Music, English literature, maths, biology or politics a level
My a level options are due on Thursday and I am still struggling to decide which ones I should pick. Here are my opinions on all of them:
Music AQA
-this an enjoyable subject for me and I’m hoping to be a musician when I’m older. I’m not 100% in love with the appraisal part of the course but I love composition and performance. My only concern is that it’s not ‘facilitating’ (I know facilitating subjects don’t exist) or transferable enough if I change my mind and want to pursue something like PPE or liberal arts
English literature (not sure what exam board!)
-the only firm choice I want to take! Definitely taking English
Maths Edexcel
-got a 9 in the mock, however wouldn’t say I necessarily am in love with maths generally, I enjoy getting stuck into a problem but it’s not a passion of mine like other subject are. However, it is good to keep my options open and my teacher has recommended it since I’m not sure what I want to do and it is the most required subject for degrees
Biology AQA
-I really enjoy biology, although I wouldn’t say I am the most naturally talented at it. I worked hard to get an 8 in my most recent mock, however was literally on the grade boundary! I do find it very interesting though, however I’m unsure how it would look among English lit music or politics. I am not interested in taking physics or chem. My parents want me to take this as well
Politics AQA
-Politics is an enjoyable subject for me, I’ve always been very passionate about politics and am permanently reading the news and debating etc etc. However I want to keep my options open and I’m worried politics doesn’t do that in the same way English does (like you don’t need politics for a politics degree but you would need English for an English degree). I have also never taken this subject before, but I see myself loving it if I do.
Music AQA
-this an enjoyable subject for me and I’m hoping to be a musician when I’m older. I’m not 100% in love with the appraisal part of the course but I love composition and performance. My only concern is that it’s not ‘facilitating’ (I know facilitating subjects don’t exist) or transferable enough if I change my mind and want to pursue something like PPE or liberal arts
English literature (not sure what exam board!)
-the only firm choice I want to take! Definitely taking English
Maths Edexcel
-got a 9 in the mock, however wouldn’t say I necessarily am in love with maths generally, I enjoy getting stuck into a problem but it’s not a passion of mine like other subject are. However, it is good to keep my options open and my teacher has recommended it since I’m not sure what I want to do and it is the most required subject for degrees
Biology AQA
-I really enjoy biology, although I wouldn’t say I am the most naturally talented at it. I worked hard to get an 8 in my most recent mock, however was literally on the grade boundary! I do find it very interesting though, however I’m unsure how it would look among English lit music or politics. I am not interested in taking physics or chem. My parents want me to take this as well
Politics AQA
-Politics is an enjoyable subject for me, I’ve always been very passionate about politics and am permanently reading the news and debating etc etc. However I want to keep my options open and I’m worried politics doesn’t do that in the same way English does (like you don’t need politics for a politics degree but you would need English for an English degree). I have also never taken this subject before, but I see myself loving it if I do.
Reply 1
Any help or ideas would help appreciated and I would also be interested to hear from people who have “weird” subject combinations I’m thinking that I’ll probably end up with English, science/maths and a creative which is very random!
Hello! I may not be the best person to talk about this but I'll throw my two pence in the ring 
I'm a year 12 student looking to study English literature at Oxford; however, I did not pick the subjects that I would be expected to pick so I'm hoping I can help on that basis.
I am currently studying English Literature B (AQA), English Language (AQA) and BTEC Level 3 Music Performance
I am bias when I say this but English Literature is so much fun! However, you have to LOVE the subject to do well. As you don't know the exam board this information is less helpful but to get an A* in 2024 it was around 92%.
I have a lot of friends who study Pure Maths (edexcel) and even a couple that do Further Maths (edexcel) on top of that. I personally wouldn't pick it. I'm not getting the sense you love maths which I feel is what you need to do to do well at A-Level, but by all means prove me wrong, your grades are perfect for it!
I also have a few friends who do biology. It's the same as maths and English (and really any A-level) where you NEED to LOVE the subject. If you don't want to go into Biology or STEM I wouldn't waste your time because it's HARD the mark scheme is pedantic and you'll have to learn a lot of content for something you said yourself that you're not particularly gifted in.
Politics is the only A-Level I cannot talk on; it wasn't an option at my sixth form. What I will say is if you're certain Musician is where you want to go in life Politics doesn't seem that worth it to me. However, out of the options you've provided, I would personally pick it alongside Literature and Music. That, to me seems like your best bet. I wouldn't say Music is a terrible choice - it's certainly more "prestigious" that you're doing an A-Level rather than a BTEC (Oxbridge and other unis sometimes don't like BTECs) - and it does have it's links to Literature - especially if you're quite into musicals as that is a direct link.
I hope this helps even just a little bit
Also, if you remember anything about what the English course is like I may be able to help you figure out what exam board it is
I'm a year 12 student looking to study English literature at Oxford; however, I did not pick the subjects that I would be expected to pick so I'm hoping I can help on that basis.
I am currently studying English Literature B (AQA), English Language (AQA) and BTEC Level 3 Music Performance
I am bias when I say this but English Literature is so much fun! However, you have to LOVE the subject to do well. As you don't know the exam board this information is less helpful but to get an A* in 2024 it was around 92%.
I have a lot of friends who study Pure Maths (edexcel) and even a couple that do Further Maths (edexcel) on top of that. I personally wouldn't pick it. I'm not getting the sense you love maths which I feel is what you need to do to do well at A-Level, but by all means prove me wrong, your grades are perfect for it!
I also have a few friends who do biology. It's the same as maths and English (and really any A-level) where you NEED to LOVE the subject. If you don't want to go into Biology or STEM I wouldn't waste your time because it's HARD the mark scheme is pedantic and you'll have to learn a lot of content for something you said yourself that you're not particularly gifted in.
Politics is the only A-Level I cannot talk on; it wasn't an option at my sixth form. What I will say is if you're certain Musician is where you want to go in life Politics doesn't seem that worth it to me. However, out of the options you've provided, I would personally pick it alongside Literature and Music. That, to me seems like your best bet. I wouldn't say Music is a terrible choice - it's certainly more "prestigious" that you're doing an A-Level rather than a BTEC (Oxbridge and other unis sometimes don't like BTECs) - and it does have it's links to Literature - especially if you're quite into musicals as that is a direct link.
I hope this helps even just a little bit
Also, if you remember anything about what the English course is like I may be able to help you figure out what exam board it is
Reply 3
Hi thank you so much for this!! its so helpful and reassuring to hear about english and music, especially since i’m aiming for oxford myself maybe! I managed to find out that my english a level board was Edexcel if that helps.
I got 96% today in my engljsh exam which was crazy to hear! Still 92% for an A* at a level seems absolutely wild.
thanks again!
I got 96% today in my engljsh exam which was crazy to hear! Still 92% for an A* at a level seems absolutely wild.
thanks again!
Original post by anonymous46828
Hi thank you so much for this!! its so helpful and reassuring to hear about english and music, especially since i’m aiming for oxford myself maybe! I managed to find out that my english a level board was Edexcel if that helps.
I got 96% today in my engljsh exam which was crazy to hear! Still 92% for an A* at a level seems absolutely wild.
thanks again!
I got 96% today in my engljsh exam which was crazy to hear! Still 92% for an A* at a level seems absolutely wild.
thanks again!
No worries! I don't know anything about Edexcel so the grade boundaries may be in your favour 🙂
If you do apply to Oxford, your music grade won't be as academic as say History, but it'll be far more academic than my BTEC so you should be in a good spot regardless what degree you end up choosing at Oxford or any other uni 🙂
I wish you luck with your A-Levels !
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