A Levels are still a very popular choice with lots of you. This can be for many reasons, such as the idea that you want to keep your options open by studying a variety of subjects, rather than focusing on just one, industry-related qualification. It’s important that you get your A Level choice right though.
Once you have decided that A-levels are the right route for you it’s time to consider your A-level subject combination. Although enjoying your studies is important, this is an important decision and not simply an opportunity to study subjects that you like the sound of or that your friends are taking.
Just like any other qualifications that you might choose to study, A-levels are a stepping stone on your journey into the world of work and whatever you choose to study should help you on your way. Think ahead – if you are hoping to study business at university then how useful are those A-levels in Art, Photography and Drama studied on their own?
Some university courses name particular A-levels as entry requirements, so always check these on the university website to see what the specific entry requirements are for the course that you are interested in. Equally, some universities would rather that you had not studied a subject previously. This may seem odd and it’s quite rare, but basically, they want to teach you the subject in their own way – again check details on websites.
Choosing the right combination of subjects is important and many A Levels are complimentary. This can make your life easier when it comes to developing a deep understanding of subjects and also at revision time, where there is a crossover of topics.
Generally you will be expected to have studied four AS-levels, dropping to three at A2. You want your combination to support your university application and also to help develop a range of skills, so if you are heading for a future in Science, it might be beneficial to combine Chemistry, Biology and Maths with a humanities subject, which includes developing skills in extended writing, such as History. The most important thing is to be smart about your choices, check university websites and think hard about the skills that you want to develop to be successful.
If you really don’t know what you want to study at university then including two facilitating subjects in your combination will stand you in good stead. Facilitating subjects are those that are frequently required for entry to Degree courses and they include: Maths, Further Maths, Physics, Biology, Chemistry, History, Geography, Modern and Classical Languages and English Literature.
