Economics vs further maths for a levels

I’ve finished my GCSEs and am now thinking about what a levels to take. I want to have a career in actuarial or something else economics-related, and am hoping to take economics or actuarial science in university.

I’m definitely going to pick maths, history and chemistry, but if I can do 4 a levels (which is likely) I am not sure between further maths and economics. Economics seems easier and probably would giver a greater range of knowledge, but further maths is very useful for actuarial and seems to be highly valu3 by universities.

Which one would you suggest? (For context I have done add maths at gcse so maybe further maths would be slightly easier?)

Reply 1

klafow

14

further maths, if you think you can do it. you don't need econ a-level to do econ or anything econ related at uni but fm makes your application so much more competitive
however its very difficult. doing additional maths at gcse makes single maths easier, not double. its a big ask, but if you can achieve it its very worth it
if you aren't taking further maths, i wouldn't recommend taking a fourth a-level unless you're really really passionate about econ a-level

Reply 2

artful_lounger

Universities Forum Helper

21

Original post by peripheral-grade

I’ve finished my GCSEs and am now thinking about what a levels to take. I want to have a career in actuarial or something else economics-related, and am hoping to take economics or actuarial science in university.

I’m definitely going to pick maths, history and chemistry, but if I can do 4 a levels (which is likely) I am not sure between further maths and economics. Economics seems easier and probably would giver a greater range of knowledge, but further maths is very useful for actuarial and seems to be highly valu3 by universities.

Which one would you suggest? (For context I have done add maths at gcse so maybe further maths would be slightly easier?)

Economics isn't required for any degree so is just useful as far as your personal interests. FM is particularly useful for very mathematical courses (including very mathematical economics degrees) and at some places is reasonably expected if your school offers it (e.g. LSE for economics and I believe also actuarial science).

You could well swap chemistry or history for economics if you so desire though. The limitations in that would be that without history you couldn't apply to some history degrees, and without chemistry you couldn't apply to courses requiring that (e.g. chemistry, some other physical science/engineering courses, medicine, etc).

As noted above a fourth A-level confers no benefit in admissions and can be a liability, so unless you are taking certain very synergistic A-levels (such as maths and FM) there's really no point in doing additional A-levels beyond three.

Reply 3

peripheral-grade

OP

5

Thanks everyone! I think I’ll be taking history instead of economics (I know the teachers and enjoy critical thinking in history), and probably further maths as a 4th A-level considering how much it helps economics and actuarial. Btw I’m choosing chemistry just because I’d like to take a science and chemistry is the most interesting to me and also contains a fair bit of maths.

Reply 4

klafow

14

Original post by peripheral-grade

Thanks everyone! I think I’ll be taking history instead of economics (I know the teachers and enjoy critical thinking in history), and probably further maths as a 4th A-level considering how much it helps economics and actuarial. Btw I’m choosing chemistry just because I’d like to take a science and chemistry is the most interesting to me and also contains a fair bit of maths.