A level combo for Law
Hi, just got my GCSE Results and would like some advice on A Level combinations
Average of (8.9)
PT 9 : 166/204 81%
Chem 9 : 161/180 89%
Spanish 8 : 167/200 84%
History 9 : 108/120 90%
Geo 9 : 164/175 94%
Math 9 : 191/200 96%
Physics 9 : 167/180 93%
English Lit 9 : 149/150 99%
Eng Lan 9 : 115/150 77%
Biology 9 : 156/180 87%
Im pretty dead set on Law now, having already done a mini pupilage. I am pretty dead set on Maths and English Literature and Econ. 4th Subject tbh is between History of Geography. I have heard from a lot of ppl that the jump from GCSE eng lit and history to their A levels is quite big. Would love some advice from you guys on which ones to choose, hopefully the best combination to apply for oxbridge law. I'm also planning to do corporate law, which is why I wanted to take economics.
For a bit of context, these are the specs I will be doing
Eng Lit (OCR English Literature H472)
Paper 1 Pre 1900 Drama and Poetry (60 Marks)
Hamlet, Duchess of Malfi and Paradise Lost
Paper 2 American Literature 1880-1940 (60 Marks)
The Great Gatsby, The Grapes of Wrath
History (OCR History H505)
Either tudors and american revolution OR french rev and stuarts
China
Thank you in advance, and if you have done any of these topics, would love a bit of advice or tips or anything in general about the topics.
Average of (8.9)
PT 9 : 166/204 81%
Chem 9 : 161/180 89%
Spanish 8 : 167/200 84%
History 9 : 108/120 90%
Geo 9 : 164/175 94%
Math 9 : 191/200 96%
Physics 9 : 167/180 93%
English Lit 9 : 149/150 99%
Eng Lan 9 : 115/150 77%
Biology 9 : 156/180 87%
Im pretty dead set on Law now, having already done a mini pupilage. I am pretty dead set on Maths and English Literature and Econ. 4th Subject tbh is between History of Geography. I have heard from a lot of ppl that the jump from GCSE eng lit and history to their A levels is quite big. Would love some advice from you guys on which ones to choose, hopefully the best combination to apply for oxbridge law. I'm also planning to do corporate law, which is why I wanted to take economics.
For a bit of context, these are the specs I will be doing
Eng Lit (OCR English Literature H472)
Paper 1 Pre 1900 Drama and Poetry (60 Marks)
Hamlet, Duchess of Malfi and Paradise Lost
Paper 2 American Literature 1880-1940 (60 Marks)
The Great Gatsby, The Grapes of Wrath
History (OCR History H505)
Either tudors and american revolution OR french rev and stuarts
China
Thank you in advance, and if you have done any of these topics, would love a bit of advice or tips or anything in general about the topics.
You don't need 4 subjects, and any 3 traditionally academic subjects (all of the ones you mention are traditionally academic) are fine. A full set of STEM subjects would also be fine for example as well (as those are also traditionally academic subjects).
Note that a) you won't specialise in "corporate law" specifically until much later and b) A-level Economics is going to be of no use because it's both going to be very out of date information by the time you get to that point in your career, and will also be so basic as to not confer any advantage over anyone else either. A-levels are not in depth academic qualifications, they just scratch the surface and provide a basic introduction to things. Compared to anyone with an undergraduate degree in a relevant area, an MBA, or actual career experience in the field before moving into law, how could A-level Economics possibly make a difference? Even assuming you remember any of it by that point to.
So don't choose a subject on that basis. Choose your subjects based on two things:
1. You think you can do well and get an A or A* in it.
2. You have a personal intellectual interest in the subject area absent any career relevance - as this will make a big difference in motivating you to actually study hard in that subject without burning out, in order to achieve 1.
Ultimately though provided you aren't taking a full set of applied/vocational subjects, universities won't really care too much about your A-level subject combination relative to e.g. your personal statement, performance in any admissions assessments like the LNAT, and if applicable interview, as well as your overall grade profile regardless of subject. As noted also your A-level subject combination would be completely irrelevant by the time you actually start working.
Note that a) you won't specialise in "corporate law" specifically until much later and b) A-level Economics is going to be of no use because it's both going to be very out of date information by the time you get to that point in your career, and will also be so basic as to not confer any advantage over anyone else either. A-levels are not in depth academic qualifications, they just scratch the surface and provide a basic introduction to things. Compared to anyone with an undergraduate degree in a relevant area, an MBA, or actual career experience in the field before moving into law, how could A-level Economics possibly make a difference? Even assuming you remember any of it by that point to.
So don't choose a subject on that basis. Choose your subjects based on two things:
1. You think you can do well and get an A or A* in it.
2. You have a personal intellectual interest in the subject area absent any career relevance - as this will make a big difference in motivating you to actually study hard in that subject without burning out, in order to achieve 1.
Ultimately though provided you aren't taking a full set of applied/vocational subjects, universities won't really care too much about your A-level subject combination relative to e.g. your personal statement, performance in any admissions assessments like the LNAT, and if applicable interview, as well as your overall grade profile regardless of subject. As noted also your A-level subject combination would be completely irrelevant by the time you actually start working.
Reply 2
Hi,
I think your combination of A-Levels is perfect, a mix between humanities and stem, but if you can manage it, I think you should do History.
I also do OCR, and whilst it is deemed as challenging, it is a very good subject that will help you in other areas (like English) and Economics can also help you in History.
And most importantly for you, it will help you with Law, and when writing your personal statement, History will be a very important subject that you can write about in Q2.
Hope that helps!
I think your combination of A-Levels is perfect, a mix between humanities and stem, but if you can manage it, I think you should do History.
I also do OCR, and whilst it is deemed as challenging, it is a very good subject that will help you in other areas (like English) and Economics can also help you in History.
And most importantly for you, it will help you with Law, and when writing your personal statement, History will be a very important subject that you can write about in Q2.
Hope that helps!
Reply 3
Original post
by theological-discHi, just got my GCSE Results and would like some advice on A Level combinations
Average of (8.9)
PT 9 : 166/204 81%
Chem 9 : 161/180 89%
Spanish 8 : 167/200 84%
History 9 : 108/120 90%
Geo 9 : 164/175 94%
Math 9 : 191/200 96%
Physics 9 : 167/180 93%
English Lit 9 : 149/150 99%
Eng Lan 9 : 115/150 77%
Biology 9 : 156/180 87%
Im pretty dead set on Law now, having already done a mini pupilage. I am pretty dead set on Maths and English Literature and Econ. 4th Subject tbh is between History of Geography. I have heard from a lot of ppl that the jump from GCSE eng lit and history to their A levels is quite big. Would love some advice from you guys on which ones to choose, hopefully the best combination to apply for oxbridge law. I'm also planning to do corporate law, which is why I wanted to take economics.
For a bit of context, these are the specs I will be doing
Eng Lit (OCR English Literature H472)
Paper 1 Pre 1900 Drama and Poetry (60 Marks)
Hamlet, Duchess of Malfi and Paradise Lost
Paper 2 American Literature 1880-1940 (60 Marks)
The Great Gatsby, The Grapes of Wrath
History (OCR History H505)
Either tudors and american revolution OR french rev and stuarts
China
Thank you in advance, and if you have done any of these topics, would love a bit of advice or tips or anything in general about the topics.
Average of (8.9)
PT 9 : 166/204 81%
Chem 9 : 161/180 89%
Spanish 8 : 167/200 84%
History 9 : 108/120 90%
Geo 9 : 164/175 94%
Math 9 : 191/200 96%
Physics 9 : 167/180 93%
English Lit 9 : 149/150 99%
Eng Lan 9 : 115/150 77%
Biology 9 : 156/180 87%
Im pretty dead set on Law now, having already done a mini pupilage. I am pretty dead set on Maths and English Literature and Econ. 4th Subject tbh is between History of Geography. I have heard from a lot of ppl that the jump from GCSE eng lit and history to their A levels is quite big. Would love some advice from you guys on which ones to choose, hopefully the best combination to apply for oxbridge law. I'm also planning to do corporate law, which is why I wanted to take economics.
For a bit of context, these are the specs I will be doing
Eng Lit (OCR English Literature H472)
Paper 1 Pre 1900 Drama and Poetry (60 Marks)
Hamlet, Duchess of Malfi and Paradise Lost
Paper 2 American Literature 1880-1940 (60 Marks)
The Great Gatsby, The Grapes of Wrath
History (OCR History H505)
Either tudors and american revolution OR french rev and stuarts
China
Thank you in advance, and if you have done any of these topics, would love a bit of advice or tips or anything in general about the topics.
Huge congrats on your results, absolutely smashed it!! I actually disagree with what 'artful_lounger' has to say here, not to doubt their role as a forum helper, I am sure they are informed from somewhere. I absolutely think you should take Econ and I agree with your reasoning why. You are going to want to touch upon at least two areas of law in your PS, and to have a good background knowledge on the world of economics will help with your further reading around corporate law. Those three of English Lit, Maths, and Econ would be really respectable, and even the most esteemed unis will only consider your top three grades, so some argue a fourth A-Level isn't necessary. However, considering your stats, you'd be the perfect candidate to take on History as well. Not to mention, that would double your essay feedback from teachers, which should never go underestimated. As a incoming law student myself, I took an EPQ and I was told that the way I referenced my research in my PS really made me stand-out, so that's a potential thinking point as well. I did both Econ and English Lit at A-Level, and an EPQ, and got A*s so please feel free to ask me any questions!
Reply 4
Original post
by riley1500Huge congrats on your results, absolutely smashed it!! I actually disagree with what 'artful_lounger' has to say here, not to doubt their role as a forum helper, I am sure they are informed from somewhere. I absolutely think you should take Econ and I agree with your reasoning why. You are going to want to touch upon at least two areas of law in your PS, and to have a good background knowledge on the world of economics will help with your further reading around corporate law. Those three of English Lit, Maths, and Econ would be really respectable, and even the most esteemed unis will only consider your top three grades, so some argue a fourth A-Level isn't necessary. However, considering your stats, you'd be the perfect candidate to take on History as well. Not to mention, that would double your essay feedback from teachers, which should never go underestimated. As a incoming law student myself, I took an EPQ and I was told that the way I referenced my research in my PS really made me stand-out, so that's a potential thinking point as well. I did both Econ and English Lit at A-Level, and an EPQ, and got A*s so please feel free to ask me any questions!
Hi Riley1500, really appreciate your opinion. I chose history and so far am loving the course. As a law student yourself, do you have any recommended supercurriculars or advice you could give me, in order to strengthen my chances for oxbridge and other competitive unis?
Original post
by theological-discHi, just got my GCSE Results and would like some advice on A Level combinations
Average of (8.9)
PT 9 : 166/204 81%
Chem 9 : 161/180 89%
Spanish 8 : 167/200 84%
History 9 : 108/120 90%
Geo 9 : 164/175 94%
Math 9 : 191/200 96%
Physics 9 : 167/180 93%
English Lit 9 : 149/150 99%
Eng Lan 9 : 115/150 77%
Biology 9 : 156/180 87%
Im pretty dead set on Law now, having already done a mini pupilage. I am pretty dead set on Maths and English Literature and Econ. 4th Subject tbh is between History of Geography. I have heard from a lot of ppl that the jump from GCSE eng lit and history to their A levels is quite big. Would love some advice from you guys on which ones to choose, hopefully the best combination to apply for oxbridge law. I'm also planning to do corporate law, which is why I wanted to take economics.
For a bit of context, these are the specs I will be doing
Eng Lit (OCR English Literature H472)
Paper 1 Pre 1900 Drama and Poetry (60 Marks)
Hamlet, Duchess of Malfi and Paradise Lost
Paper 2 American Literature 1880-1940 (60 Marks)
The Great Gatsby, The Grapes of Wrath
History (OCR History H505)
Either tudors and american revolution OR french rev and stuarts
China
Thank you in advance, and if you have done any of these topics, would love a bit of advice or tips or anything in general about the topics.
Average of (8.9)
PT 9 : 166/204 81%
Chem 9 : 161/180 89%
Spanish 8 : 167/200 84%
History 9 : 108/120 90%
Geo 9 : 164/175 94%
Math 9 : 191/200 96%
Physics 9 : 167/180 93%
English Lit 9 : 149/150 99%
Eng Lan 9 : 115/150 77%
Biology 9 : 156/180 87%
Im pretty dead set on Law now, having already done a mini pupilage. I am pretty dead set on Maths and English Literature and Econ. 4th Subject tbh is between History of Geography. I have heard from a lot of ppl that the jump from GCSE eng lit and history to their A levels is quite big. Would love some advice from you guys on which ones to choose, hopefully the best combination to apply for oxbridge law. I'm also planning to do corporate law, which is why I wanted to take economics.
For a bit of context, these are the specs I will be doing
Eng Lit (OCR English Literature H472)
Paper 1 Pre 1900 Drama and Poetry (60 Marks)
Hamlet, Duchess of Malfi and Paradise Lost
Paper 2 American Literature 1880-1940 (60 Marks)
The Great Gatsby, The Grapes of Wrath
History (OCR History H505)
Either tudors and american revolution OR french rev and stuarts
China
Thank you in advance, and if you have done any of these topics, would love a bit of advice or tips or anything in general about the topics.
Theres no set subjects for law. Just whatever grades they require. So whichever you think you will do best in.
I didnt do history myself. But i did do geography and loved it.
Reply 6
20
Law has no required subjects and whilst many students find an essay-based subject is useful for skills / LNAT, it is not essential. Maths / Econ would leave other avenues open should you change your mind about Law later, but the focus should be on choosing 3 subjects that you enjoy studying and where you feel confident of three top grades.
Reply 7
For Law, especially Oxbridge, History is usually the better fourth choice. It’s essay-heavy, helps you build argument structure, and is highly respected by law admissions tutors
Reply 8
20
Original post
by gagym123For Law, especially Oxbridge, History is usually the better fourth choice. It’s essay-heavy, helps you build argument structure, and is highly respected by law admissions tutors
Oxford does not prefer History.
If it did it would say so on the course page.
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