Know what you are committing to, studying a subject at A level can be demanding and quite different both in scope and perspective compared to its GCSE counterpart. Have a look at the syllabus to see what is covered and how it is approached rather than relying on your experience of the subject so far.
Research your options
Ask your teachers for advice! Speak to the subject teacher to get a better idea of what’s involved and what to expect.
Speak to students who have done the subjects you are interested in. Ask how they found the content, assessments and workload. Ask them what challenges they faced and how they dealt with them or would deal with them if they were able to do it again. Remember, however, that every learner is different in their interests and approach so what they like or dislike may not be how you will feel about the subject and course.
Choose what you enjoy and excel in
This may sound very obvious but one of the biggest advantages of A level, in comparison to other systems (like IB), is allowing each student to focus on very few subjects. Play to your strengths.
Studying for your A levels can be demanding and intense. Choosing subjects you love or feel confident in can help keep you motivated when the going gets tough.
Choose what aligns with your university plans
If you have an idea of the career path or degree course you want to take, use the UCAS search tool and find out what subjects universities typically ask for. They will list everything, from grades to preferred or required subjects, under the tab of ‘Entry requirements’.
Compare several universities – if you already have your choices in mind, head straight to those; if not (which is perfectly fine at this stage), you could find a league table and sample a few universities that you believe to reflect your academic ambitions.
You may be surprised by what subjects universities require or are happy to consider. For example, many economics degree courses do not require A level economics as a prerequisite. This is also the case for computer science, psychology, philosophy and history of art. Do your research and bear in mind universities are aware that not every single A level subject is offered at your school.
If you don’t have a concrete idea of what to do at university…
Think about where your interests and natural inclinations lie. Perhaps they lean more towards science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) or rather humanities, art or social sciences. Choose a combination that builds on your strengths but keeps your options open. Maths, physics and chemistry or English Literature, history and classics, for example, will prepare you for a variety of degrees in the wider STEM/humanities context.
For those with a love of subjects across the disciplines, choosing a blend of STEM, humanities, social sciences and arts subjects can be an excellent combination for some degree courses. For example, some of Imperial College’s computer and engineering courses include a list of useful subjects, in addition to traditional STEM subjects, such as ancient languages, English Literature, economics and philosophy.
Take the workload into account
After you have listed your three or four subjects, step back and view them as a whole – is this the right workload for you? For example, some students may find an all-essay combination daunting. Other students, though devoted to art, may not embrace the idea of taking fine art, graphic communication and textiles altogether. Work out what will work best for you.
About changing your mind later…
Just in case you do change your mind later (the more preparation you do before choosing the subjects, the less chance this should happen), most schools allow you to swap subjects around in the first few weeks. Do not be afraid to ask if you genuinely believe a certain choice is not the right fit for you. Although most subjects are designed as a two-year course, some students for various reasons may take up a condensed one-year course for a new subject they pick up later down the road. Know that this is possible and always speak to your teachers if you need help in planning your academic journey towards university and beyond.
Article written by Catherine Tang, Careers Officer and UCAS Tutor, at Ashbourne College