I struggle at A level maths, should I do BSc econ at uni?

I’ve been struggling a lot with A-level Maths. I’m currently predicted an E, and I got a U in my mocks last year. However, I did get an A* on the Mechanics paper and an A on the Statistics paper.

This year, I’m much more focused and working a lot harder, but my grades are only improving slowly. I know I can push myself more.

Realistically, do you think I should still do Economics at uni? I don’t really see myself doing anything else, apart from maybe something in Finance, but I’m not interested in Accounting or anything like Management or Business.

Is Economics really a smart choice for me? I also don’t want to do a BA. I’m predicted Bs in my other subjects (Law and Business) but I’m already achieving As in both.

In all honesty, if you are predicted an E for maths you are unlikely to get any credible offers. What do you find so hard about it?

No, I don't think that's realistic. Also even if you got into the course, it sounds like you would struggle with it and likely get a poor degree classification if you are able to pass.
Why is it you want to do economics at uni? Since you refer to finance, accounting, management, and business it doesn't sound like you're actually interested in economics as a subject but have just assumed it necessarily links to a job in a high paying industry (which is not true)...?

No, I don't think that's realistic. Also even if you got into the course, it sounds like you would struggle with it and likely get a poor degree classification if you are able to pass.
Why is it you want to do economics at uni? Since you refer to finance, accounting, management, and business it doesn't sound like you're actually interested in economics as a subject but have just assumed it necessarily links to a job in a high paying industry (which is not true)...?

Its the only thing I want to do in uni, I know it sounds crazy but as bad as I am at maths I can't imagine me not doing a maths based subject, because I genuinely love maths, I just haven't been trying too hard. I can't imagine a career after uni in anything else in all honesty

And sorry those other subjects were what I saw on here as the best replacements for people who can't do econ,

I think realistically unless your grades drastically improve in maths, particularly in core/pure areas, a mathematical course is not going to be a good choice.
But from what you've said you're not even interested in economics, you're interested in doing a mathematical subject? So it's still unclear why you landed on economics anyway. Although as above I still think a mathematical subject is probably not a good choice based on the evidence available.

I want a career in reinsurance or data analytics, Maths specific subjects are too specialised for that, that's what my sister said

Ok but the thing is - why do you want to go into data analytics/actuarial work if you struggle with maths? The job involves doing mathematical work regularly every day, and doing it well and correctly. Your current vision seems to be to do a degree in an area you are weak in, to get a job necessitating regular use of a weak skill for you. I am saying this in the context of you being currently predicted an E and getting a U. If you were e.g. at a C level then there might be more scope for making a shift but going from an E/U to an A or a B (or even a C) is a significant leap.
Unless you find your mathematical understanding drastically improves soon then your "best case scenario" is that you somehow get into an analytical degree, then go into a data analytics/actuarial job, and then probably get extremely poor performance reviews based on poor level work until being fired...? I realise this sounds harsh but I think you need to be realistic with yourself. Why do you even want to go into those fields? Why those fields rather than something else?
Picking something you aren't good at is just going to make you feel miserable throughout your degree as you struggle to even minimally keep up to scrape passes with your peers, and when you go into the job market even if somehow you get a 2:1, it seems unlikely you will distinguish yourself in your work and as noted may well make serious errors due to not understanding the mathematical underpinnings of what you're doing (which may lead to that career ending sooner than you thought and having to find another career anyway). Also there's a good chance you may graduate with a 2:2 or 3rd (or even fail and get an ordinary degree) and not only have those careers, but potentially others ruled out (or at least, considerably delayed).
I'd also just note as an aside - an economics degree may well not even be sufficiently mathematical for data analytics, and not even all actuarial graduate schemes accept economics grads (some do, others require more analytical degrees in e.g. maths, physics, computer science, engineering, etc).

Thanks, this has changed my vision a lot. In year 12 I didn't revise once and this year even though I'm revising more I'm barely doing anything. Do you think if I fully lock in I can scrape a C? I've heard people say that now isn't too late to make major change - but it takes a lot of work. I understand everything when I revise, but retaining the knowledge is my issue

Hi Jugg,
Just reading through this thread I'm wondering whether its your revision techniques and routine which is currently holding you back? If you already understand everything when you're taught it then this shows me that if you are able to actively recall it this will help you improve.
I too struggled to retain info at A-Level, but what helped me a lot with this was buying some lined revision cards from Tescos and making little flashcards out of them. For Maths, you could make them out of past paper questions and markschemes (both available on AQA/EDEXCEL/OCR websites) with the question example on one side and then an example full-marks answer on the back. Although I didn't do maths it worked well for helping me memorise Chemistry mechanisms.
I also used to put aside 1-1.5 hours of extra Chemistry revision each day Mon-Thurs after school to do practice questions, make posters and go over the textbook content and improve my notes (this was the subject that needed most work from me to improve on!) - it didn't feel like that much at the time but it actually amounted to 4-5 hours of extra Chem practice each week. Is something like this realistic for you to try for Maths?
Hoping this adds a bit, best of luck whichever direction you choose to go 🙂

=> "I don’t really see myself doing anything else, apart from maybe something in Finance, but I’m not interested in Accounting or anything like Management or Business."
I don't see you getting a 1st in economics given you are not good at learning maths. Looking at the jobs people get with a 2:2 or 2:1 do you see anything you wish to do? If not, there is no point in doing the degree.
Remember most degrees are bad economically these days, so don't focus on going to university unless you will ace the degree and love the studying.

Thanks, this has changed my vision a lot. In year 12 I didn't revise once and this year even though I'm revising more I'm barely doing anything. Do you think if I fully lock in I can scrape a C? I've heard people say that now isn't too late to make major change - but it takes a lot of work. I understand everything when I revise, but retaining the knowledge is my issue

Thanks, I don't know much about job recuiters but I thought that Uni matters more than whatever you leave with. Do you know any other worthwhile paths other than uni? Ones that ares 50/50 chance you'll end up earning nothing