{"id":9126,"date":"2019-11-26T17:51:11","date_gmt":"2019-11-26T17:51:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mytutor.co.uk\/blog\/?p=9126"},"modified":"2021-08-18T11:48:36","modified_gmt":"2021-08-18T11:48:36","slug":"helping-your-child-choose-their-a-levels-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mytutor.co.uk\/blog\/parents\/choosing-your-a-levels\/helping-your-child-choose-their-a-levels-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Helping your child choose their A levels"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

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When your child comes to choose their A Levels, it’s an exciting time for them and you. With the potential impact it can have on their future though, it can be a pretty daunting process too. We’ve put together a comprehensive guide to what your teen should consider when making their decisions, in the short-term and<\/em> the long-term. <\/p>\n

 In this guide we’ll cover…<\/strong><\/p>\n

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  1. Things to think about for the short-term<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n
  2. Things to think about for the next couple of years<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n
  3. Things to think about for the long-term<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n
  4. Degree courses and their required A levels<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n
  5. Common jobs sectors and their requirements, skills & typical salaries<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n
  6. Stories from students<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n
  7. Mentorship with MyTutor<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n
  8. Useful links<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

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    1. Things to think about for the short-term<\/h2>\n

    It is important to remember that your child will be studying these subjects for the next two years. A levels are more difficult than GCSEs: they are broader, deeper and require more independent work than the same subjects at Key Stage 4.<\/p>\n

    So encourage your child to choose subjects they enjoy (and not just the subjects their friends are taking). This is an opportunity for them to control their education for the next two years. They should be excited for what they choose to do next!<\/p>\n

    Action Points:<\/strong><\/p>\n

    \u2705 What GCSE subjects has your child enjoyed the most?
    \u2705 Is your child interested in taking up a new subject, such as politics or psychology? Help them research it in advance.
    \u2705 Try a taster course, talk to someone who is already studying it or read the curriculum to make sure it\u2019s the right choice for them.<\/p>\n

    Top Tip \ud83d\udca1<\/strong> Due to changes to A levels, the curriculum of many subjects has altered. Make sure you and your child are up-to-date with the current specifications by looking on the exam board website to ensure you are both familiar with the new course design.<\/p>\n

    2. Things to think about for the next couple of years<\/h2>\n

    A levels influence the next steps of your child\u2019s education: the subjects they choose and the grades they achieve will determine the universities they can apply to and the courses they can study. Spend some time thinking and talking about how your child\u2019s choices might fit into a longer-term plan.<\/p>\n

    If your child knows exactly what they want to do then this is quite straightforward. If they’re 100% focussed on a life in the arts or sciences, for example, then it can be totally fine for them to specialise in that way now. If they don’t have a clear idea yet (like most 16-year-olds!), then it\u2019s a good idea to keep a few different paths open with their subject choices. <\/p>\n

    Action Points:<\/strong><\/p>\n

    If your child knows what they want to study at university…<\/em><\/p>\n

    \u2705 Research the requirements for the course they want to do 
    \u2705 Check whether or not GCSE results are taken into account for their desired university course<\/p>\n

    And if they don’t know…<\/em><\/p>\n

    \u2705 Have a talk with them and their teachers (if you can) to get a clear idea of what they’re passionate about and what they’re best at
    \u2705 Try to choose a range of subjects that keeps their options open<\/p>\n

    Scottish Highers & Welsh Baccalaureate<\/h3>\n

    Scottish students normally study four or five Highers in their 5th year (S5) of secondary school. Depending on those results, students can then take Advanced Highers or additional Highers in their final year.<\/p>\n

    The minimum requirement for university is normally four Highers, but more competitive universities might ask for five Highers from S5 as well as Advanced Highers in S6. <\/p>\n

    The Welsh Baccalaureate Core is a programme of activities and projects that some Welsh students take alongside their A-levels. It is officially worth 120 UCAS points, equivalent to an A grade at A-level. That said, not all universities necessarily include the Welsh Bac. in their entry requirements, so do double check university websites.<\/p>\n

    3. Things to think about for the long-term<\/h2>\n

    In many ways, A levels also determine your child\u2019s future career. It doesn’t set the rest of their life in stone, but it can definitely set them down a particular path for at least the next few years. If they’ve already got their heart set on a particular dream job or degree course, then they should check that the subjects they are considering choosing are compatible.<\/p>\n

    Action Points:<\/strong><\/p>\n

    \u2705 Use the National Careers Service to check the requirements for your child\u2019s ideal profession
    \u2705 Use the Prospects careers site to see what jobs lead on from your child\u2019s ideal degree<\/p>\n

    Even if your child has a long-term plan in mind, it\u2019s worth bearing in mind that industries are continually changing and new jobs are being created all the time. So even if they’re absolutely sure about what they want to do now, this might change in a few years.<\/p>\n

    It’s also much more normal than it used to be for young people to change specialism and jobs more than once in their career. Millennials are doing shorter terms at each company they work with and changing careers more often than previous generations, and workplaces have adapted to this too. So unless you have a crystal ball, don\u2019t feel too much pressure on yourself or your child to perfectly predict what they’ll end up doing in ten years time. As long as they choose subjects they enjoy and are good at now, they’ll end up doing what they love in the long-term too.<\/p>\n

    4. Degree courses and their required A levels<\/h2>\n

    If your teen knows what degree they\u2019d like to study at university, or would like to research a few ideas and see what the A Level requirements are, they can do that by looking up their degree on this search tool<\/a>. As well as checking what essential requirements there are, they\u2019ll get an idea of which subjects might make good supporting A levels.<\/p>\n

    5. Common employment sectors and their requirements, skills and typical salaries<\/h2>\n

    There are thousands of different jobs out there, many that your child might never have even heard of before. To see a wide range of jobs that are out there at the moment, it’s worth your child having a look at the National Careers Service. <\/p>\n

    There are also lots of jobs that require specific training and qualifications. If your child is considering a career in Medicine, Teaching or Law then now is a good time to double check what A level requirements there might be and what the additional training might entail. We\u2019ve outlined some common jobs below, along with their typical requirements, skills and salaries.<\/p>\n

    Secondary School Teacher \ud83d\udc69\ud83c\udffb\u200d\ud83c\udfeb<\/h3>\n

    What they do:<\/strong> Teach a specific subject to students aged 11-16 and upwards in a secondary school.<\/p>\n

    Salary range:<\/strong> \u00a322,500 \u2013 \u00a366,750<\/p>\n

    Skills:<\/strong><\/p>\n