The Student Room Group

Weird A-level combination :(

I have to choose my a-levels soon and don’t know what to pick. I am predicted 99999988877 in my exams so I can potentially take any subject out of the ones I do.

If I were to go to university I’d study media or film studies.

At the moment my heart wants me to take English Lit, History, and DT but I’m wondering if DT stands out in a bad way. I’m not a STEM person but DT is my favourite subject and I want to add some variety to my sixth form education, especially since uni isn’t my biggest goal.

Should I drop DT or is it ok that I’m taking it alongside two facilitating essay subjects? My school doesn’t offer media, film, or sociology at a-level.

Reply 1

Original post by sophie777788
I have to choose my a-levels soon and don’t know what to pick. I am predicted 99999988877 in my exams so I can potentially take any subject out of the ones I do.
If I were to go to university I’d study media or film studies.
At the moment my heart wants me to take English Lit, History, and DT but I’m wondering if DT stands out in a bad way. I’m not a STEM person but DT is my favourite subject and I want to add some variety to my sixth form education, especially since uni isn’t my biggest goal.
Should I drop DT or is it ok that I’m taking it alongside two facilitating essay subjects? My school doesn’t offer media, film, or sociology at a-level.

Best thing to do IMO is look to the unis you may wish to study at and see what they will accept, ie anything specific, if not you're more free to choose what you like that may be relevant. I note you dont aim to take media or film studies at A level?

If you are not sure you will go to uni but will have the UCAS points, do what will keep you interested

Reply 2

Original post by sophie777788
I have to choose my a-levels soon and don’t know what to pick. I am predicted 99999988877 in my exams so I can potentially take any subject out of the ones I do.
If I were to go to university I’d study media or film studies.
At the moment my heart wants me to take English Lit, History, and DT but I’m wondering if DT stands out in a bad way. I’m not a STEM person but DT is my favourite subject and I want to add some variety to my sixth form education, especially since uni isn’t my biggest goal.
Should I drop DT or is it ok that I’m taking it alongside two facilitating essay subjects? My school doesn’t offer media, film, or sociology at a-level.

I would definitely suggest doing DT if it is your favourite because at A-Level you can't risk doing a subject you aren't particularly fond of - many of my friends have dropped like 2 months before the real exams because they hate their subject and don't think they'll do well. So I'd suggest picking DT for sure!!! It shows that you are creative which I think would be a big thing for media/film studies. Also, don't stress too much because I think that even if you may think your subject choices weren't good (like me, I kept thinking of switching them around but I stuck to it), they'll always work out in the end

Reply 3

Original post by sophie777788
I have to choose my a-levels soon and don’t know what to pick. I am predicted 99999988877 in my exams so I can potentially take any subject out of the ones I do.
If I were to go to university I’d study media or film studies.
At the moment my heart wants me to take English Lit, History, and DT but I’m wondering if DT stands out in a bad way. I’m not a STEM person but DT is my favourite subject and I want to add some variety to my sixth form education, especially since uni isn’t my biggest goal.
Should I drop DT or is it ok that I’m taking it alongside two facilitating essay subjects? My school doesn’t offer media, film, or sociology at a-level.

Hi, I do English lit, film studies and sociology for alevel and going to uni for a more practical and hands on film and tv course because I'm so sick of writing essays all the time, I wish my school offered MIA instead of film studies or that I took criminology instead of sociology as it's mainly coursework. Doing DT should help balance out ur subjects in that regard as I wish I wasn't doing all essay subjects.

In regard to uni, most film and media courses wont actually care what subjects you do or even look at you personal statement and will start from the basics so you don't rlly need prior knowledge, if you can get the grades you'll usually get offers (My highest course was ABB and lowest BCC, predicted BBB and I received all my offers within a week of sending my ucas, for film and media they should give u an offer and respond pretty quick) plus DT can show creativity which you can put into ur personal statement and if ur really worried then u could do work experience related to film and media (I done a 3-day work experience with screenworks and Watchmojo where they taught us to make short form content, it was really fun and we got free pizza and gifts too so even if you dont want to go to uni anymore I would try something similar out as it is also just extra experience for your CV plus rlly fun and informative) but like I said they don't rlly look at so even if u can't or don't want to do a work experience you should be fine.

Take the subjects u actually like and save urself the stress of trying to revise 3 essay based subjects. Especially since ur thinking of english lit and history together - I used to do history but dropped cuz I couldn't keep up with it, film, lit and sociology, too much stress lol (pls help me I have like 17 hours worth of exams)

Reply 4

One thing i wish i did was take 4 a levels. Best thing you can do. Give each subject a week or two to settle in and see what you do then. If you like all of them and feel competent (judging by grades, you’ll do fine), then consider 4! But at the end of your day do subjects you enjoy, a levels are hard so you need to enjoy them.

Reply 5

i do art, maths and physics

Reply 6

Original post by Lorelei06
Hi, I do English lit, film studies and sociology for alevel and going to uni for a more practical and hands on film and tv course because I'm so sick of writing essays all the time, I wish my school offered MIA instead of film studies or that I took criminology instead of sociology as it's mainly coursework. Doing DT should help balance out ur subjects in that regard as I wish I wasn't doing all essay subjects.
In regard to uni, most film and media courses wont actually care what subjects you do or even look at you personal statement and will start from the basics so you don't rlly need prior knowledge, if you can get the grades you'll usually get offers (My highest course was ABB and lowest BCC, predicted BBB and I received all my offers within a week of sending my ucas, for film and media they should give u an offer and respond pretty quick) plus DT can show creativity which you can put into ur personal statement and if ur really worried then u could do work experience related to film and media (I done a 3-day work experience with screenworks and Watchmojo where they taught us to make short form content, it was really fun and we got free pizza and gifts too so even if you dont want to go to uni anymore I would try something similar out as it is also just extra experience for your CV plus rlly fun and informative) but like I said they don't rlly look at so even if u can't or don't want to do a work experience you should be fine.
Take the subjects u actually like and save urself the stress of trying to revise 3 essay based subjects. Especially since ur thinking of english lit and history together - I used to do history but dropped cuz I couldn't keep up with it, film, lit and sociology, too much stress lol (pls help me I have like 17 hours worth of exams)

i agree! i’m doing english lit, film and psych and hoping to also go to uni for film , but i would say if anybody’s not fond of writing then maybe steer clear of the alevel, or choose a btec instead. tbh i loved the coursework tho - making a film/storyboard! it is just VERY essay heavy which i think some people might not see. although i think op is doing eng lit as well. where did you apply got uni (if you don’t mind me asking lol) ? 🙂

Reply 7

Original post by Lorelei06
Hi, I do English lit, film studies and sociology for alevel and going to uni for a more practical and hands on film and tv course because I'm so sick of writing essays all the time, I wish my school offered MIA instead of film studies or that I took criminology instead of sociology as it's mainly coursework. Doing DT should help balance out ur subjects in that regard as I wish I wasn't doing all essay subjects.
In regard to uni, most film and media courses wont actually care what subjects you do or even look at you personal statement and will start from the basics so you don't rlly need prior knowledge, if you can get the grades you'll usually get offers (My highest course was ABB and lowest BCC, predicted BBB and I received all my offers within a week of sending my ucas, for film and media they should give u an offer and respond pretty quick) plus DT can show creativity which you can put into ur personal statement and if ur really worried then u could do work experience related to film and media (I done a 3-day work experience with screenworks and Watchmojo where they taught us to make short form content, it was really fun and we got free pizza and gifts too so even if you dont want to go to uni anymore I would try something similar out as it is also just extra experience for your CV plus rlly fun and informative) but like I said they don't rlly look at so even if u can't or don't want to do a work experience you should be fine.
Take the subjects u actually like and save urself the stress of trying to revise 3 essay based subjects. Especially since ur thinking of english lit and history together - I used to do history but dropped cuz I couldn't keep up with it, film, lit and sociology, too much stress lol (pls help me I have like 17 hours worth of exams)

Hi I'm considering taking all 3 of these subjects for A levels. Would you mind saying which was your fav and if you really disliked any. Also, which exam board are u doing for English lit thanks

Quick Reply