What subject to drop

4

I am year 12 going into year 13 who has just got their AS results, and so I now need to decide what subjects to take into year 13. I am definitely taking Biology and Geography as I got an A in both, but I was not sure whether to continue with business or RS. I got an A in business, and a B in RS, but I had expected to do better in RS than business so I had planned to continue with RS. But my issue is that I revised a lot for RS putting in a lot of effort yet achieved a lower grade than I did in business, so is it wiser to take business instead? I love the RS topics and learning the course but I am not sure what one to pick. Any advice? (I want to do an ecology and conservation degree, so neither really impact my course knowledge for this)

Reply 1

Saracen's Fez

Volunteer Section Leader, Clearing and Applications Advisor

20

Hi there

Hmm, this is a difficult one, because (crudely speaking) it sounds like a choice between the subject that comes naturally to you and the one you enjoy more. The thing to weight up I guess is whether the more interesting subject is likely to motivate you to work harder and revise better to get the better A level grade?

Are you in England, Wales or Northern Ireland btw? Because that determines whether the AS grades even count towards the final A level result.

Reply 2

McGinger

20

What do you intend to do with these A levels?
If degree - do you have any ideas about what sort or degree subject or eventual career?

Reply 3

els334467

OP

4

Original post

by McGinger

What do you intend to do with these A levels?
If degree - do you have any ideas about what sort or degree subject or eventual career?

Yeah, I want to do a conservation biology and ecology degree, so the only essential subjects are bio and geo

Reply 4

els334467

OP

4

Original post

by Saracen's Fez

Hi there

Hmm, this is a difficult one, because (crudely speaking) it sounds like a choice between the subject that comes naturally to you and the one you enjoy more. The thing to weight up I guess is whether the more interesting subject is likely to motivate you to work harder and revise better to get the better A level grade?
Are you in England, Wales or Northern Ireland btw? Because that determines whether the AS grades even count towards the final A level result.

I am in England, so my school does the AS for your predicted grades (if you were high in the A grade boundary you'd be predicted an A*, if not you are predicted what you got in AS). For this religious studies AS levels I put in a lot of work as I enjoyed the subject, yet still received lower than I thought which is why I am so unsure. I feel like I put in as much effort as I could and that A level will be similar effort in terms of the revision I did.

Reply 5

Kingston Eve

Official Rep

13

Original post

by els334467

I am year 12 going into year 13 who has just got their AS results, and so I now need to decide what subjects to take into year 13. I am definitely taking Biology and Geography as I got an A in both, but I was not sure whether to continue with business or RS. I got an A in business, and a B in RS, but I had expected to do better in RS than business so I had planned to continue with RS. But my issue is that I revised a lot for RS putting in a lot of effort yet achieved a lower grade than I did in business, so is it wiser to take business instead? I love the RS topics and learning the course but I am not sure what one to pick. Any advice? (I want to do an ecology and conservation degree, so neither really impact my course knowledge for this)

Hey @els334467,

First off, huge congratulations on your AS results!

You mentioned that your school uses your AS results as your UCAS predicted grades. If I understand correctly, this means that choosing to continue with A-Level Business would result in you being predicted a minimum of AAA, whilst choosing to continue with RS would mean you'd be predicted a minimum of AAB.

Depending on the grade requirements for the course/universities you're currently looking at, that one grade might not make much of a difference - however, for some universities it might. What you need to consider is whether your enjoyment of RS outweighs the likelihood of higher predicted grades - do you need strong predicted grades for your course? Would you feel more demotivated overall if you couldn't study RS? Do you think you'll maintain your current Business grade?

Hope this helps,
Eve (Kingston Rep).

Reply 6

McGinger

20

Original post

by els334467

Yeah, I want to do a conservation biology and ecology degree, so the only essential subjects are bio and geo