The Student Room Group

Both English's at A level

Hola chicos,
Just wanted to ask it it not worth it or worthless doing both English language and literature separately at A level?!
Also what's the course like as a whole!?!!!?
Original post by Manip01
Hola chicos,
Just wanted to ask it it not worth it or worthless doing both English language and literature separately at A level?!
Also what's the course like as a whole!?!!!?


It depends what you want to go into after A levels, but its good to know that English language is not like GCSE - its much more about the psychology and use of English. English literature is what you're probably already familiar with. The English lit course is really good.
I doubt they'd let you take both separately, why would you want to anyway, I presume you don't know what other A-Level you want to do so you want to fill in the gaps so to speak.
Original post by TheNamesBond.
I doubt they'd let you take both separately, why would you want to anyway, I presume you don't know what other A-Level you want to do so you want to fill in the gaps so to speak.

Why not? A lot of people do both. It's not like they're the same subject.
Original post by MinaBee
Why not? A lot of people do both. It's not like they're the same subject.

Why not? Because most colleges and sixth forms offer the combined version, if OP is applying to these college's and sixth forms I don't see why they would let him, let alone why OP would even bother, I never said they're the same subject, I said if it's offered as a combo it's silly to take them separately.
Reply 5
My sixth allows me to do so. I enjoyed English at GCSE level. And I was always thinking I could do Journalism and I feel like English language can help me achieve this goal. Actually, I was contemplating between English lang and philosophy anyways.
Original post by TheNamesBond.
I doubt they'd let you take both separately, why would you want to anyway, I presume you don't know what other A-Level you want to do so you want to fill in the gaps so to speak.
Reply 6
Yeah DW, I've researched about English language at A level so it's fine. But yeah I loved English at GCSE level so I wanted to pursue a career in Journalism or Law alongside A level History.
Original post by Nikhita_
It depends what you want to go into after A levels, but its good to know that English language is not like GCSE - its much more about the psychology and use of English. English literature is what you're probably already familiar with. The English lit course is really good.
Reply 7
If you want to do both, I'd strongly suggest sitting the Lit/Lang Combined course, which frees up another A-Level in a subject you're also interested in.

You get the best of both worlds with the Combined course!
Reply 8
Some people are telling me to do it separately, some people tell me just do literature, and some say do it combined. But I'm just so unsure anymore! But my gut feeling is doing it separately.
Original post by Haider_A
If you want to do both, I'd strongly suggest sitting the Lit/Lang Combined course, which frees up another A-Level in a subject you're also interested in.

You get the best of both worlds with the Combined course!
Reply 9
Why don't you try the Combined course for a couple of weeks and if it's not what you wanted, then the college/sixth form should allow you to change to the separate courses?

You'll need to find out the college's policies on this though, but most should be fine
Original post by Manip01
Some people are telling me to do it separately, some people tell me just do literature, and some say do it combined. But I'm just so unsure anymore! But my gut feeling is doing it separately.
Original post by Manip01
Hola chicos,
Just wanted to ask it it not worth it or worthless doing both English language and literature separately at A level?!
Also what's the course like as a whole!?!!!?

To answer your question, if you're wanting to go into a career in either Law or Journalism, I might recommend

1. English Lit OR English Lit&Lang (combined)
2. History OR a language OR Philosophy OR Religious Studies OR Religious&Ethics OR Economics OR Classical Civilisation etc
3. Another subject from number 2.

Just so you know, all successful journalists studied degrees like History, Classics, Law, Literature, Modern Language/s, Philosophy, Economics etc.

No-one really studies a journalism degree. I'm not sure but I think most journalism degrees focus on media / video / camera etc. Whereas traditional print journalists, of which there are very few these days, have specialised in something else all the while gradually building up experience and a portfolio via internships, journalism societies at uni and part-time jobs etc. Journalism is quite hard to get into...

As an aside, your title should read 'Both Englishes at A level'...
Reply 11
I agree with this on the most part, however your other subjects needn't be essay-based, as your English A-Level satisfy this.

Pick any other subject that truly interests you; don't just pick one because it will help you get onto a course/into a specific university.

Subjects such as Psychology, Geography, any of the Sciences and Mathematics are also excellent subjects to take for journalism/a legal career.
To answer your question, if you're wanting to go into a career in either Law or Journalism, I might recommend

1. English Lit OR English Lit&Lang (combined)
2. History OR a language OR Philosophy OR Religious Studies OR Religious&Ethics OR Economics OR Classical Civilisation etc
3. Another subject from number 2.

Just so you know, all successful journalists studied degrees like History, Classics, Law, Literature, Modern Language/s, Philosophy, Economics etc.

No-one really studies a journalism degree. I'm not sure but I think most journalism degrees focus on media / video / camera etc. Whereas traditional print journalists, of which there are very few these days, have specialised in something else all the while gradually building up experience and a portfolio via internships, journalism societies at uni and part-time jobs etc. Journalism is quite hard to get into...

As an aside, your title should read 'Both Englishes at A level'...
Reply 12
Okay, I think I'll study English lit combined, History and philosophy.


Original post by Quick-use
To answer your question, if you're wanting to go into a career in either Law or Journalism, I might recommend

1. English Lit OR English Lit&Lang (combined)
2. History OR a language OR Philosophy OR Religious Studies OR Religious&Ethics OR Economics OR Classical Civilisation etc
3. Another subject from number 2.

Just so you know, all successful journalists studied degrees like History, Classics, Law, Literature, Modern Language/s, Philosophy, Economics etc.

No-one really studies a journalism degree. I'm not sure but I think most journalism degrees focus on media / video / camera etc. Whereas traditional print journalists, of which there are very few these days, have specialised in something else all the while gradually building up experience and a portfolio via internships, journalism societies at uni and part-time jobs etc. Journalism is quite hard to get into...

As an aside, your title should read 'Both Englishes at A level'...


Original post by Haider_A
I agree with this on the most part, however your other subjects needn't be essay-based, as your English A-Level satisfy this.

Pick any other subject that truly interests you; don't just pick one because it will help you get onto a course/into a specific university.

Subjects such as Psychology, Geography, any of the Sciences and Mathematics are also excellent subjects to take for journalism/a legal career.
Original post by Haider_A
I agree with this on the most part, however your other subjects needn't be essay-based, as your English A-Level satisfy this.

Pick any other subject that truly interests you; don't just pick one because it will help you get onto a course/into a specific university.

Subjects such as Psychology, Geography, any of the Sciences and Mathematics are also excellent subjects to take for journalism/a legal career.

I completely agree with this.

Just to note, I only mentioned subjects like History and Philosophy because the OP has mentioned throughout the thread that they'd like to do them with an English A level. On that note, I mentioned other similar A level subjects (to History and Philo) to offer some choice. I should have made it clearer that anything could be chosen and that the OP could consider other subjects as well.

Thank you for the clarification. I hope it helps the OP with their decision. :fluffy:
I like English and did both English Language and English Literature A-Level courses from 96-98. I've never felt that 'putting all eggs into a similar basket' has been an impediment but then I haven't tried to do anything else that isn't specifically English (English teacher for seventeen years). I did History A-Level as well. Pick what you're interested in; that's the best advice I've read.

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