Need help choosing my A-level subjects

Idk what i want to do when i am older, thus idk what to choose :frown:

Results day is tmr and i have to choose by then.
I want to pick subjects that opens the most pathways.

HealthCare Sector: Requires Bio and Chem.
(which also opens up Bio/Chem/Biochem etc)

Computer Science: Requires Maths. Some say FM is needed?? Maybe CS alevel??

———

Bio (AQA) - I enjoy learning the content - except plants. Homeostasis section is amazing (Predicted 9)

Chem (AQA) - My best subject by a very far margin - interesting and the exam is calm. (Predicted 9)

Maths (EDEXCEL)- I really enjoy the exams. Doesn’t feel stressful and find doing it fun lol But Non-Calc is the death of me but luckily, alevel is all calc.
(Predicted 8).

FM (EDEXCEL)- My Maths Grade is really inconsistent like sometimes i get 6s and other times 8s.
Mainly cus of my non calc side (realllllyyyy baddd) thus i may not even get the grades for it. Idek if i really need it. Imperial is understandable but for ucl,kcl etc…

CS (OCR)- don’t think i ever payed attention in class and revised the morning of the exam. But cs alevel for a cs course makes sense?
I’m currently doing a coding course which would help me with this. (Predicted 9) Also, the CS NEA looks long.

Other Subjects: Subjects that are mainly essay writing (especially quotes) are horrible. E.g. English Lit/English Lang/RS

———

So i narrowed it down to these 5

I need 4 and the workload with these subjects does look high.

So what is the best combination?

Reply 1

Fhello

This is your choice. But just a heads up you dont need to have your final decision till tomorrow , sixth forms usually give you time to change your subjects till 2 weeks of the start of the term. So if you end up not liking your original
Choices you can ask them to change it. This usually works unless its a really strict sixth form/ college

Reply 2

Fhello

Maybe do more reasearvh but i dont think further maths is needed for cs. Conputer science mainly has logic based maths. So normal maths can be enough for a high ranking Uni.

Reply 3

Fhello

And if the workload of these subjects looks high then maybe think about doing only 3 alevels instead of 4 . Or start with 4 and then drop one later on.

Reply 4

bibachu

Universities Forum Helper

Original post by NxghtExo

Idk what i want to do when i am older, thus idk what to choose :frown:

Results day is tmr and i have to choose by then.
I want to pick subjects that opens the most pathways.
HealthCare Sector: Requires Bio and Chem.
(which also opens up Bio/Chem/Biochem etc)
Computer Science: Requires Maths. Some say FM is needed?? Maybe CS alevel??
———
Bio (AQA) - I enjoy learning the content - except plants. Homeostasis section is amazing (Predicted 9)
Chem (AQA) - My best subject by a very far margin - interesting and the exam is calm. (Predicted 9)
Maths (EDEXCEL)- I really enjoy the exams. Doesn’t feel stressful and find doing it fun lol But Non-Calc is the death of me but luckily, alevel is all calc.
(Predicted 8).
FM (EDEXCEL)- My Maths Grade is really inconsistent like sometimes i get 6s and other times 8s.
Mainly cus of my non calc side (realllllyyyy baddd) thus i may not even get the grades for it. Idek if i really need it. Imperial is understandable but for ucl,kcl etc…
CS (OCR)- don’t think i ever payed attention in class and revised the morning of the exam. But cs alevel for a cs course makes sense?
I’m currently doing a coding course which would help me with this. (Predicted 9) Also, the CS NEA looks long.
Other Subjects: Subjects that are mainly essay writing (especially quotes) are horrible. E.g. English Lit/English Lang/RS
———
So i narrowed it down to these 5
I need 4 and the workload with these subjects does look high.
So what is the best combination?

Biology, chemistry and maths will open up the most pathways for you in the healthcare/technology sectors. Only take four A levels if your fourth A level is further maths. A level CS is not required to study CS at university, but maths is. I would suggest starting off with further maths in addition to your other three subjects, to see if you can manage the workload and the content. If not, drop further maths either at AS level (if your school offers it) or after the first few weeks.

Reply 5

Lancaster Student Ambassador

Official Rep

Original post by NxghtExo

Idk what i want to do when i am older, thus idk what to choose :frown:

Results day is tmr and i have to choose by then.
I want to pick subjects that opens the most pathways.
HealthCare Sector: Requires Bio and Chem.
(which also opens up Bio/Chem/Biochem etc)
Computer Science: Requires Maths. Some say FM is needed?? Maybe CS alevel??
———
Bio (AQA) - I enjoy learning the content - except plants. Homeostasis section is amazing (Predicted 9)
Chem (AQA) - My best subject by a very far margin - interesting and the exam is calm. (Predicted 9)
Maths (EDEXCEL)- I really enjoy the exams. Doesn’t feel stressful and find doing it fun lol But Non-Calc is the death of me but luckily, alevel is all calc.
(Predicted 8).
FM (EDEXCEL)- My Maths Grade is really inconsistent like sometimes i get 6s and other times 8s.
Mainly cus of my non calc side (realllllyyyy baddd) thus i may not even get the grades for it. Idek if i really need it. Imperial is understandable but for ucl,kcl etc…
CS (OCR)- don’t think i ever payed attention in class and revised the morning of the exam. But cs alevel for a cs course makes sense?
I’m currently doing a coding course which would help me with this. (Predicted 9) Also, the CS NEA looks long.
Other Subjects: Subjects that are mainly essay writing (especially quotes) are horrible. E.g. English Lit/English Lang/RS
———
So i narrowed it down to these 5
I need 4 and the workload with these subjects does look high.
So what is the best combination?

Hi,

Just wanted to clear something up - not all universities require maths or further maths for computer science. Lancaster's Computer Science degrees have no specific subject requirements although if you did study Maths or Computer Science at Alevel you would get a 1 grade reduction so AAB would become ABB for entry requirements. I am currently a 2nd year Computer Science student so if you would like any further information on the course or the university itself please don't hesitate to ask!

In terms of picking your alevels I think the best thing to do would be to sit down and look into universities and specific courses of interest. You've identified liking health care sector or Computer Science related careers so really look into the varied roles and see whether this helps sway you either way. Also, please don't worry that if you pick one way and not the other then you can always change your mind and swap careers later in life or even do a whole new degree.

Given that some universities do require maths Alevel taking that alongside Biology and Chemistry would be the best idea in order for you to open the most doors.

Not many people know what they want to do when they're older so feeling this way is normal so please don't worry.

Hope this helps, Ella - Lancaster University Student Ambassador

Reply 6

AhsokaTano-

Original post by Lancaster Student Ambassador

Hi,
Just wanted to clear something up - not all universities require maths or further maths for computer science. Lancaster's Computer Science degrees have no specific subject requirements although if you did study Maths or Computer Science at Alevel you would get a 1 grade reduction so AAB would become ABB for entry requirements. I am currently a 2nd year Computer Science student so if you would like any further information on the course or the university itself please don't hesitate to ask!
In terms of picking your alevels I think the best thing to do would be to sit down and look into universities and specific courses of interest. You've identified liking health care sector or Computer Science related careers so really look into the varied roles and see whether this helps sway you either way. Also, please don't worry that if you pick one way and not the other then you can always change your mind and swap careers later in life or even do a whole new degree.
Given that some universities do require maths Alevel taking that alongside Biology and Chemistry would be the best idea in order for you to open the most doors.
Not many people know what they want to do when they're older so feeling this way is normal so please don't worry.
Hope this helps, Ella - Lancaster University Student Ambassador

quick question - what if u study both cs and maths? would u get two grades below type of stuff? or is it still 1?