a level english language vs politics

i haven’t seen any questions with this title so far so here’s my dilemma

i’m picking a levels and they’re due to be picked in about a month for the deadline, i’m stuck between doing a level english language or politics (both AQA)

here are my option blocks/what i’m picking

A — english language / maths
B — politics (can ask for english to go here)
C — french
D — economics

+ here’s my reasoning:
english language
+ the teachers who teach it really get on with me and really want me to take it, they’re also really good teachers
+ my sibling did it and got an A, so i can have help from them when doing it
+ in comparison to my other options it would be relatively easy
+ coursework which i adore
+ would go well with a level french which i’m taking in case i want to do a languages degree
- doesn’t fit in the option blocks
- content probably doesn’t intrigue me as much as politics
- same option block as maths which i’m going to do
- maths econ english lang and french is slightly fragmented as a combo, eg maths + econ go and french + english go whereas with politics maths econ and politics all link nicely

politics
+ i know for a fact if i did this i would smash it because i’m so interested in politics i literally watch the stuff and read lengthy articles for fun im so infatuated by it
+ suits with the option blocks
+ links better
+ probs easier to get a higher grade as i enjoy / less likely to drop
+ i think i’d enjoy it the most of my alevels as things like revision wouldn’t be too hard since i practically know most of the content looking over the spec anyway
- may be attached to doing four a levels
- no coursework
- teachers aren’t as good as english lang
- maths econ and pol sort of leaves french hanging a bit and i either want to do a languages or econ or econ + pol degree

from all of this (hopefully if i haven’t bored you too much yet) it probably seems more obvious to go with politics, but i want to do english language as well. any tips on either a level would be greatly appreciated, as i require information and have little time to do it :smile:

Reply 1

GerardW4y

Politics is a much more enjoyable course overall than English language- although do note, the comment on practically knowing all the content is perhaps rather ill-thought out- although you may have an idea about the broader area of topics, there are some rather challenging niche sections, which a quick flick through the spec doesn't indicate. Then again, if you have a passion for it, and want to pursue it at uni, it is wholly a more appropriate subject choice than Eng Lang. I will admit, it's definitely the easiest of my subjects, compared to Eng Lit and History, and so, if you're looking for an easy A or A*, this is inherently much more suitable. Do remember however, that politics is an essay subject, just like History, and so just knowing the content isn't truly correlated to getting highest grades. There are no short answer questions on the paper, instead three 9 markers, and two 25, and so if your talents do not lie within humanities, perhaps assess that. I personally scored an A* in my mocks, and are predicted so, without that much in-depth revision, thus denoting the easier nature of the course. Honestly, politics is so much fun, and you will not regret taking it- as many of my friends who take Language do.

Reply 2

idek101

Original post by GerardW4y

may I ask what the niche sections are? I apologise if it came across as big headed but from looking at tiktok (of exam qs, content etc.) and looking at other online resources including the spec as well as the fact that what I do to 'relax' is watch politics I feel like I understand most of what I've seen so far, though I appreciate that as an A level it is bound to have some tricky topics but purely for better preparation it would help to know what they were should I choose to take it.

as English language and maths are in the same block, I have considered doing English but that would rule out the possibility of doing an economics degreaser as well as other high paid careers which I don't want to rule out

I may ask to do 1 week of lang, 1 week of pol and make my mind up, provided the option blocks can change.

ty for your advice though, politics seems so interesting and I really hope im wrong in a way about feeling like I know lots about it in the sense of I want to do an a level that I already have a deep rooted interest in but can still learn stuff from - likewise, I have considered doing English as it would be more content I dont know + coursework, as exams stress me out

ty for your reply :smile:

(edited 1 month ago)

Reply 3

GerardW4y

The more niche sections refer to paper 3, political theory- etc mechanistic theory, veil of ignorance, social contract theory

Reply 4

cakeandbiscuits

Original post by GerardW4y

The more niche sections refer to paper 3, political theory- etc mechanistic theory, veil of ignorance, social contract theory

ohhh okay. i hold my hands up and will admit i did not know some of that; in relation to my knowledge i’ve heard you need to know case studies about examples when x has been shown or something like that, and that’s more what i’d be good at

Reply 5

Ajhdhd

A level politics here. Our school doesn't offer lang, and I'm not sure how different it is to lit but everyone who does lit seems to complain a lot 😭.

I actually found politics quite difficult so I personally wouldn't call it an easy A subject. I definitely had to work incredibly hard for a predicted A*. But a passion for it definitely means you'll be more encouraged to revise and know the niche examples you need.

I also love to watch political documentaries (I prefer the US) but I found a lot of the course quite dreary and not as interesting as what I'd be watching at home. For example needing to know about nominating conventions, initiatives, select committees, voting behaviour, how labours changed over time etc. there are most definitely interesting parts (I personally loved the us supreme court) but a lot of topics made consider dropping it 😂. You pick what you want to read in your free time so naturally, it's all interesting, but here you'll be forced to learn the nitty gritty. But maybe you really love that too idk.

Essentially I love politics and I think you should take it but I say this with complete wholehearted bias. Sounds like you have a passion for it. A levels are hard. Not wanting to be there makes it even harder. Barring the ones you need for your degree, I think you should pick what you enjoy.

Reply 6

cakeandbiscuits

Original post by Ajhdhd

A level politics here. Our school doesn't offer lang, and I'm not sure how different it is to lit but everyone who does lit seems to complain a lot 😭.
I actually found politics quite difficult so I personally wouldn't call it an easy A subject. I definitely had to work incredibly hard for a predicted A*. But a passion for it definitely means you'll be more encouraged to revise and know the niche examples you need.
I also love to watch political documentaries (I prefer the US) but I found a lot of the course quite dreary and not as interesting as what I'd be watching at home. For example needing to know about nominating conventions, initiatives, select committees, voting behaviour, how labours changed over time etc. there are most definitely interesting parts (I personally loved the us supreme court) but a lot of topics made consider dropping it 😂. You pick what you want to read in your free time so naturally, it's all interesting, but here you'll be forced to learn the nitty gritty. But maybe you really love that too idk.
Essentially I love politics and I think you should take it but I say this with complete wholehearted bias. Sounds like you have a passion for it. A levels are hard. Not wanting to be there makes it even harder. Barring the ones you need for your degree, I think you should pick what you enjoy.

tysm for the advice!!
english lang is very different from lit from what i understand, language is almost like a scientific type of english whilst lit is the more traditional english course, + lang is easier

in regards to politics i was thinking that, the parts i’d understand i’d already be good at if that makes sense? eg learning about cleggmania, diff case studies, elections, usa and uk politics etc so i’m not sure if it’s worth doing an a level where i know half of it and may be bored and may find other parts more tedious, as like you say, you can’t pick and choose what parts of politics to do.

i had a system for gcses which is quite counter intuitive whereby i picked history over geography because i was better at geography so wanted to get better at history, and vice versa for all of my subjects

sorry if that makes no sense my point being it may be better to alr know about the fun parts of politics on the side and do an a level in something new

i don’t think i’d be too interested in learning about committees or how laws are made etc. come to think of it it may not be worth taking 😭

anyway tysm for your reply, it is very insightful and has helped me lots :smile: