The Student Room Group

Am I crazy for choosing maths, further maths, chem and eco as my A level subjects?

Hi, so I’ve completed my GCSE’s and am on a gap year bcuz I’m very confused about what subjects to choose for a levels and I don’t know what I want to become in the future.

I did bio chem and physics in my GCSE’s and got an A* in chem, A in bio and B in physics. I don’t like the plants section in biology and there’s just too much to remember in bio and ive been terrorised by Reels of medical students saying not to choose medicine. So I don’t think I wanna choose bio.

I like chemistry tho I enjoy it and am considering choosing it so that I have one science subject with me INCASE I wanna go to a medical field in the future.

Now I Like maths and that’s one subject I’m sure about and got a good grade in in my GCSE’s. It can give me many options in uni.

I wanna choose economics so that I’m able to go towards finance and other business stuff and it’s also an essay based subject which some courses require like in LSE for some courses they prefer maths further maths and an essay based subject.

Now further maths I wanna choose because it’ll help me when applying to Russel group universities and it’ll just make my application stronger. LSE requires further maths for many of their courses that I might want to do in the future. First I thought of doing further maths AS only but then I checked the LSE guide and they only offered a few courses with further maths AS.

Now I know I sound dumb and the combination sounds weird but I really need help here. Also many universities don’t recommend having 4 A levels so I’m confused about that too. Someone help me out please.
Original post by Ruhabkhan_
Hi, so I’ve completed my GCSE’s and am on a gap year bcuz I’m very confused about what subjects to choose for a levels and I don’t know what I want to become in the future.
I did bio chem and physics in my GCSE’s and got an A* in chem, A in bio and B in physics. I don’t like the plants section in biology and there’s just too much to remember in bio and ive been terrorised by Reels of medical students saying not to choose medicine. So I don’t think I wanna choose bio.
I like chemistry tho I enjoy it and am considering choosing it so that I have one science subject with me INCASE I wanna go to a medical field in the future.
Now I Like maths and that’s one subject I’m sure about and got a good grade in in my GCSE’s. It can give me many options in uni.
I wanna choose economics so that I’m able to go towards finance and other business stuff and it’s also an essay based subject which some courses require like in LSE for some courses they prefer maths further maths and an essay based subject.
Now further maths I wanna choose because it’ll help me when applying to Russel group universities and it’ll just make my application stronger. LSE requires further maths for many of their courses that I might want to do in the future. First I thought of doing further maths AS only but then I checked the LSE guide and they only offered a few courses with further maths AS.
Now I know I sound dumb and the combination sounds weird but I really need help here. Also many universities don’t recommend having 4 A levels so I’m confused about that too. Someone help me out please.


There’s absolutely nothing wrong with those alevels! I’m sure you’ll love them all, fyi econ isn’t a requirement for finance. A vast percentage of the people who go into finance come from the sciences and maths so Imo maths is more important for finance than econ. I do get what you’re saying tho about the essay subject as that can be helpful but you should have a good time with your a levels. The unis saying you shouldn’t take 4 alevels is balderdash, in fact for top flight unis like LSE I’d imagine most of their applicants take 4 alevels. Whilst the work load may seem daunting with 4 alevels those will defo set you up well and allow u to go into many different fields. Good luck!
Original post by Ruhabkhan_
Hi, so I’ve completed my GCSE’s and am on a gap year bcuz I’m very confused about what subjects to choose for a levels and I don’t know what I want to become in the future.
I did bio chem and physics in my GCSE’s and got an A* in chem, A in bio and B in physics. I don’t like the plants section in biology and there’s just too much to remember in bio and ive been terrorised by Reels of medical students saying not to choose medicine. So I don’t think I wanna choose bio.
I like chemistry tho I enjoy it and am considering choosing it so that I have one science subject with me INCASE I wanna go to a medical field in the future.
Now I Like maths and that’s one subject I’m sure about and got a good grade in in my GCSE’s. It can give me many options in uni.
I wanna choose economics so that I’m able to go towards finance and other business stuff and it’s also an essay based subject which some courses require like in LSE for some courses they prefer maths further maths and an essay based subject.
Now further maths I wanna choose because it’ll help me when applying to Russel group universities and it’ll just make my application stronger. LSE requires further maths for many of their courses that I might want to do in the future. First I thought of doing further maths AS only but then I checked the LSE guide and they only offered a few courses with further maths AS.
Now I know I sound dumb and the combination sounds weird but I really need help here. Also many universities don’t recommend having 4 A levels so I’m confused about that too. Someone help me out please.

That sounds like a good choice of A levels to cover all bases while you decide what you want to do.

Once you know what course you are applying for and what subjects that course will require, you could potentially drop whichever subject is not longer needed if you find that 4 A levels are hard to manage. However, if you want to see all 4 subjects through anyway, you definitely can with enough time management and hard work.
(edited 1 month ago)
Reply 3
Combination sounds weird? Sound like a very normal combo. Math Fm Econ/cs + Chem/Phy is a very common top uni STEM applicant combo. Mostly quantitative then the cs/econ depending on personal interest to add bit of variety either essay or like NEA
Original post by Ruhabkhan_
Hi, so I’ve completed my GCSE’s and am on a gap year bcuz I’m very confused about what subjects to choose for a levels and I don’t know what I want to become in the future.
I did bio chem and physics in my GCSE’s and got an A* in chem, A in bio and B in physics. I don’t like the plants section in biology and there’s just too much to remember in bio and ive been terrorised by Reels of medical students saying not to choose medicine. So I don’t think I wanna choose bio.
I like chemistry tho I enjoy it and am considering choosing it so that I have one science subject with me INCASE I wanna go to a medical field in the future.
Now I Like maths and that’s one subject I’m sure about and got a good grade in in my GCSE’s. It can give me many options in uni.
I wanna choose economics so that I’m able to go towards finance and other business stuff and it’s also an essay based subject which some courses require like in LSE for some courses they prefer maths further maths and an essay based subject.
Now further maths I wanna choose because it’ll help me when applying to Russel group universities and it’ll just make my application stronger. LSE requires further maths for many of their courses that I might want to do in the future. First I thought of doing further maths AS only but then I checked the LSE guide and they only offered a few courses with further maths AS.
Now I know I sound dumb and the combination sounds weird but I really need help here. Also many universities don’t recommend having 4 A levels so I’m confused about that too. Someone help me out please.

Sounds like a good combination to keep your options open and it’s great that you enjoy these subjects!
@sdfj does this combination with History (unless hes dropped one now) so he might be able to give you his thoughts 🙂
Reply 5
Original post by Ruhabkhan_
Hi, so I’ve completed my GCSE’s and am on a gap year bcuz I’m very confused about what subjects to choose for a levels and I don’t know what I want to become in the future.
I did bio chem and physics in my GCSE’s and got an A* in chem, A in bio and B in physics. I don’t like the plants section in biology and there’s just too much to remember in bio and ive been terrorised by Reels of medical students saying not to choose medicine. So I don’t think I wanna choose bio.
I like chemistry tho I enjoy it and am considering choosing it so that I have one science subject with me INCASE I wanna go to a medical field in the future.
Now I Like maths and that’s one subject I’m sure about and got a good grade in in my GCSE’s. It can give me many options in uni.
I wanna choose economics so that I’m able to go towards finance and other business stuff and it’s also an essay based subject which some courses require like in LSE for some courses they prefer maths further maths and an essay based subject.
Now further maths I wanna choose because it’ll help me when applying to Russel group universities and it’ll just make my application stronger. LSE requires further maths for many of their courses that I might want to do in the future. First I thought of doing further maths AS only but then I checked the LSE guide and they only offered a few courses with further maths AS.
Now I know I sound dumb and the combination sounds weird but I really need help here. Also many universities don’t recommend having 4 A levels so I’m confused about that too. Someone help me out please.

Well if you're crazy, then I'm also crazy. I do the exact same combination and would recommend these choices to many people.

I think if FM is preferred, 4 A-Level is essentially very helpful. The combination isn't 'weird' at all really. Main thing is you enjoy the subject.
Original post by Ruhabkhan_
Hi, so I’ve completed my GCSE’s and am on a gap year bcuz I’m very confused about what subjects to choose for a levels and I don’t know what I want to become in the future.
I did bio chem and physics in my GCSE’s and got an A* in chem, A in bio and B in physics. I don’t like the plants section in biology and there’s just too much to remember in bio and ive been terrorised by Reels of medical students saying not to choose medicine. So I don’t think I wanna choose bio.
I like chemistry tho I enjoy it and am considering choosing it so that I have one science subject with me INCASE I wanna go to a medical field in the future.
Now I Like maths and that’s one subject I’m sure about and got a good grade in in my GCSE’s. It can give me many options in uni.
I wanna choose economics so that I’m able to go towards finance and other business stuff and it’s also an essay based subject which some courses require like in LSE for some courses they prefer maths further maths and an essay based subject.
Now further maths I wanna choose because it’ll help me when applying to Russel group universities and it’ll just make my application stronger. LSE requires further maths for many of their courses that I might want to do in the future. First I thought of doing further maths AS only but then I checked the LSE guide and they only offered a few courses with further maths AS.
Now I know I sound dumb and the combination sounds weird but I really need help here. Also many universities don’t recommend having 4 A levels so I’m confused about that too. Someone help me out please.

4 A-Levels is too much work for 99% of people.

Most people dropped out of FM after year 1. Ofc that doesn’t mean don’t try it.

Everyone prefers you have 3 good/excellent alevels than 4 mediocre ones ( as in results)

Having 4 does help your application if you can manage the workload well.

I was considering to take physics, maths, cs and chem as a 4th

I would’ve never managed the workload for chem in a million years as a 4th ALL esp with the cs coursework. Mb give it a go and you might just have to drop out (of your 4th) a few months later but at least you tried ❤️.

GOOD LUCK.

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