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A Level Options!!

Hi everyone, so I need to pick my A Level options by the end of next week and I'm very conflicted on what to choose. For context these are the A Levels I am thinking of right now:
- English Literature
- Psychology
- Maths
- Biology
- Chemistry
Initially, I was going to go with the first four options, but then I got interested in the idea of medicine but that would mean I need to choose Chemistry A Level, except I have no idea what to drop then from the four.

I think I should mention, I will definitely take English Lit since I love English and it's my best subject from the whole lot. I'm currently also conflicted in what I want to do in the future since I'm very indecisive; I keep thinking about the possibility of medicine, but also neuroscience seems fun and so does psychology, and I'd like to study a bit of English if I choose not to do medicine (so like a science and english double major). I could choose to do my original options but I worry that I might change my mind and want to pursue medicine later on, but it would require Chemistry A Level.

Could anyone give me any advice on choosing A Level options, as well as what to pick when you aren't sure if your gonna commit to medicine?? Thanks :smile:
Original post by sseekerofstarss
Hi everyone, so I need to pick my A Level options by the end of next week and I'm very conflicted on what to choose. For context these are the A Levels I am thinking of right now:
- English Literature
- Psychology
- Maths
- Biology
- Chemistry
Initially, I was going to go with the first four options, but then I got interested in the idea of medicine but that would mean I need to choose Chemistry A Level, except I have no idea what to drop then from the four.
I think I should mention, I will definitely take English Lit since I love English and it's my best subject from the whole lot. I'm currently also conflicted in what I want to do in the future since I'm very indecisive; I keep thinking about the possibility of medicine, but also neuroscience seems fun and so does psychology, and I'd like to study a bit of English if I choose not to do medicine (so like a science and english double major). I could choose to do my original options but I worry that I might change my mind and want to pursue medicine later on, but it would require Chemistry A Level.
Could anyone give me any advice on choosing A Level options, as well as what to pick when you aren't sure if your gonna commit to medicine?? Thanks :smile:

Entry requirements for each Med School for 2025 entry - Chemistry is advisable, you don't need Maths :
Entry requirements | Medical Schools Council For Neuro you will usually need two core science/mathematics subjects, typically both Biology and Chemistry.

Other related degree subjects include :
Undergraduate | School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine | University of Bristol (scroll down for courses)
Medical Genetics - Queen Mary University of London
Choosing between Pharmacy and Pharmacology
Multidisciplinary science courses:
Arts and Sciences - Undergraduate Degree - Y000 - University of Birmingham
Natural Sciences with International Study MSci | University of Nottingham
BSc Life Sciences (2025 entry) | The University of Manchester
Looks like you've already decided on chem and english. As you've pointed out medicine will require chem + another science/maths. Biology may be required depending on the uni so you should probably keep that. I don't think you need psychology A level to do a psychology degree, just any 2 from maths, psych, bio, chem physics. You have english lit so english degrees will still be possible. Neuroscience I don't know anything about but you have science subjects so you should be fine for that too.

From what you've said I think either maths or psychology (or both) would be the one to drop but tbh you should just choose what you will enjoy and get the best grade in. Subject choices don't matter that much as long as you meet the requirements (unless its oxbridge or sum like that).

What are your GCSEs like and what unis are you interested in? Also is there a reason you need 4 A levels?
Original post by McGinger
Entry requirements for each Med School for 2025 entry - Chemistry is advisable, you don't need Maths :
Entry requirements | Medical Schools Council For Neuro you will usually need two core science/mathematics subjects, typically both Biology and Chemistry.
Other related degree subjects include :
Undergraduate | School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine | University of Bristol (scroll down for courses)
Medical Genetics - Queen Mary University of London
Choosing between Pharmacy and Pharmacology
Multidisciplinary science courses:
Arts and Sciences - Undergraduate Degree - Y000 - University of Birmingham
Natural Sciences with International Study MSci | University of Nottingham
BSc Life Sciences (2025 entry) | The University of Manchester

Thank you so much! I wasn't sure if maths was necessary or not, good to know :smile:
Original post by pagan-scimitar
Looks like you've already decided on chem and english. As you've pointed out medicine will require chem + another science/maths. Biology may be required depending on the uni so you should probably keep that. I don't think you need psychology A level to do a psychology degree, just any 2 from maths, psych, bio, chem physics. You have english lit so english degrees will still be possible. Neuroscience I don't know anything about but you have science subjects so you should be fine for that too.
From what you've said I think either maths or psychology (or both) would be the one to drop but tbh you should just choose what you will enjoy and get the best grade in. Subject choices don't matter that much as long as you meet the requirements (unless its oxbridge or sum like that).
What are your GCSEs like and what unis are you interested in? Also is there a reason you need 4 A levels?

I see, I do think it is more likely that I'll drop psychology though I do enjoy the content more, since I do enjoy maths and am quite good at it. I was planning on maybe doing an EPQ on psychology as well if I go with Eng, Maths. Bio, Chem but I heard that 4 a levels and an EPQ would be very hectic so not too sure now.

I think my GCSEs are fairly good, I have a target grade of 9 for both gcse eng lit and maths which I am still meeting, whilst a target grade of 8 for gcse biology and chemistry, which I am also meeting. I would say that I am overall better at chem than bio though I enjoy the content of biology more. I think with enough effort, I will be able to achieve a grade 9 for the two sciences :smile:

I don't really have any unis in mind as of yet, and I'm actually not sure whether I will even apply to the UK (I live outside of the UK), and no, there is no specific reason to taking four A Levels so I could technically do English Lit, Bio and Chem perhaps. But, I think that taking 4 A Levels would give me more options as to what I could study and I may drop an A Level later. For now though, I want to pick 4 a levels from the 5 I am interested in
Original post by sseekerofstarss
I see, I do think it is more likely that I'll drop psychology though I do enjoy the content more, since I do enjoy maths and am quite good at it. I was planning on maybe doing an EPQ on psychology as well if I go with Eng, Maths. Bio, Chem but I heard that 4 a levels and an EPQ would be very hectic so not too sure now.
I think my GCSEs are fairly good, I have a target grade of 9 for both gcse eng lit and maths which I am still meeting, whilst a target grade of 8 for gcse biology and chemistry, which I am also meeting. I would say that I am overall better at chem than bio though I enjoy the content of biology more. I think with enough effort, I will be able to achieve a grade 9 for the two sciences :smile:
I don't really have any unis in mind as of yet, and I'm actually not sure whether I will even apply to the UK (I live outside of the UK), and no, there is no specific reason to taking four A Levels so I could technically do English Lit, Bio and Chem perhaps. But, I think that taking 4 A Levels would give me more options as to what I could study and I may drop an A Level later. For now though, I want to pick 4 a levels from the 5 I am interested in


Your grades are really good so you shouldn't have much trouble taking any of these for A level :smile:. I guess if you're taking 4 A levels for the sake of keeping options open, ig maths would probably be more useful than psych (it really doesn't matter tho) . 4 A levels + an EPQ is definitely too much and really not needed (pretty sure most unis only look at your top 3 grades and some don't even consider EPQ). Just do either 4 A levels or 3 + EPQ (or just 3)
Original post by pagan-scimitar
Your grades are really good so you shouldn't have much trouble taking any of these for A level :smile:. I guess if you're taking 4 A levels for the sake of keeping options open, ig maths would probably be more useful than psych (it really doesn't matter tho) . 4 A levels + an EPQ is definitely too much and really not needed (pretty sure most unis only look at your top 3 grades and some don't even consider EPQ). Just do either 4 A levels or 3 + EPQ (or just 3)
Ahh I see, I will probably stick to doing 4 a levels then since I'm more interested in doing 4 subjects than presenting an EPQ and doing 3. Thank you again!

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