Should I take economics

Original post by Kingdragon

These are my Grades

Maths 8
Physics 8
Biology 7
Chemistry 7
French 7
English 7
English 8
History 7
Business 5

My current a levels are maths, further maths, physics and economics. Is this a good combo and what are my university and career options?

Is this a good combo?
If you're doing maths (or even further maths), you should be more than OK with economics.

The subjects do complement each other, especially if you like logic, analysis, and problem solving.

what are my university and career options?
This is something you should have done prior to picking your A Levels.

Degree options where you have the required subjects (maths and physics) mentioned:

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All economics degrees

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Computer science and software engineering

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Maths

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Physics

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Most of engineering, except for bioengineering and

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Geology

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A number of life science/healthcare degrees where they ask for 2 sciences (see: https://www.mathscareers.org.uk/degree-courses-a-level-mathematics/)

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Data science and data analytics

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Finance, financial mathematics, financial engineering, and actuarial science

You can then do degrees that ask for 3 A Levels in any subject, including:

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Anything in business expect for financial mathematics and actuarial science (for obvious reasons)

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Law

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Anthropology

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Archaeology

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Sociology and criminology

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Most psychology degrees

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Some degrees in creative writing and English literature

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Nonquantiative economics degrees

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Education

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Theology

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Politics

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Philosophy

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Linguistics

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Agriculture

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Some art and design degrees, including architecture

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Some geography degrees

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Film

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Game design

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Hospitality

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Property and urban planning

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Journalism

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Media studies

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Nursing

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Paramedic science

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Social work

Further maths is a semi-required/strongly preferred subject if it's available and is often requested at top end unis. Economics is not really required, but is preferred at a handful of unis for economics (maths is still predominantly the required subject for many).

In terms of careers, the random careers that you would be eligible for with no further training post A Levels include:

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Administration

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Government services

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Social work

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Some areas of healthcare

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Most areas of business (HR, marketing, accounting, sales)

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IT roles

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Some areas of construction

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Most areas of property

•

Most areas of beauty and wellbeing

•

Creative/design and media (if you're good)

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Theatre and film (if you're good)

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Music (if you're good)

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Anything related to writing (if you're good)

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Storage

•

Logisitics

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Armed forces and police force (if you pass certain tests, have a clean record, and are of a certain age range)

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Some environmental services

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Hospitality

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Manufacturing

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Management (if you have the relevant experience)

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Retail

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Care work

•

Travel and tourism

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Charity

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Entertainment (if you're good)

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Translation (if you are fluent in more than one language)

If you decide to go back to college (adult college), then you can do courses that are relevant to the following:

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Animal care (other than vet)

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Some areas of construction and certain trades

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Some areas of beauty and wellbeing

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Some areas of engineering

You can go into the following areas with specific professional qualifications (irrespective of what previous qualifications you have):

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Accounting

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Actuary (if you have a math background e.g. A Level Maths)

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Law (SQE; if you want to be a barrister, you would need an LLB in the first place or a PGDL after your undergrad)

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Most areas of finance

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Delivery and transport (licences)

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Sports coaching

Should you do an appropriate degree, you can go into the following areas:

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Healthcare (apprenticeships available in some roles)

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Engineering (although you can go in via apprenticeships)

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Architecture (apprenticeships available)

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Economics (apprenticeships available)

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Research (apprenticeships available)

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Teaching (apprenticeships available)

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Law (apprenticeships available for some roles)

The areas where you would have problems getting into include specific roles in healthcare where you can't find a way into the role without doing a degree e.g. dentistry.

I don't know what sort of careers that you're interested in and I am not going to go through 800+ roles in one response. If you can be significantly more specific about what you're looking for, then I might be able to help point you in the right direction. Otherwise, look through the following yourself:
https://www.prospects.ac.uk/job-profiles
https://nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/explore-careers
https://www.careerpilot.org.uk/job-sectors/education/job-profiles

Reply 2

Kingdragon

OP

9

The thing is what should I do about my 5 in business?

(edited 7 months ago)

Reply 3

Original post by Kingdragon

The thing is what should I do about my 5 in business?

What about it?
It's a pass, albeit not a particularly good pass.

If you're applying for top end uni that looks at your GCSE results, it might be a minor hindrance unless you can confirm top A Level grades. Otherwise, it's not that big of a deal. Most unis consider your A Level grades a lot more than your GCSEs.
If this is a particular concern and you do end up getting rejected from a top end uni, I would firstly confirm what grades you would get at the end of your A Levels, then reapply during your gap year. Chances are though, a number of unis shouldn't have a problem with your applications if you get A*/As in your A Levels, considering you are also doing 3 difficult STEM subjects as well as economics.

If you're concerned about whether your business GCSE grade is reflective of how things would turn out in economics at A Level, then I can say it's definitely not going to be a good indicator. A Levels are very different to GCSEs, so they're not very good indicators to begin with (you can score 9s at GCSE, but can end up with Cs at A Level if you use the wrong approach). Second, economics and business are distinct subjects (even though a lot of people argue there is a lot of overlap), so there's not that much correlation between the 2.

Reply 4

Kingdragon

OP

9

Original post by MindMax2000

What about it?
It's a pass, albeit not a particularly good pass.

If you're applying for top end uni that looks at your GCSE results, it might be a minor hindrance unless you can confirm top A Level grades. Otherwise, it's not that big of a deal. Most unis consider your A Level grades a lot more than your GCSEs.
If this is a particular concern and you do end up getting rejected from a top end uni, I would firstly confirm what grades you would get at the end of your A Levels, then reapply during your gap year. Chances are though, a number of unis shouldn't have a problem with your applications if you get A*/As in your A Levels, considering you are also doing 3 difficult STEM subjects as well as economics.

If you're concerned about whether your business GCSE grade is reflective of how things would turn out in economics at A Level, then I can say it's definitely not going to be a good indicator. A Levels are very different to GCSEs, so they're not very good indicators to begin with (you can score 9s at GCSE, but can end up with Cs at A Level if you use the wrong approach). Second, economics and business are distinct subjects (even though a lot of people argue there is a lot of overlap), so there's not that much correlation between the 2.

I was predicted an 8 so will universities see that I just did not preform well in the exam. Also it is not too bad right?

Reply 5

Original post by Kingdragon

I was predicted an 8 so will universities see that I just did not preform well in the exam. Also it is not too bad right?

I was predicted an 8 so will universities see that I just did not preform well in the exam
Although I don't have access or know specifically what the universities see, I think it's prudent to assume that they would only see/consider the final grades. Whatever predictions you got for GCSEs are irrelevant, even if they can see them. The only predicted grades that I can firmly say unis would be concerned with are your A Level predicted grades if you are applying in Year 13; after Year 13, it's mostly about achieving the actual grades prior to enrolling.

it is not too bad right?
Well, I wouldn't say a 5 is a stellar grade, but it's not a detriment or would affect you long term nor is it something that you necessarily need to go back and rectify.
I think the better way to think about it is whether you have learned the lessons you need to learn about the result. What can you take away with you after getting a 5? Why do you think you got a 5 instead of the 8? Can you implement strategies to deter from getting a lower grade than one you're well capable of getting?

Reply 6

Kingdragon

OP

9

I think the problem was in business GCSe I would always approach the economic aspect, rather than the business aspect. For example in 12 marker I would score 5/12, and my business teacher would say I focused too much on the economic side. Also, the raw mark was 102/180. Given that the paper was out of 90, there would be a 9 marker, 9 marker and 12 marker (30% of the grade).

Reply 7