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A-Level Choice I'm Indecisive

So I am in Year 11. Need to pick my A-levels and on all my applications so far I've asked to do Biology,Psychology and Chemistry.
Its Chem that I'm unsure about because I struggle with it at GCSE level so I think I'm going to feel worse at A-Level. The only other subject that I have considered is History because it's one I enjoy but it doesn't leave me with a wide variety of options after for degree level. Any advice??
What degree do you want to study as some degrees do not have a specific a level subject requirement... Also by struggling do you mean that you are getting below Bs (A level equivalent) in chemistry??
I struggled with Chem a lot at gcse but eventually it all clicked, and so far A-Level chem has been alright. (I am in my first year at the moment.) If you like the subject then take it, and if you feel like you can put the work to understand it it gcse and a-level. It does link well with your other choices too. However, it does get harder and you need the foundations of gcse to get AS and A2, especially organic in my opinion.
If you enjoy history and you like the topics you're doing in history a-level, because they may be very boring where you're going and thatll SUCK, then take it.
Do you know what you want to do post 18? Worst case scenario you swap from chem to history after a couple of weeks, that happens a lot of the time.
Reply 3
So I'm again indecisive in that sector too, I've always wanted to be a doctor but both medicine and psychology interest me so something I thought about was doing Medicine and then becoming a specialist in the brain. Or just becoming a psychologist. I honestly am very indecisive
Original post by Doublletrouble
What degree do you want to study as some degrees do not have a specific a level subject requirement... Also by struggling do you mean that you are getting below Bs (A level equivalent) in chemistry??
Reply 4
Yeah so again I'm not sire about post 18 because post 16 isn't sorted yet 😢. I definitely want something within the science sector and more so being a doctor is something I've always wanted. History for me is just an alternative almost a hole I'm trying to fill I'df I dont choose chem. I think I could just do chem in September for a bit and if it really does become too much I could change it afterwards
Original post by claudia.2802
I struggled with Chem a lot at gcse but eventually it all clicked, and so far A-Level chem has been alright. (I am in my first year at the moment.) If you like the subject then take it, and if you feel like you can put the work to understand it it gcse and a-level. It does link well with your other choices too. However, it does get harder and you need the foundations of gcse to get AS and A2, especially organic in my opinion.
If you enjoy history and you like the topics you're doing in history a-level, because they may be very boring where you're going and thatll SUCK, then take it.
Do you know what you want to do post 18? Worst case scenario you swap from chem to history after a couple of weeks, that happens a lot of the time.
Original post by Kim.023
So I'm again indecisive in that sector too, I've always wanted to be a doctor but both medicine and psychology interest me so something I thought about was doing Medicine and then becoming a specialist in the brain. Or just becoming a psychologist. I honestly am very indecisive


It is clear that you want to get into the science/medical field in the future... And based on that chemistry, biology maybe psychology seem like really good subject to head there as these sciences are the most required from top universities
Original post by Kim.023
Yeah so again I'm not sire about post 18 because post 16 isn't sorted yet 😢. I definitely want something within the science sector and more so being a doctor is something I've always wanted. History for me is just an alternative almost a hole I'm trying to fill I'df I dont choose chem. I think I could just do chem in September for a bit and if it really does become too much I could change it afterwards


If you are thinking of a medical route like doctor, most unis will require chemistry and biology, and chemistry often being the highest grade out of the 2. Therefore, chem may be a good one to take. Yeah you can definitely change, you will have a bit of catching up to do though. I changed schools after two weeks and due the order they were covering the syllabus I had a few sections in a topic to cover.
Id recommend doing a bit of research once GCSEs are over, just so you are certain medicine is the course for you :smile:
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Reply 7
I am also in year 11 and have heard that chemistry is often considered to be one of the hardest A-levels, so they prefer you to have achieved at least a grade 6 at GCSE chemistry to proceed with it at A-level. However, if it is a subject that you enjoy a lot, then definitely go for it because you will be passionate enough about it that the workload will be less crushing as you actually like what you are doing, and will be motivated to work at it.

Also bear in mind that there will be opportunity in the first few weeks of sixth form to switch subjects, so if you think you would prefer history to one of the ones you have currently selected, then you can change to it instead.

Good luck :smile:
Original post by Kim.023
So I am in Year 11. Need to pick my A-levels and on all my applications so far I've asked to do Biology,Psychology and Chemistry.
Its Chem that I'm unsure about because I struggle with it at GCSE level so I think I'm going to feel worse at A-Level. The only other subject that I have considered is History because it's one I enjoy but it doesn't leave me with a wide variety of options after for degree level. Any advice??
I was considering between chemistry and English, and in the end only chose chemistry to support doing a biology degree at uni. I would really advise it, opens a lot of doors and at parts I way preferred chem to bio!! It's fun and a bit less content
Original post by Kim.023
So I am in Year 11. Need to pick my A-levels and on all my applications so far I've asked to do Biology,Psychology and Chemistry.
Its Chem that I'm unsure about because I struggle with it at GCSE level so I think I'm going to feel worse at A-Level. The only other subject that I have considered is History because it's one I enjoy but it doesn't leave me with a wide variety of options after for degree level. Any advice??

Ask your school if you can start 4 A levels with a view to dropping one by Christmas? Some schools will allow this, even encourage it for indecisive pupils.
Reply 10
Thank you so much, I definitely will have to take some time to think things through when exams are over x
Original post by claudia.2802
If you are thinking of a medical route like doctor, most unis will require chemistry and biology, and chemistry often being the highest grade out of the 2. Therefore, chem may be a good one to take. Yeah you can definitely change, you will have a bit of catching up to do though. I changed schools after two weeks and due the order they were covering the syllabus I had a few sections in a topic to cover.
Id recommend doing a bit of research once GCSEs are over, just so you are certain medicine is the course for you :smile:
Submit reply
Reply 11
Ok thanks, I'll try and get in touch with the sixth forms x
Original post by harrysbar
Ask your school if you can start 4 A levels with a view to dropping one by Christmas? Some schools will allow this, even encourage it for indecisive pupils.
Reply 12
Ok I think a lot of people on here support the chem route which does allow me with more wider options and let's me have the medicine door open. I will be giving this a longer thought once the exams are over x
Original post by ganggang21
I was considering between chemistry and English, and in the end only chose chemistry to support doing a biology degree at uni. I would really advise it, opens a lot of doors and at parts I way preferred chem to bio!! It's fun and a bit less content
Reply 13
Ok thanks, I will need to approach my decision with some clear thought over this and I think I'm likely to choose chem based on the future it gives me.
Original post by Doublletrouble
It is clear that you want to get into the science/medical field in the future... And based on that chemistry, biology maybe psychology seem like really good subject to head there as these sciences are the most required from top universities

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