Some choices are easy. Ketchup or mustard? Bus or an Uber? Jacket or an umbrella? Choosing your A-Level subjects on the other hand… not so much. At GCSE a lot of your subjects are chosen for you. And the rest tended to be things that you were interested in when you were fourteen years old. At A Level, it gets real. You have to narrow down your selection to a few key choices. But don’t panic. Read our quick guide on how to choose your A Levels. We’ll help you pick the subjects that are right for you.
1. What are you good at? It seems like a silly question. Of course you’re going to pick subjects that you have an aptitude for. However knowing what core subjects you’re good at can help you pick related subjects. If you already have a real aptitude for maths, you might well be a good fit for computing and the sciences. On the other hand, being great at essays means that any humanities subject will be right for you. Subjects that you might not have taken at GCSE (such as Classics or Theatre studies) could make use or your writing skills.
2. What do you want to do at University? This one is a bit of a double edged sword. Some university course require specific subjects. It’s highly unlikely that you’ll be able to do a degree in Modern Languages without a good grade in your chosen language A Level. But you need to look a bit further into your course requirements. For example, maybe you think Geology rocks (‘scuse the pun) and you think that your interest and a Geography A Level is the key to getting on your chosen course. However, it’s very likely that you’ll need mathematics and a science if you want to be successful. You need to research your specific course requirements and, whatever you do, do not assume anything. You don’t want to realise you’re lacking in a subject when it’s application time next year. However some subjects don’t need particular A Levels at all. As a rule, this is far more likely with the arts than the sciences. For example, most media studies degrees have no specific requirements.
3. Where do you want to go to University? Not all subjects are equal in the eyes of certain universities. Your university may have a list of subjects that they don’t take into consideration when evaluating you as a candidate. They may have a preference for students who have a grounding in the more traditional subjects, like Maths or English, rather than Computing or Drama. The key is do your homework. Read that university admissions brochure from cover to cover. Search their website for the information that you need. Still not 100% sure? Ask. There’s not harm in contacting the admissions department to check.
4. Get extra help. So, you really love a subject and your grades don’t reflect that. This doesn’t mean it’s game over. Why should you say goodbye to your dream course because you don’t think you’ll get the required grades? There’s so many options to help you improve if you’re willing to invest the time. Online tuition can be a great way to get those grades up. It’s flexible, offers a wide variety of tutors and lesson styles and all you need is a computer.
5. Don’t be swayed by the negative or conflicting opinions of others. It might seem when you’re picking your A Level courses everyone has an opinion. Sometimes your family can have a lot of preconceived notions about what they want you to do. And to be honest, they can be right. If they have a real objection to a course, ask them to outline it for you in a non-emotional way. Then go and do your research. Is your Auntie right that you need a science A Level if you want to study Anthropology? Go and find out for yourself. If you come back with some solid research on how you made your choices, often that can ease any fears. More often than not, they’re just worried that you haven’t thought it through. Reassure them, so they can support your choices.
6. And lastly…. Do something you love! You’re going to spend two years studying these subjects, and this type of study is much harder than your GCSEs. Doing subjects that you have a real passion for can make it much easier. And remember, you’re not picking just one subject. Why not mix a couple of required courses, with a couple of things that you really care about. Above all, universities want students who love to study..
You may also enjoy ‘5 ways to bridge the gap between GCSEs and A levels’