hard though but Idk find someone who does history maybe I just know that Psychology you know what to expect it’s just a case of memory
Psychology is not THAT hard it’s just that you have about 5 topics in one year and they all have about up to 12 pages if you’re AQA and you have to know all of it. The exam itself is a simple format, you can get up to 3 16 marks in one exam (we did for this year which was a shock) and you have to have memories all the essays for each topic so that’s about 24 essays for 3 essays you’ll actually do then the rest are 8,6,12 and 4,2 marks. History on the other hand I know not too much about as at my school we have no AS’s anymore they’re all ALevels. History is quite hard though but Idk find someone who does history maybe I just know that Psychology you know what to expect it’s just a case of memory
Original post by hxnnxh4476
I am a year 11 student and in a few months we have to choose our a level subjects. I am currently thinking of doing Geography, Economics and Spanish - is this a good combination that universities will like? I am thinking of doing a geography degree, specialising in human geography.
I am also not sure whether to do history or psychology AS (my school requires 3AL and 1AS). I know that I can do well in history AS whereas taking psychology is more risky, and I know history is more highly valued. But I much prefer the course offered for psychology, it seems a lot more interesting, and the teacher is better too. But I’m also worried about doing too many new subjects (we don’t do GCSE psychology or economics).
I’m also planning on doing the EPQ.
What do you think? Do universities even care that much about AS levels? Are the a levels I’m thinking of suitable for human geography?
Thank you so much for helping!
I am also not sure whether to do history or psychology AS (my school requires 3AL and 1AS). I know that I can do well in history AS whereas taking psychology is more risky, and I know history is more highly valued. But I much prefer the course offered for psychology, it seems a lot more interesting, and the teacher is better too. But I’m also worried about doing too many new subjects (we don’t do GCSE psychology or economics).
I’m also planning on doing the EPQ.
What do you think? Do universities even care that much about AS levels? Are the a levels I’m thinking of suitable for human geography?
Thank you so much for helping!
Id check unis websites to see if there are any specific subjects that they require.
Personally id do history as your 4th subject. As you say, history is a valued subject. Plus you say you think you can do well in it. And its not a new subject either. It may also be more useful for geography than psychology will.
A Level history is HARD, and that's coming from me because I got full marks in the GCSE history paper. At A Level history is much more centred on analysis of sources rather than knowing the content. So it's quite different from the GCSE format.Most of my friends did psych and they all regret it tbh but that may just be my school and they way it teaches it in general.I currently do economics and it's my fave and it links very nicely with geog, especially in theme 4 (I do edexcel). Most unis only care about the grades you get in your A Levels but it doesn't hurt to do an AS (just make sure to ace it). Also, check that your university actually cares about whether you have an EPQ as some unis give you alternative offers but some don't. Just so you don't waste your time on the EPQ for no reason - the drop out rate in my school for PEQ in 80% (and this is a posh white kid kinda school!).But good luck!
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