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Picking A-levels help!!!

Hi! I’m trying to pick my A-level subjects but I’m getting really stuck on what to choose for my final option.

I’m predicted all 8s/9s in:
Triple Science, Maths, Spanish, French, Geography, English Lit, and English Lang.

So far, for A-levels, I’m fairly certain I want to take:
Spanish
Maths
Further maths

But, I have no idea what to pick as my fourth subject. I don’t have a fixed career path in mind yet, so I’d really appreciate any opinions on the A-levels you’ve taken and what you would recommend.

Right now, I’m considering a science to keep doors open and part of me feels like I’d be wasting all the effort I’ve put into science at GCSE if I don’t carry one on. But equally, I know that they’re really hard, and half of me wonders if I’d even manage it.

I’d really appreciate any thoughts on this, even just your own experience with any of these subjects, because at this point anything will help!

Thanks in advance!

Reply 1

studyingsam

Original post

by Goldentreasure

Hi! I’m trying to pick my A-level subjects but I’m getting really stuck on what to choose for my final option.
I’m predicted all 8s/9s in:
Triple Science, Maths, Spanish, French, Geography, English Lit, and English Lang.
So far, for A-levels, I’m fairly certain I want to take:
Spanish
Maths
Further maths
But, I have no idea what to pick as my fourth subject. I don’t have a fixed career path in mind yet, so I’d really appreciate any opinions on the A-levels you’ve taken and what you would recommend.
Right now, I’m considering a science to keep doors open and part of me feels like I’d be wasting all the effort I’ve put into science at GCSE if I don’t carry one on. But equally, I know that they’re really hard, and half of me wonders if I’d even manage it.
I’d really appreciate any thoughts on this, even just your own experience with any of these subjects, because at this point anything will help!
Thanks in advance!

why do want to take four a levels and not 3?

Reply 2

Goldentreasure

Original post

by studyingsam

why do want to take four a levels and not 3?

At the sixth form I’ve applied to, when you choose to do further maths, you pick it as a fourth A-level. Everyone that chooses to do further maths has to do 4 A-levels, but you can drop it after year 12 if you want, and I really enjoy maths so I can’t really see myself not doing it. :smile:

(edited 11 months ago)

Reply 3

Flower2007!

Original post

by Goldentreasure

Hi! I’m trying to pick my A-level subjects but I’m getting really stuck on what to choose for my final option.
I’m predicted all 8s/9s in:
Triple Science, Maths, Spanish, French, Geography, English Lit, and English Lang.
So far, for A-levels, I’m fairly certain I want to take:
Spanish
Maths
Further maths
But, I have no idea what to pick as my fourth subject. I don’t have a fixed career path in mind yet, so I’d really appreciate any opinions on the A-levels you’ve taken and what you would recommend.
Right now, I’m considering a science to keep doors open and part of me feels like I’d be wasting all the effort I’ve put into science at GCSE if I don’t carry one on. But equally, I know that they’re really hard, and half of me wonders if I’d even manage it.
I’d really appreciate any thoughts on this, even just your own experience with any of these subjects, because at this point anything will help!
Thanks in advance!

hi there! congrats on amazing predicteds btw :smile:

take my advice w a pinch of salt as only you will know what’s best for you.

choosing a science to keep options open is a cool idea but you mentioned that you also wanted to do a science so that your gcse efforts aren’t wasted. i completely get that girl ! but i think it’s worth picking a subject you’d actually really enjoy and that will benefit you rather than trying to make up for effort you’ve previously put in.

that being said, i do chemistry edexcel and biology aqa a level. i got 9s in gcse so am not totally terrible haha but these subjects are definitely a step up for a level and on the harder side. i can’t even ever imagine having to do physics tbh 😭

a lot of my friends who do humanities but wanted to keep their options open or didn’t know what to choose for their last option chose bio. the topics are tricky and long but honestly it’s somewhat accessible and kinda interesting since you learn about kidneys, heart, muscles, lungs etc. it’s also not the absolute hardest a level to try and get an A/A* in, esp if you’re already clever and willing to put the work in eg memorising markschemes. for that reason id probably advise bio if you’re deciding between the sciences? you could also do stuff like biotech if you chose it, which one of my friends is gonna do, or a general bio degree with a focus on genetics or smth

regarding chemistry, obviously this is just my personal opinion but it’s a bit of a drag and kinda technical for someone to just do for the sake of it. like i’m working hard for it because i need it for dent/med but if it wasn’t for that, chem would be LONG gone. the questions are a litttttle repetitive so it wouldn’t be impossible for you to get an A* if you practiced a lot but some of the topics are just plain hard and massive like organics and the nmr questions (horror)

i realise my advice has been more about the experience & what doing these subjects is like as a student, rather than what degree options will be available if you decide to do either one, so i’m sorry if this isn’t too helpful. also sorry i can’t help with any other subjects unless you’re planning on doing latin or an epq lol. best of luck though 🫶

Reply 4

Wired_1800

Original post

by Goldentreasure

Hi! I’m trying to pick my A-level subjects but I’m getting really stuck on what to choose for my final option.
I’m predicted all 8s/9s in:
Triple Science, Maths, Spanish, French, Geography, English Lit, and English Lang.
So far, for A-levels, I’m fairly certain I want to take:
Spanish
Maths
Further maths
But, I have no idea what to pick as my fourth subject. I don’t have a fixed career path in mind yet, so I’d really appreciate any opinions on the A-levels you’ve taken and what you would recommend.
Right now, I’m considering a science to keep doors open and part of me feels like I’d be wasting all the effort I’ve put into science at GCSE if I don’t carry one on. But equally, I know that they’re really hard, and half of me wonders if I’d even manage it.
I’d really appreciate any thoughts on this, even just your own experience with any of these subjects, because at this point anything will help!
Thanks in advance!

Unless you want to study Maths or Engineering at uni, i think you are taking too many Maths subjects.

If it was me, i would take:

Maths
Spanish
Geography
A science subject

This way, you keep many options open. Good luck

Reply 5

Golden_Roof

Original post

by Goldentreasure

Hi! I’m trying to pick my A-level subjects but I’m getting really stuck on what to choose for my final option.
I’m predicted all 8s/9s in:
Triple Science, Maths, Spanish, French, Geography, English Lit, and English Lang.
So far, for A-levels, I’m fairly certain I want to take:
Spanish
Maths
Further maths
But, I have no idea what to pick as my fourth subject. I don’t have a fixed career path in mind yet, so I’d really appreciate any opinions on the A-levels you’ve taken and what you would recommend.
Right now, I’m considering a science to keep doors open and part of me feels like I’d be wasting all the effort I’ve put into science at GCSE if I don’t carry one on. But equally, I know that they’re really hard, and half of me wonders if I’d even manage it.
I’d really appreciate any thoughts on this, even just your own experience with any of these subjects, because at this point anything will help!
Thanks in advance!

If you can handle FM, then you can handle pretty much anything tbh, but since you like maths and are doing both maths and FM, I'd probably do physics as it's has a lot of maths and mechanics is part of A Level maths. But if you don't know what you're going to do then I wouldn't do FM as only specific unis and degrees require it so if you enter a field that doesn't need it then it'll be kinda a waste of time.

Reply 6

McGinger

Original post

by Goldentreasure

Pick another core science - chemistry is probably the most useful - and then make a decision about FM further down the track. Doing Maths/FM is really the only time taking 4 A levels makes any sense.

Reply 7

Kingston Jenifer

Official Rep

Original post

by Goldentreasure

Hi! I’m trying to pick my A-level subjects but I’m getting really stuck on what to choose for my final option.
I’m predicted all 8s/9s in:
Triple Science, Maths, Spanish, French, Geography, English Lit, and English Lang.
So far, for A-levels, I’m fairly certain I want to take:
Spanish
Maths
Further maths
But, I have no idea what to pick as my fourth subject. I don’t have a fixed career path in mind yet, so I’d really appreciate any opinions on the A-levels you’ve taken and what you would recommend.
Right now, I’m considering a science to keep doors open and part of me feels like I’d be wasting all the effort I’ve put into science at GCSE if I don’t carry one on. But equally, I know that they’re really hard, and half of me wonders if I’d even manage it.
I’d really appreciate any thoughts on this, even just your own experience with any of these subjects, because at this point anything will help!
Thanks in advance!

Hi there!

These are amazing grades! The world is truly your oyster with these!

Secondly, what science are you interested in? For me, I knew I was interested in science but didn't like physics - so i chose biology and chemistry as I wasn't too sure which I would pick. I would suggest perhaps taking 2 sciences, maths and further maths. Spanish doesn't really relate too much but if you would like to take it as a fifth A-level, then go ahead! But just be aware of the volume of work you will be undertaking.

I hope this helps! If you have any specific questions, do let me know!

Kind regards, Jenifer (Kingston rep)